Old maps of Swale

Maps of Swale

A Map of the Isle of Sheppey

This map of the Isle of Sheppey dates from 1574 and is thought to be the work of the cartographer Robert Lythe.Lythewas a cartographer of note as he created the first accurate map of Ireland while under the employ of the Crown and is therefore comparable to Christopher Saxton in his importance in the context of the history of cartography. This map was created for the purposes of defence and also to solve the problem of drainage in the area. The emphasis on streams and waterways suggests a link with the repeated attempts to avoid the silting up of Sandwich Haven by increasing the amount of water it could hold. The works were to be financed by a local levy, hence perhaps the prominence of names which may be a guide to apportionment. Anglo-Spanish relations had been in steady decline since the accession of the protestant Elizabeth I in 1558. In 1574 there was a fear that the Spanish would launch an attack from the Netherlands on ships at Chatham. In the idea of transferring the main fleet to Queenborough was suggested as a precaution. Under the command of Sir William Winter, Surveyor of the Navy and Sir William Pelham, Lieutenant General of Ordnance, and Lythe a survey of Sheppey was carried out. Sheerness and the Isle of Grain were rejected in favour of a new port at Swaleness opposite Queenbrough which would prevent a raid from the rear by way of the Swale. Swaleness was a marsh and in order to build fortifications drainage and embanking or the area was necessary. This was authorised by the Privy Council in September 1574. Earthworks were created but the fortifications were not built and in the event the Spanish did not invade until 1588. Lythe, Robert

A topographical-map, of the county of Kent, 8

1 Blatt : 54 x 70 cm A. Dury, W. Herbert

Doddington, Kent(002OSD00000027AU00429000)

1 : 10560 This outline drawing of the chalk hills of the North Downs in Kent extends from Sittingbourne, at the top of the map, to Lenham Green and Ringlestone, at the bottom. The map is made up from three pieces of paper joined together. Pencil lines radiating from trigonometrical stations cover the map. These show the angular measurements that were made to enable the surveyor to calculate the distances between topographical features. The ink line ruled across the map indicates the edge of the fair (or prototype) drawing.

TR06 - OS 1:25,000 Provisional Series Map

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TQ96 - OS 1:25,000 Provisional Series Map

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Milton, Kent

1 : 10560 This original protraction of the Swale in Kent extends from Milton to Conyer Creek, and comprises the first plottings from the field book of the area. Ruled-black sheet lines indicate the edges of the area that were copied for the finished drawings OSD 112 and OSD 113. The plan is made up of two pieces of paper, irregularly cut and then joined together.

Faversham, Kent

1 : 10560 This is a plan of the Kentish flatlands surrounding Faversham, to the south of The Swale. Ruled red-ink lines radiating from observation stations and intersecting across the map, indicate angular measurements taken by the surveyor between fixed triangulation points. The irregularly shaped paper is so worn and torn that much of the detail is now erased.

Merston, Kent

1 : 31680 This map is drawn on rectangular sheet lines, enclosed by a black border. Fields are coloured brown where cultivated, and green or blank if untilled. Stonework buildings or structures are drawn in red ink at the major settlement of Faversham, in the centre of the plan. Infilled or blocked areas of black or sepia ink depict structures or buildings made from more impermanent materials such as wood. The altitudes ('spot heights'), noted in red-ink figures, are plotted rather than estimated or sketched. Ruled pencil rays intersect across the map, evidence of measurements taken by the surveyor between fixed triangulation points.

Eastling, Kent 27A

1 : 10560 This plan of the east Kent lowlands shows a region characterised by irregularly shaped field boundaries. The drawing is made on rectangular sheet lines, enclosed by a black border. Fields are coloured brown where cultivated, and green or blank if untilled. Stonework buildings or structures are drawn in red ink at the settlements of Eastling and Moldash. Infilled or blocked areas of black or sepia ink denote structures or buildings made from less permanent materials such as wood.

