Medieval road map england This Anglo-Saxon site played a key role in the economic and political development of England, connecting the power centers of Mercia, Northumbria, and Sep 18, 2014 · Although Hardyng’s map is the first to chart Scotland by itself, representations of a physically independent Scotland, or one almost detached from England, are common in earlier maps. About the Author Dr David Harrison is the author of The Bridges of Medieval England: Transport and Society 400-1800 (OUP, 2004), as well as numerous articles on medieval roads, bridges, and travel, including papers delivered at BAA conferences. 425 BC) Wittmoor Bog Trackway, Germany. This medieval road map is spread over seven pages and takes the viewer on a journey from London through major stops on a pilgrimage to Rome and Jerusalem (Connolly, 1999). Aug 4, 2007 · It could serve as a possible base map but would need to be revised for clarity and especially to have the map of Wales revised to reflect early 13 C. 1830 and in 1911. It is named after Richard Gough, who bequeathed the map to the Bodleian Library in Oxford 1809. A section of drover's road at Cotkerse near Blairlogie, Scotland A drovers' road, drove road, droveway, or simply a drove, is a route for droving livestock on foot from one place to another, such as to market or between summer and winter pasture (see transhumance). Funded partly by a grant from the Trust, David Harrison used exhaustive scholarly research and real-life exploration to reconstruct the road map of the country at the time, complete with points of interest MEDIEVAL ENGLAND: GENERAL MAPS For the location of major monuments, see maps included on their individual pages. You won’t be short of things to do in Jul 31, 2022 · The annotated map is clickable with annotations that include text, images from medieval manuscripts, and sometimes modern photographs of locations depicted in Paris’s maps. All spaces have an index id for easier reference. 1941 Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW) (Nazi German Supreme Command of the Armed Forces) 1:10k Jan 4, 2020 · On my Medieval Streets and Modern Roads of England map all roads called 'Street' are colored red and all streets called 'Road' are colored blue. Its precise dates of production and authorship are unknown. It look The interactive map content will soon be further revised and updated thanks to a three-year Leverhulme Trust-funded Gough Map Research Project (RPG-2019-070: Understanding the medieval Gough Map through physics, chemistry and history), based at the Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford. The interactive map content will soon be further revised and updated thanks to a three-year Leverhulme Trust-funded Gough Map Research Project (RPG-2019-070: Understanding the medieval Gough Map through physics, chemistry and history), based at the Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford. How did travellers plan their journeys? What aids did Discover how medieval road builders engineered networks with layered construction, drainage systems, and bridges that transformed travel and commerce in Europe. in the second map and shows even more clearly in the third. 7° in Britain. In essence, he found that the road network of the early eighteenth century was in place by the Middle Ages or earlier. This will suggest first which Roman roads were still in use in medieval times, and second what new lines of travel had come into use, thus distinguishing The Gough Map and English medieval roads. Click to zoom in. Freight lorries bound for the Continent still use prehistoric tracks, long-distance coaches hurtle along Roman roads and farmers depend on medieval lanes to reach their fields. Travelintimes. 484 BC – c. Feb 1, 2016 · The anthology sets Britain’s thoroughfares against the backdrop of the extant Roman road system and argues for a technique of road construction and care that is distinctively medieval. The use of the term "Anglia" or "England" in 16th-century maps, for example, reflects the growing sense of a distinct English national identity, separate from the broader concept of Britain. This means that it is very easy to see the spatial distribution of Streets and Roads in UK towns and cities. org is a historic online journey planner, created at the University of Cambridge, that allows users to plan journeys around England and Wales at three dates in time, c. A fully annotated and clickable version of Matthew Paris's map of Britain. These detailed maps make driving a pleasure! Travel in the Middle Ages was anything but easy. Street Map of Oxford, England with Military-Geographic Features. In this article, we will explore the intricacies of the medieval road network, from its Roman roots to its impact on medieval society. It indexes a huge number maps made available online by archives and libraries, including major From medieval times to 1850In the background, the map shows York at the dawn of the railway era, when York’s early railway station had arrived just inside its medieval walls. Medieval maps of England are particularly intriguing because they blend art, science, religion, and myth. Oxford: Oxford University Press Sanders, William Basevi. From grueling journeys on foot to muddy, impassable roads and slow-moving carts, medieval travelers faced challenges that make modern road trips seem luxurious. fifteenth century Mar 22, 2025 · The Gough Map is one of the most enigmatic and significant medieval maps of Britain. 