The Group met for the first time this year, on Wednesday 3 January 2024, when Jim Dickinson, a former Curate at St John’s, gave us an interesting talk on ‘Maps from 1579’.
He started by giving us a history of map-making and mentioned that in 1558, during the reign of Elizabeth 1, there were few maps available since few people moved around. These maps were mainly produced for country estate owners, so basically agricultural in nature, with no lines from A to B but simply depicting local landmarks.
The ‘Father of English Maps’ was Christopher Saxton (c.1540 – c.1610) who began his survey in 1574 producing county maps of England and Wales culminating in his 1st Atlas of 1579. This atlas contained 35 maps, each bearing the arms of Elizabeth 1st, and included a map of Derbyshire which can now fetch around £4000. Maps of major towns and cities became available, and a Chester map appeared in 1581.
Later, in 1627, John Speed, who was born in Farndon, Cheshire, produced atlases of England, Scotland and Wales which were brighter in colour and included a main town map and other sites within the counties.
Another name mentioned was John Ogilvy, who in 1675 produced a huge lavish volume of road maps and descriptions of towns which was the first road atlas of any country.
Jim had with him reproductions of mainly Derbyshire maps which we were all encouraged to look at and appreciate.
Speaking personally, I would be lost without a map, and I know I have mentioned before in a previous article that our A – Z of Derbyshire is very well thumb-marked since moving to Chesterfield. Our reliance on the Satnav has become a little suspect when we arrive ok at a particular place but on the return journey ‘she, Tilly’ seems to delight in bringing us home by very circuitous routes!
Our next Group meeting is on Wednesday 7th February, at 7pm when the visiting speaker is Robyn Riggins from WORTH, an organisation helping women after they have suffered abuse.
Do come along and join us. If needing any more information you can speak to Trish, Marilyn J., or myself.
Wendy Drake