Halstow (Kent)

1 : 10560 Drawing showing the area around Halstow in Kent. This map is drawn on rectangular sheet lines, enclosed by a black border. Fields are coloured brown where cultivated, and green or blank if untilled. Marshland dominates this estuarine landscape and is depicted by symbols with three vertically inclined strokes above a short horizontal line. Stonework buildings or structures are drawn in red ink at settlements such as Iwade and Halstow at the centre of the plan. Ruled pencil rays intersect the map, evidence of angular measurements taken by the surveyor between fixed triangulation points. Altitudes ('spot heights') are measured and noted in red-ink figures.

Sittingbourne, Kent

1 : 10560 This plan, showing the area around Sittingbourne in Kent, is drawn on rectangular sheet lines and enclosed by a black border. Fields are coloured brown where cultivated, and green or blank if untilled. Stonework buildings or structures are drawn in red ink at major settlements like Milton and Sittingbourne, at the centre top of the plan. Infilled or blocked areas of black or sepia ink depict structures or buildings made from impermanent materials such as wood. Corrections have been made on this plan and it is likely that the red-ink numerical annotations of altitude are measured rather than estimated or sketched.

Doddington, Kent(002OSD00000027AU00428000)

1 : 10560 This map of the chalk hills of the North Downs in Kent is drawn on rectangular sheet lines and enclosed by a black border. Fields are coloured brown where cultivated, and green or blank if untilled. Corrections have been made to,this plan. Altitudes ('spot heights') have been measured and,noted in red ink figures.

Kent XXII - OS Six-Inch Map

1 : 10560 Topographic maps Ordnance Survey Ordnance Survey

Kent XXXIV - OS Six-Inch Map

1 : 10560 Topographic maps Ordnance Survey Ordnance Survey

Kent XLV - OS Six-Inch Map

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Kent XXI - OS Six-Inch Map

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Kent XXXIII - OS Six-Inch Map

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Kent XLIV - OS Six-Inch Map

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TQ95 - OS 1:25,000 Provisional Series Map

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Doddington, Kent(002OSD00000027AU00431000)

1 : 10560 This field sketch of the chalk hills of the North Downs in Kent extends from Doddington and Newnham, at the bottom of the map, to Norton, at the top. Several irregularly cut sheets have been joined together and laid down on coarse paper. The surveyor's calculations for for the area covered by the map survive in black ink along the margins. The 'fair' drawings OSD 110 and OSD 110/111/113 also relate to this area.

TQ86 - OS 1:25,000 Provisional Series Map

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TR05 - OS 1:25,000 Provisional Series Map

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Eastling, Kent 6

Drawing showing the area around Eastling in Kent. This is an 'outline drawing'. It is uncoloured and has no representation of relative relief. Such drawings represented the halfway stage between the original protraction and the finished darwing. Increasingly sophisticated mapmaking techniques made this intermediate stage redundant by the 1830s. Red lines also feature heavily. Radiating from fixed points, these show the angular measurements taken with a theodolite to enable the surveryor to plot the location of topographical features. Black lines indicate the edges of the area intended to be copied up for the finished drawing. Pink, George

TQ85 - OS 1:25,000 Provisional Series Map

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Kent XLIII - OS Six-Inch Map

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Kent XXXII - OS Six-Inch Map

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Kent XX - OS Six-Inch Map

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Challock, Kent

1 : 10560 This pencil and ink drawing is a very rough sketch or 'foul plan' of a rural section of the North Downs in Kent. It was drawn on 17 pieces of irregularly cut paper. The map was made in the field by the draughtsman to augment the angle and distance measurements noted in his field books. The detail recorded here was incorporated into the 'fair' drawing, which survives as OSD 109/110/111, serial 380. Pink, George

Bearsted, Kent

1 : 10560 This is an intermediate darwing of a section of the North Downs, with ruled black lines indicating the sheet edges of the finished drawings. The red-ink rays intersecting across the map record the angular measurements taken by the surveyor between fixed triangulation points. Buildings in the main settlements are drawn with red or black outlines: red to indicate buildings of stone or brick, and black for less permanent materials, such as wood.

Kent XIV - OS Six-Inch Map

1 : 10560 Topographic maps Ordnance Survey Ordnance Survey