Old maps of East Sussex

Maps of East Sussex

Eastbourne - OS One-Inch Map

1 : 63360 Topographic maps Ordnance Survey Ordnance Survey

Hastings (Outline) - OS One-Inch Revised New Series

1 : 63360 Topographic maps Ordnance Survey Ordnance Survey

Hastings (Hills) - OS One-Inch Revised New Series

1 : 63360 Topographic maps Ordnance Survey Ordnance Survey

Lewes (Hills) - OS One-Inch Revised New Series

1 : 63360 Topographic maps Ordnance Survey Ordnance Survey

Lewes (Outline) - OS One-Inch Revised New Series

1 : 63360 Topographic maps Ordnance Survey Ordnance Survey

Tenterden (Hills) - OS One-Inch Revised New Series

1 : 63360 Topographic maps Ordnance Survey Ordnance Survey

Tenterden (Outline) - OS One-Inch Revised New Series

1 : 63360 Topographic maps Ordnance Survey Ordnance Survey

Hastings 8

1 : 31680 Produced against the background of the Napoleonic Wars, these Ordnance Survey drawings exhibit a hightened interest in defence, particularly along the vulnerable south coast. Military barracks are recorded at Hastings, 'Bopeep' and Bexhill. A faded aquamarine wash defines the coastline from Pevensey Bay to Hastings, with red circles indicating observation stations used to plot the distinctive features of the land being surveyed. Inland, agricultural land (delineated by field boundaries) and woodland dominate the landscape.

Eridge Park

1 : 31680 .This plan of the hilly Weald of Sussex runs from Maresfield and Rotherfield on the left of the map, past East Hoathly at the central bottom, to Wadhurst and Dallington on the right. The village of Frant, home of the Ordnance Survey draughtsman, Charles Budgen, appears at the top of the plan. .The location of wooded areas was of great importance in planning a military campaign. Woods could either hinder progress or provide cover for the movement of a regiment. Hence the painstaking detail with which woodland is drawn. Single trees, and those in small orchards or lining avenues, are drawn with a thin trunk and shadow. More densely forested areas are represented by treetops alone. Budgen, Thomas

Cranbrook (Kent)

1 : 21120 Drawing showing the area around Cranbrook in Kent. Green washes distinguish cultivated land and woodland from uncultivated land. Relative relief is indicated by shading and brushwork interlining - a technique known as hachuring. One of the notable features of the Ordnance Survey is the attention paid to accurately recording relief, an important issue in planning military campaigns.

Survey of the Sussex Coast, from Barnham Mille to Rye

This is part of a survey of the Sussex coast made by Sir Thomas Palmer Knight and Walter Coverte and records the section of the coast from Barnham Mille to Rye. Sir Thomas Palmer Knight and Walter Coverte were Deputy Lieutenants of Sussex and its coast line. This survey was made in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, in the year 1578 and is endorsed almost certainly by Nicholas Reynolds 1587. It contains five coloured maps of the coast and inland places of Sussex from Thorney and Selsey Bill to Winchelsea and Camber Castle. Details include compass roses and scale bars in colour. It includes a scale bar showing 'Englishe Myles': 6 miles = 190mm, equating to approximately 1:50688 miles. This survey by Palmer and Covert was commissioned in order to build up defences against the Spanish Armada. Since the accession of the Protestant Elizabeth I the Anglo-Spanish relaionship had deteriorated. Raids on transatlantic shipping by English seamen such as Francis Drake and England’s support of the Protestant rebellion in the Spanish ruled Netherlands inflamed matters further and the Catholic Philip II was induced to invade. The survey is drawn in ink and colour washes on vellum, and features descriptions of coastal locations. The concern with defence is apparent here as the draughtsman has included the beacon network of the area. Windmills in the area are also noted. Due to their height these could also be used as vantage points. Locations of battery's or arsenal stores are recorded by a group of three triangles. Camber Castle is also shown. This was one of the defences built to defend the coast after Francis I of France and Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain signed a peace treaty in 1538, making an invasion of England by their combined forces probable. Information is recorded in a secretary hand with the title and place names in italic. Palmer, Sir Thomas, Coverte, Walter and Reynolds, Nicholas

Tunbridge Wells (Hills) - OS One-Inch Revised New Series

1 : 63360 Topographic maps Ordnance Survey Ordnance Survey

Tunbridge Wells (Outline) - OS One-Inch Revised New Series

1 : 63360 Topographic maps Ordnance Survey Ordnance Survey

Eastbourne 2

1 : 31680 .This plan of the South Downs coastline runs from Newhaven Harbour at the bottom left to Pevensey Bay at the bottom right. The exposed south-coast region was heavily defended against invasion. Barracks are shown at Seaford, 'East Bourn', Pevensey and Hailsham, with a series of batteries at 'South Bourn'. Mount Caburn and Firle Beacon, are indicated to the central left of this drawing. From 1816, the recording of such archaeological sites would become obligatory. Budgen, Thomas

