The Local Studies collection boasts a wealth of historical maps pertaining to Calderdale, Yorkshire, and Great Britain as a whole. Among these treasures, the earliest specimen is a replica of the renowned Gough or Bodleian map.
The Gough or Bodleian map stands as a significant artifact in medieval cartography, portraying the island of Great Britain. Its origins likely trace back to the period circa 1390-1410, with subsequent modifications made over time. Despite extensive study, the precise date of its production remains elusive, as does concrete evidence regarding its original purpose. The identities of its cartographers remain unknown, although physical evidence suggests that the map underwent numerous amendments throughout its existence. Remarkably, it holds the distinction of being the earliest surviving sheet map depicting both the outline of Britain and the routes traversing it, offering invaluable insights into medieval geography and travel routes.
The Gough Map
Unknown author, Gough Kaart (hoge resolutie), marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia Commons
The map is commonly referred to as the Gough map, named after Richard Gough, the antiquarian who acquired it in a 1774 estate sale for half a crown and later donated it on his death to the Bodleian Library in 1809. Over time, numerous facsimiles of the map have been produced, including one housed in the library's collection. The Local Studies copy of the map is the 1935 Ordnance Survey edition. This edition features red transcriptions of the ancient names, although it is worth noting that some of these transcriptions have since been discovered to be inaccurate.
The 1935 reproduction released by the Ordnance Survey includes an original black and white facsimile of the map (OS, Southampton, 1870), alongside a red overprint. This overprint provides a transcription of place-names and identifies settlements with names that are either unreadable or partially readable. However, neither the OS 1870 nor the OS 1935 explicitly state whether these readings are direct transcripts of the text as it appeared on the map at the time of the Surveys' publication or if they are conjectural interpretations.
The map is crafted on two pieces of animal skin parchment, sewn together north of Hadrian’s Wall. Measuring approximately two feet by four feet, its original rendition features intricate depictions of settlements, rivers, and red lines. Notably, these red lines have remained somewhat shrouded in mystery. The map diverges from convention by presenting the island in a landscape format rather than the typical portrait orientation seen in modern maps.
Topographical features such as rivers and mountains are shown alongside over six hundred settlements. There are small drawings in red of hundreds of houses, churches, and castles. An ongoing study has shown that the dotted holes in the map appear to have been used when copying or creating the map. Some of the holes show outlines of the illustrated buildings, enabling the cartographers to copy them exactly.
Hadrian’s Wall is a prominent feature of the map, although its location is not totally correct. Shown on the map as a red wall which runs in an unbroken straight line. Its location It is labelled as murus pictorum ‘The Picts’ Wall.’
1935 OS Map
Director General of the Ordnance Survey, UK (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ordnance_Survey_reproduction_Bodleian_map_Britain_1325-1350.jpg), Ordnance Survey reproduction Bodleian map Britain 1325-1350 “, marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Template:PD-UKGov
The red lines on the original map were thought to be roads and the map has been historically known as the ‘Road Map of Britain.’ It is now suggested that the red lines represent distances between places but not actual useable roads, these are illustrated by Roman numerals showing distance in old French miles
Unknown author, Gough Kaart (hoge resolutie), marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia Commons
Besides the actual geographical work, the map also has various illustrations both on the land mass and sea. Portraying a shipwreck in one expanse of ocean, a battle of sea monsters, and various fictional locations all over the land portion of the map taken from Arthurian legend and early classical myth. The largest drawing portrays a sailing vessel in apparent distress, perhaps ensnared amidst the unforgiving rocks between Orkney and Norway. It shows a person on what appears to be a raft but also looks remarkably like a pillow in the 1935 OS map!
Director General of the Ordnance Survey, UK (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ordnance_Survey_reproduction_Bodleian_map_Britain_1325-1350.jpg), Ordnance Survey reproduction Bodleian map Britain 1325-1350“, marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Template:PD-UKGov
The South Devon coast is depicted as the legendary landing place of Brutus, the great-grandson of Aeneas. Who apparently arrived in England along with a group of Trojan exiles who had endured enslavement in Greece. Just near Dartmouth in Devon there are the words “hic Brutus applicuit cum Troiani” roughly translated as "Here landed Brutus with the Trojans.” Why myth and legend were included on the map is unclear. For purely aesthetic reasons possibly or maybe even an unknown deeper meaning.
Director General of the Ordnance Survey, UK (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ordnance_Survey_reproduction_Bodleian_map_Britain_1325-1350.jpg), Ordnance Survey reproduction Bodleian map Britain 1325-1350“, marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Template:PD-UKGov
The original map was for many years displayed in the Map Room of the Bodleian Library in Oxford. In 2010 the map was digitised, and you can view it here:
There is an ongoing project which began in 2012 to research further into the fascinating history of the Gough Map. Further information can be found here:
The 1935 OS Gough Map can be viewed at Local Studies on the lower ground floor of Central Library & Archives in Halifax.
We also have an extensive collection of other historic maps for your viewing pleasure, a list of which can be found here:
https://new.calderdale.gov.uk/leisure/local-history/local-studies/maps
References and further reading:
Delano-Smith C. (2017). New Light on the Medieval Gough Map of Britain:
Imago Mundi Vol. 69, No. 1 (2017), pp. 1-36
Millea, N. (2007). The Gough Map. Oxford: Bodleian Library.
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