Research Notes


Map Group POPINJAY 1587
Popinjay 1587
Popinjay's Map of the Hampshire Coast, 1587

These notes are made from a copy of a map made by Richard Popinjay of the defences of the Isle of Wight, Hampshire and Dorset in 1587, when invasion by the Spanish was expected. The Spanish Armada arrived off England in 1588. The manuscript map is in the collections of the Public Record Office, item PRO.MPF/208.
Source
James, Jude: 1986: Hurst Castle, an Illustrated History: Dovecote Press (Wimborne, Dorset):: ISBN 0 946159 39 4

MAP FEATURES
HAMPSHIRE PLACES
DANGERS OF INVASION
REFERENCES
MAP FEATURES
orientation    
up is S    
labelled borders    
The map is drawn with south at the top, ie as if looking out to sea from Hampshire. The right border is labelled:-
West

coast line    
coast shaded    
sandbanks    
channels    
The coast is shown by a line with hatchings to landward. Two channels are identified between the Needles, off the Isle of Wight, and the mainland at Hurst Spit:-
the mane Chanell
the north Chanell
and a ?sandbank is shown by a dotted area between them, labelled:-
[ ]
There are hints of other sandbanks along the coast.

settlements    
Settlements and other locations are identified along the coast lines by a variety of drawings of buildings, towers, etc. There is no regular system except that bigger places have bigger, more complex, symbols.
Places along the Hampshire (including parts of Dorset) coast can be identified; listed below.

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HAMPSHIRE PLACES
Readings are made from a photocopy of a printed reproduction; they are not to be relied upon.
label place drawing
[ ]smouth Portsmouth town walls?
- entrance to Portsmouth Harbour  
Gosport Gosport chuches?
[ ] [about Hillhead] river mouth
-   river mouth
  Hamble Haven river mouth
St Andrews St Andrew's Castle castle?
  Netley Castle small castle
- Itchen, River river mouth
Ichin Firry Itchen Ferry labelled across the river, church beside
Southampton Southampton buildings, spires?
- Southampton Water  
Redbridge Redbridge bridge
- Test, River river mouth
-   river mouth
Teestwodd   large house?
-   river mouth, bridge
Eling Eling church?
hieth Hythe church? buildings?
Calshott Calshott Castle castle?
Sainsore Stansore Point headland
Leape Lepe  
- Beaulieu River river mouth
Bewley Beaulieu house? spire?
Pittes depe    
Sibleys Lane end    
- Lymington River river mouth
Limington Lymington buildings? spire?
Hurst Hurst Castle castle?
Chuton Bunnye Chewton Bunny river mouth
- Christchurch Harbour  
- Avon, River river mouth
- Stour, River river mouth
Christchurch Christchurch church?
Hy[ ]burie hedd Hengistbury Head headland
    bay
-   river mouth
Bournemouth Bournemouth river mouth?
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DANGERS OF INVASION
The map has text describing the dangers of invasion:-
From Hampton to Calshott, beinge 7 miles, no daunger except they come within Calshott and St. Andrewes, from Calshott to Lymington good landing in twoe places, viz: betwene Stansore and Leape (for the garde where-of George Poulett, Esqr. is appointed with 200 men) And at Pittes depe and Siblers Lane end, for the garde whereof William [Sendie], gent., is appointed with 113 men. From Lymington to Hurst Castle no daunger of landinge.
From Hurst to Chewton Bonnye for the most parte reasonable landing in faire wethers with smale boates But yf the wynd blowe harde most daungerous because there is no harbor. For the garde of this place is appointed Thomas Coale, gent., with 100 men. From Chewton Bonnye to Christchurch haven mouthe, lyke landinge with the like or mo[r]e daungers for their shippinge. For the garde thereof is appointed William Westburie, gent, with 123 men.
From Christchurch Haven to Boarne moute for the most parte good landinge with smale boates, and their shippinge maye safely Ryde with half A myle of the Shoare in greate number. For the garde of this place is appointed William [Borcewe], gent., with 200 men.
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REFERENCES
James, Jude: 1986: Hurst Castle, an Illustrated History: Dovecote Press (Wimborne, Dorset):: ISBN 0 946159 39 4

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