A Chart of Rye Harbour, the Island of Oxney, and the Adjacent Country

This is a map of Rye Harbour and the Isle of Oxney, dating from around 1600. Positioned on the estuary of the River Rother, Rye affords a clear view of the Romney Marches, making it a valuable post for coastal defence. Places are represented by elevation views of buildings. The concern with coastal defence at this date was due to England’s continuing war with Spain. Although the Spanish Armada was defeated in 1588 Philip II attempted further invasions during the 1590’s. A scale bar showing ‘myles and furlonges’ is included. The practical use of this map is hinted at by the differentiation in the presentation of domestic townscape views, shown in pictorial elevation, and the plan form that represents Camber Castle, a defensive military structure. A scale bar showing ‘myles and furlonges’ is included.

A topographical-map, of the county of Kent, 17

1 Blatt : 54 x 71 cm A. Dury, W. Herbert

Afteekening van de rivier Rije Camber met alle desselfs dieptens en merken int Canaal even binnen de Hoofden

England Gerard van Keulen

Rye (Sussex)

This plan of the Sussex coast from Fairlight to Rye Bay is made up of two separate sheets of paper joined together, with detail extending over the joins. It was drawn on rectangular sheet lines and is enclosed by a black border. Fields are coloured brown where cultivated, and green or black where untilled. Stone structures are coloured red, something particularly noticeable in the depiction of buildings in the major settlements of Winchelsea and Rye. Produced against the background of the Napoleonic Wars, the drawings exhibit the concern with defence, particularly along the vulnerable south coast. A military battery is documented at Pier Head below Rye. This drawing was produced before the digging of the Royal Military Canal was approved by the government.

A topographical-map, of the county of Kent, 23

1 Blatt : 54 x 71 cm A. Dury, W. Herbert

The description of Romney Marsh, Walland, Marshy, Denge and Gulforde marsh, with the divisions of their waterings, heads, armes, principal sewers and their gutts

This is a map of the Romney Marsh area, dating from around 1590. It shows the network of sewers and waterways in the area and is principally concerned with drainage. The locations of bridges are carefully recorded. The topography of the landscape is depicted with hills, trees, churches, towns, villages and windmills shown pictorially. A small island in the sea records the location where a village once stood. Camber castle is shown and the draughtsman has attempted to indicate the actual architectural features of the castle.

A topographical-map, of the county of Kent, 18

1 Blatt : 54 x 71 cm A. Dury, W. Herbert

East Grinstead 19

1 : 31680 A blue watercolour wash has been used here to describe relief, with the summits of hills left bare. Dense forestation in the area is indicated by rashes of small trees. Main communication routes are coloured buff-yellow, conforming to military cartographic convention. A red pecked line describes the county boundary.

Maresfield

This drawing shows different stages of the drawing process. The lower section of the drawing is complete, with place names recorded and brushwork interlining ('hachuring') depicting the relief of the land. The other half of the drawing is unfinished. No record of the steepness of the land has been made and place names are absent. This gives us an idea of the order in which draughtsmen recorded different types of information. A pencil note records that this drawing was published in 1813.

Fairlight (East Sussex)

1 : 21120 This outline plan in black and white ink follows the East Sussex coastline from Fairlight, at the bottom, to Beckley and Northiam, at the top. Such drawings represent the halfway point between the original protraction and the 'fair copy', and give no indication of relative relief. Triangles ruled in red ink cover the map, revealing the angular measurements taken to plot the location of individual topographical features.

TQ93 - OS 1:25,000 Provisional Series Map

1 : 25000 Topographic maps Ordnance Survey Ordnance Survey

TQ92 - OS 1:25,000 Provisional Series Map

1 : 25000 Topographic maps Ordnance Survey Ordnance Survey

TQ83 - OS 1:25,000 Provisional Series Map

1 : 25000 Topographic maps Ordnance Survey Ordnance Survey

TQ91 - OS 1:25,000 Provisional Series Map

1 : 25000 Topographic maps Ordnance Survey Ordnance Survey

TQ82 - OS 1:25,000 Provisional Series Map

1 : 25000 Topographic maps Ordnance Survey Ordnance Survey

TQ73 - OS 1:25,000 Provisional Series Map

1 : 25000 Topographic maps Ordnance Survey Ordnance Survey