notes CARR 1688

	Research Notes Map Group CARR 1668

Carr 1668	These notes, strongly biased towards Hampshire, are made from the Map of the Post Roads of England and Wales by R Carr from a draft by James Hicks, chief clerk to the Post Office, London, 1668. The map is in the Bodleian Library MS Rawl.A.173. Notes are made from the small reproduction in:-
	Shirley, Rodney W: 1988: Printed Maps of the British Isles 1650-1750: Map Collector Publications & British Library:: ISBN 0 7123 0142 9
	The map size is; wxh, map = 39x33.5cm.
	MAP FEATURES
	THE POSTS

MAP FEATURES
title descriptive text	Printed below the map are four panels of a descriptive text, in Latin, French, English, and Dutch:- A prefect direction to travel all England by Post seven miles par houre, in the Summer, and five in the Winter, as you will find an order for it in all Post-houses. A Description of al the postroads in England from London to Edenborough in Scotland the stages, distances and names , of miles & the branches from the severall stages, Citties, Chief-Towns and Castles, in each shire and County, to be known by their severall Characters, which are hear bove mentiond which is very neassary for all travellers to know, who do travell in that Kinghdom, drawn and perfected by R. Carr.
map maker	A scroll cartouche printed lower right, supported by ? has the map maker's name:- R. CARR
engraver	Printed lower left is:- C Landts Exc. a dutchman whose poor command of English might account for some spelling errors.
coat of arms	Printed upper right is the royal coat of arms, with crest, supporters, etc. The arms are those of the Stuarts (approximate blazon):- quarterly 1 and 4 quarterly i and iv azure three fleur de lsy or ii and iii gules three lions passant guardant or 2 or a lion rampant gules in a double tressure florey counter florey 3 azure a harp or stringed argent
scale line	Printed with the coat of arms is a scale line.
orientation compass rose up is N	Printed on the left is a compass rose; star points for the cardinal and half cardinal directions, lines for the false points, North marked by a fleur de lys. The map is printed with North at the top of the sheet.
table of symbols	Printed lower right are four tables of symbols; in Latin, French, English, and Dutch:- [ ] Citties [circle, building, tower] Towns [ ] Castles [ ] Villages [ ] the stages [ ] ... the Shires and Counties [ ] the Postroades [ ] the numbers demonstrate ... place to place
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THE POSTS
	This is one of the earliest maps of the post roads of England and Wales. It was drawn by Captain R Carr, a deputy engineer, from a draft made by James Hicks, the senior Post Office clerk, in the mid 1660s.
	An organised postal system has existed in England since the middle ages; the first Postmaster was appointed 1553. In the 1660s the system had 6 main post roads out of London to: Edinburgh in Scotland, Dover, Plymouth, Bristol, Chester whence Ireland, and Harwich. Along the roads there were transfers to branch roads to many places in the country.
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