49 These maps, often intricate and beautifully crafted, reflect the medieval worldview, combining geographical accuracy with religious symbolism and mythological elements. The history of cartography, or map-making, is a fascinating journey that tells us much about how people understood their world in the past. Historic maps This is an outline of the history of mapping in the British Isles, concentrating on the use of maps for building history. 09. The pattern of settlement and streets, most on the lines that we see today, is evident and it is clear from the map how densely settled the medieval and later city was. For links to online collections of historic maps by region see image finding aids. The The map of Achaemenid Empire and the section of the Royal Road, of the Persian Empire, noted by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus (c. “Map of England and Scotland (author unknown) preserved in the Bodleian Library; probable date, about 1300. 1453-1499. The Gough map – 14th century Donated to the Bodlian Library in the 19th century, the The easy-to-use getaway to historical maps in libraries around the world. s) Unless otherwise noted, all maps in this section are from Shepherd, William R. A team of historians and digital archaeologists has unveiled a pioneering Geographic Information Systems (GIS) database that reconstructs travel and communication routes in medieval England and Wales — using the enigmatic Gough Map, a 15th Jul 16, 2025 · The new map is based on a wide variety of evidence, including first-hand accounts of travellers of the period—such as the itineraries of William of Worcester and the antiquary John Leland—the surviving evidence of bridges and the evidence of the celebrated Gough Map, by far the most accurate medieval record of the topography and road network of Britain, now in the Bodleian Library Historic maps This is an outline of the history of mapping in the British Isles, concentrating on the use of maps for building history. With a few exceptions, the parts of the modern road network heading into the former walled area are the same as those which passed through the former medieval gates. Medieval England’s Road Network Mapped Using the Gough Map A new study uses the Gough Map to reconstruct medieval England’s road network, revealing how Roman routes shaped travel for centuries. It is faded and rubbed, stained in places, damaged here and Many of these appear to be located on important roads, but how significant were medieval highways in the construction of the map? As the English road system was largely stable between 1300 and 1750, a comparison of English settlements on the Gough Map with those on roads on Early Modern maps might shed light on this aspect of the map. 1680, c. Old Maps Online is a search engine for historical maps with a map interface. "A road map of the eighteenth or even the early twentieth century may provide a more accurate picture of the routes of late Anglo-Saxon England than the Roman roads which are usually depicted. Chester and Coventry alternated with Lichfield as the seat of the bishopric of that name. [2] It was known in Italy as the Via Francigena Jun 16, 2025 · The medieval road network was a complex system of routes that connected Europe during the Middle Ages. Matthew Paris’s Map of the Route to Jerusalem. A small-scale map showing the finally united kingdom of England, c. Jul 14, 2025 · This publication combines an attractive map with a concise, illustrated account of travel in England and Wales in the late Middle Ages, c. Royal forests do not necessarily include woodland. Many of these appear to be located on important roads, but how significant were medieval highways in the construction of the map? The Gough Map or Bodleian Map[1] is a Late Medieval map of the island of Great Britain. There was little major road engineering in the medieval period and no national system for road clearing and maintenance. A royal forest, occasionally known as a kingswood (Latin: silva regis), [1][2] is an area of land with different definitions in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. It indexes a huge number maps made available online by archives and libraries, including major The Great North Road through Huntingdon was definitely used during the medieval period but it was often not the favoured route from London to the north east in the early years. Jan 11, 2021 · by Nina Dengg, Team Magdeburg While there has been much writing about travel on roads here at Viabundus, we still haven’t addressed the question of what medieval land roads actually looked like. A map of Roman roads in Roman Britain Roman roads in Britannia were initially designed for military use, created by the Roman army during the nearly four centuries (AD 43–410) that Britannia was a province of the Roman Empire. Jul 25, 2017 · A wonderful way to tour England is by visiting its many medieval castles. The map shows topographical features such as rivers, mountains and islands, as well as approximately 600 settlements. In contrast to the road system in medieval cities, where we already have early evidence for paved roads, the medieval country road system was known for its bad condition (if anything is known about The Gough Map is considerably more detailed than the earlier thirteenth-century maps of Great Britain by Matthew Paris (c. . He acquired the map from the estate of the antiquarian Thomas "Honest Tom" Martin in 1774. 