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Research Notes
Map Group MERCATOR 1564
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Mercator 1564
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These notes are taken from the map of the British Isles
published by Gerard Mercator, Duisburg, Germany, 1564. The notes
are strongly biased towards a Hampshire interest. The study was
made from a photograph of the south central area supplied by John
Lewthwaite, taken at the:-
Kultur und Stadthistorisches
Museum
Johannes Corputius Platz 1, 47049
Duisburg, Germany
and from a small reproduction of the whole map
in:-
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Shirley, Rodney W: 1980 (revised
edn): Early Printed maps of the British Isles 1477-1650: Antique
Atlas Publications:: ISBN 0 951914 2 3
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The original map was published in 8 sheets (4 across, 2 up,
West at top), size wxh = 89x129cm. Very few copies exist, none
(?) in the UK. (The British Library have a published
reproduction, call number BL Map 183.r.2)
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The map was versioned as a one sheet map by Abraham Ortelius,
Antwerp, Netherlands, 1570 in his:-
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Theatris Orbis Terrarum
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reprinted in editions up to 1612.
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MAP FEATURES |
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HAMPSHIRE PLACENAMES |
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REFERENCES |
| top of page |
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| MAP FEATURES |
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Remember that theses notes are mostly relevant to
Hampshire.
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title cartouche
strapwork cartouche
map maker
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Printed upper right of centre is a strapwork cartouche:-
ANGLIAE, SCOTIAE & Hibernie' nova
descriptio
The map has several blocks of text referring to its
publication. Upper left:-
Cum gratia & privilegio Regia
Majestatis per Branbantiam Flandriam reliquamq~ Germaniam
ineriorem ad annas 6
Lower left:-
Absolutum & evulgatum Duysburgi anno
Domini 1564.
Cartouche lower right:-
Gerardus Mercator lectori salutem
...
Other blocks of text are descriptive text.
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orientation
labelled borders
up is W
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Printed in 3 of the borders are directions:-
West [top]
Zuyd [left]
Oost [bottom]
The map is printed with West at the top of the sheets.
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coat of arms
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Printed below the title cartouche are two coats of arms. The
royal arms of the English monarch used by Henry IV to Elizabeth I
who was queen in 1564; 1st and 4th quarters with the three fleur
de lys of France, 2nd and 3rd quarters with three lions of
England. And of the Scottish monarch, the lion of Scotland in a
double tressure florey counter florey; not yet united with the
south.
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scale line
scale
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Printed lower centre is a scale line:-
Scala miliarum Anglicorum
50 miles graduated in miles, labelled in 10s. The map scale
(from Shirley) is about:-
14 miles to 1 inch
The south coast of England is about 15% too long.
The museum label at Duisburg states a scale about:-
1 to 920000
14.5 miles to 1 inch
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sea area
sea pecked
sandbanks
ships
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The sea area is pecked. There are a few ships for decoration.
The English Channel is labelled:-
OCEANUS BRITANNICUS
A sandbank is shown by dotting on the NE shore of the Isle of
Wight in The Solent.
It is possible to recognise:-
The Solent
Southampton Water
but these are not labelled.
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coast line
coast shaded
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The coast line is shaded for emphasis.
Portsmouth Harbour is not clearly recognisable.
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rivers
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Rivers are drawn by a double wiggly line tapering to a point.
Rivers relevant to Hampshire can be recognised, but none are
labelled:-
Avon, River
Blackwater River [perhaps]
Dever, River
Hamble, River
Hart, River [incorrect?]
Itchen, River
Loddon, River [incorrect?]
Meon, River
Rother, River
Stour, River
Test, River
Wallington River
Wey, River [Wey, Northern, only from
Farnham]
None are accurate by today's standards; some are less accurate
than others!
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relief
hillocks
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Some relief is shown on the map by hillocks. The Hogs Back
near Guildford is shown by a row of hillocks; the Mendips in
Somerset are drawn similarly. No relief is shown for
Hampshire.
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forests
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In Hampshire the:-
New forest
is labelled. There are no tree symbols.
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county
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County boundaries are not drawn but county areas are labelled,
eg:-
Sout- / -hampton
for Hampshire.
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settlements
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Settlements are located by a circle, usually drawn with a
tower with a low steeple. Winchester, Portsmouth and perhaps
Basingstoke have some buildings, Southampton has more buildings.
A cross (x) is used to mark cathedral towns. All are labelled in
italic lowercase script.
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| top of page |
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| HAMPSHIRE |
PLACENAMES |
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The places marked relevant to Hampshire are listed below.
Remember that the study is made from a photograph of a
reproduction, a decidedly secondary source in which some readings
are unclear. Positions on the map make recognition of some places
uncertain.
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modern |
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| Alton |
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Alton |
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| Andover |
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Andover |
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| Basyngstok |
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Basingstoke |
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| Bewley |
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Beaulieu |
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| [Waltam] |
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Bishops Waltham |
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| Calshot |
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Calshot Castle |
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tower without a steeple |
| Crystis church |
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Christchurch |
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| Emden |
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East Meon |
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perhaps, top of the R.Meon |
| Ellyng |
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Eling |
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| Falley |
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Fawley |
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| Fordingbridge |
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Fordingbridge |
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| Havant |
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Havant |
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| Helfordbridge |
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Hartfordbridge |
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| Hallyng |
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Hayling Island |
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no settlement symbol |
| [Kyngsclere] |
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Kingsclere |
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| Lymygton |
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Lymington |
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| Mychildever |
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Micheldever |
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| Alforde |
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New Alresford |
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| Odiam |
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Odiham |
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| Peterfeld |
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Petersfield |
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| [Poply] |
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Popham |
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perhaps |
| Portchester |
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Portchester |
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| Portsmouth |
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Portsmouth |
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| Ramsey |
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Romsey |
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| Ryngwode |
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Ringwood |
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| Hampton |
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Southampton |
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two or three buildings |
| [Soutwik] |
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Southwick |
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| Stoksey |
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Stockbridge |
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| Tychfeld |
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Titchfield |
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| [Wickchurch] |
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Whitchurch |
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| Wynchester |
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Winchester |
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with a cross (x) |
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| [Wallere] |
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| [Ni son] |
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| top of page |
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| REFERENCES |
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Close, Charles, Sir: 1931: Ancient
Maps of Great Briatin, with special reference to Hampshire:
ProcHFC: vol.10: pp.211-219
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| top of page |
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All Old Hampshire Mapped Resources |