Mapping Herefordshire

Moving slowly along. I spent a little time going over the Herefordshire page in Speed’s 1612 Atlas with a magnifying glass. One thing that struck me more obviously with the paper version in front of me is the extent to which the rivers are emphasized, even small ones.

This is consistent with arguments I’ve made (and am busy expanding elsewhere) about the depiction of rivers in English poetry of the period. Apart from the standard items (towns, bridges, rivers, hills - loosely represented), the map of Herefordshire makes special note of only two features: the “Gilden Vale” (it’s the river Dore) and Marcley Hill (see my post on the travelling hill). Strikingly, New Court on the Dore, is outlined as a major site. Today nothing remains of New Court except a place labled on the most detailed Ordnance Survey map as “New Ct. Farm.” My sources tell me the building on that site is new. On the other hand, the current Ordnance Survey map still locates the site of the 1571/5 landslip as “The Wonder.” Here is Speed compared to the OS map.