Sunday 31 March 2019

My new map room


Look what fell into my hands yesterday. It is a very old facsimile of a 1731 map of Bath. To give you an idea of its size, each one of those sections measures 7.75 by 9.75 inches. For the want of a map table I had to unfold it on the floor.

I am guessing that this facsimile was made around 1930. Each section of map is adhered to a large sheet of fine linen and the borders are to allow it to be folded without creasing the paper. This is the way that they made Ordnance Survey and early motoring maps in the 1920s and 30s.

The buildings around the edges are the principal dwellings of important people of the time (Mr Sloper's House, etc) and other public buildings such as the Abbey and Market House. Inset are depictions of the Hot Springs as they were at the time. This was Bath before it became Georgianised - largely by demolishing most of the Medieval and 17th century buildings. There have been two Sacks of Bath, both for commercial gain.

Because our room is also H.I.'s studio, and because there is dancing amongst the girlies at Christmas, a table large enough to accommodate this map would not be tolerated, but I have a cunning plan. I am going to get a large folding table which can be hidden away when not in use. How could I have spent so many years without a decent sized table?

22 comments:

  1. Nice map. Why not hang it on the bedroom wall?

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    1. It's vast. Also I just want it for reference.

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    2. Yes. The fields represent unchartered territory. There are strange structures running in rows which I have yet to find the meaning of. There is a similar structure up the hill at a place which now has a terrace called 'Vineyards'. I used to think it referred to Roman vineyards, but there were grapes grown here in the early 18th century. We made our own white wine even then - probably turned into Sack.

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    3. I mean that the wooden structure was to grow vines on. I have a feeling that the row of what look like crosses maybe were for drying nets.

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    4. Gorgeous map - lucky you, especially as it simply fell into your hands.

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    5. Indeed. I have been looking for just such a map for ages, then a friend suddenly produced it from a filing cabinet.

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  2. Also of course land for growing things, orchards, nurseries haven't those little houses lower left got similar gardens? Lucky you that this treasure fell into your hands, should be able to trace the Roman road/Walcot Street, and the one going through Weston.

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    1. Walcot Street was the main road from the North and is marked on the map. The Fosseway ran up to one side of the Royal Crescent on its way to Warwickshire and beyond.

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    2. There were a lot of formal gardens as well as orchards and vegetable plots. Note the two mills on the weir.

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  3. I love maps!
    I wish I could enlarge this more!
    So tell me please, is any road called the King's Highway? I did find everything you all mentioned above.

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    1. All roads are The King's (or Queen's) Highway here!

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  4. Fascinating. I really must find myself an ancient map of Brighton. I don't suppose there's ever been a map made of my village here; maybe I should do one.

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    1. I wonder what Brighton looked like before the Prince Regent. Perhaps just a small fishing town?

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  5. I, too, love maps - especially old ones and yours is a real find

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    1. It would be nice to have the original print. There is a shop here which specialises in old prints.16th, 17th and 18th century. Some of them cost thousands.

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  6. Replies
    1. He's selling copies of the copy, framed. £360.

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  7. Great historical find Tom. I was the cartographer for the company I retired from. Of course mine were all modern day computer built boring things, nothing of this beauty.

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    1. I used to have a set of super-fine map pens. I never found a use for them. I like that the old Ordnance Survey trig points still exist.

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  8. Oh, I love it! Mr Sloper's House is a great address.

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    1. I like Wellington's(?) old address. Number One, London.

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