Friday, March 30, 2007

Speed's Map of Lancashire: 1610

Sticking with the idea of providing our readers (possibly reader, singular) with various historic maps, this week we're posting Speed's map of Lancashire circa 1610...in colour. Again, it's a fairly large file so before you click on the thumbnail below, make sure that you're internet connection's capable of handling copious amounts of data.

Incidentally, if these maps are annoying you and you'd rather we went back to discussing the various 'ins and outs' of local archaeology, then feel free to say so in the comments box below. As always we'll try our best to provide you with something more appropriate. We're nothing if not accomodating.

9 comments:

Unknown said...

As your current reader, I felt obliged to get DSl so that I could check out these fancy maps of yours, and was it worth it! What a treasure these are. They'll take some time for closer inspection, of course, though they are a bit hard to read in places.

Is that Thornton to the west of Weirfale forest( supposed to be Weirfdale? ) I think so.

Are there any prehistoric or otherwise ancient monuments or sites shown on the color map?

And why does your Royalty all look sleepy, and who is that giant bathing in the Bay?

So many questions....

Unknown said...

PS It would also be cool to find a more modern map of similar scale, and compare, looking for differences, or lost places.

Very cool.

I can see Garstang, now, and Preston, so it's starting to look familiar. Are all those 'sandes' beaches? If so, the coastline must have changed a lot since then.
Any clues to the lost port?

Cheers, JOHN :0)

Brian Hughes said...

John,

Glad you're enjoying these maps...'cos we've got quite a few more. (We have to be careful, of course, not to step on Ordnance Survey's toes...but we're pretty safe with the copyright on anything older than 1840.)

Not sure what you're looking at to the west of 'Weirfdale' forest (It's actually the Tudor spelling of Wyresdale...they did a lot of mixing 'eef's up with 'ess's back then.) Thornton Hall is on the map next to Stanah...although Stanah's not mentioned by name so that probably doesn't help.

There are no prehistoric monuments on this particular map (archaeology wasn't high on the agenda of your average Tudor cartographer). And that large, ugly creature taking a dip in the briney is, we believe, an ancestor of Neil Thompson. (There's a strong family resemblance there at any rate.)

As for the lost port, we've already found it at Bourne so we don't need any more clues...just a better publicist we reckon.

Brian

Unknown said...

Sorry, I haven't bought your most excellent book yet, so I'm not up to date on your discoveries.

Of course, I know about Bourne, but thought maybe something on these old maps might bring some light on some of the subjects that you've brought up at this blog.

All the same, keep em coming. I look forward to perusing them at leisure.

Cheers,JOHN :0)

Brian Hughes said...

John,

There's always the name Bergerode running along the River Wyre between Bourne and Stanah on the Speed Map of 1610...Bergerode being a Saxon word meaning 'Fortified Settlement' (Burgh) and 'Red' (Rode). Sounds remarkably similar to the bright red roundhouses surrounded by defensive embankments we found at Bourne Hill to me. How's that for hidden clues?

Brian

Anonymous said...

Brian,
I live at historic Mains Hall and have been told that on 'old maps' the Hall was named 'Monks Hall'. Do you know of any maps that indicate this? I have never been able to find anything concrete in records office, Preston!
regards
Adele Yeomans

Brian Hughes said...

Adele,

Apologies for the delay...I've only just found your comment. (I really will have to learn how to use this Blogger board properly one of these days.) Okay...the map you're looking for is Bowen 1752 where Mains is marked as 'Monkall'.

Mains Hall, of course, is fascinating and replete with history, ghosts etc. We could write an entire book about your home. You're incredibly lucky living there.

cmacdee said...

Thank you so much for Speed's Lancashire. It is a treasure. Perhaps a National Treasure.
Your New Reader.
Carolyn

Brian Hughes said...

Glad to be service, Carolyn.