1450 - 1500. There are many maps of Medieval England which go into great detail on settlement names but they aren't as easy to read as this one. It looks afresh at the relationship between the road as a material condition of daily life and the formation of local and national communities. Its mysteries beckon modern explorers to: Study the intricate details of medieval towns and landmarks Decode the meaning behind its symbols and notations The map is available for purchase at Stanfords in Covent Garden (and online) and online at Waterstones. boundaries. Interactive maps of medieval London: The ‘Agas Map’: “The Agas Map, The Map of Early Modern London” website makes available an interactive version of the so-called Agas map (named after a surveyor who was mistakenly thought to have been involved in making the map), showing a remarkably detailed view of London’s streets and buildings as they were in the mid-sixteenth century, before Browse our huge database of castles in England, from the world famous Warwick Castle to the lesser known motte and bailey castles scattered across the country. We argue on the basis of archaeological, physical landscape, onomastic, documentary, cartographic and other historical evidence that the network of red distance lines on the Gough Map of Great Britain, dated c. One of key outcomes of Linguistic Geographies is to make available online a searchable version of the Gough Map based upon a digital image of the map The line of the road was later the southwestern border of the Danelaw with Wessex and Mercia, and Watling Street was numbered as one of the major highways of medieval England. Published in October 1979 as a companion to the modern map "British Isles". Canterbury map – 1025-50 2. There is a map of Wales, c. Oct 14, 2015 · From main roads connecting towns and cities to meandering green lanes and mysterious paths to nowhere, our highways and byways are steeped in history. Apr 5, 2012 · Medieval roads are based in ancient tracks across Britain and Roman roads that lasted centuries. Jul 1, 2025 · This paper presents a new Geographic Information Systems database of travel and communications routes in England and Wales derived from medieval cartographic evidence. A number of these routes have been protected through scheduling: is “This project presents an annotated copy of Matthew Paris’s c. Historical Atlas, (New York: Barnes and Noble, 1929) This publication combines an attractive map with a concise, illustrated account of travel in England and Wales in the late Middle Ages, c. com Copy text Throughout, towns are shown in some detail, the lettering for London and York coloured gold, while other principal medieval settlements such as Bristol, Chester, Gloucester, Lincoln, Norwich, Salisbury and Winchester are lavishly illustrated. The use of numerals to indicate road distances in leagues is unique in comparison to all other pre-17th century maps of Britain. This is an early medieval list and here is a medieval warning from the guide: On leaving that country of Gascony, to be sure on the road of St James, there are two rivers that flow near the village of Saint-Jean-Sorde, one to the right and one to the left, and of which one is called brook and the other river. Symbolizing a crucial juncture in the development of cartographic science. 1200, in English Historical Documents, III, 1189-1327, ed. 1250 map of Britain (BL Cotton MS Claudius D VI), made using Omeka’s Neatline extension. Mar 28, 2024 · Today, we explore the medieval era and the classification of cities and roads based on their roles within historic and fantasy kingdoms and nations! Mar 2, 2025 · Introduction Ermine Street was one of the most important trade routes in early medieval England, linking London to York and serving as a vital commercial and military road for the Anglo-Saxons. England in the Middle Ages concerns the history of England during the medieval period, from the end of the 5th century through to the start of the early modern period in 1485. The first seven pages prefacing Matthew Paris’s Chronica majora make up a kind of medieval road map linking London to the most important centres of medieval pilgrimage in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, Rome and Jerusalem. An interactive map for exploring settlements and royal journeys. MAPS OF GREAT BRITAIN (for the location of major monuments, see maps included on their individual p. This network played a crucial role in the social and economic fabric of medieval Europe, facilitating the movement of people, goods, and ideas. May 27, 2024 · As the medieval period drew to a close, maps began to play an increasingly important role in the formation and consolidation of national identity. It includes major and minor locations, major and minor routes, sea routes, canals The Great North Road was the main highway between England and Scotland from medieval times until the 20th century. View a map of Medieval Britain in 1215 - the year that king John was forced to sign the Magna Carta and so start England on the road to democracy. Historical Atlas, (New York: Barnes and Noble, 1929). In an era marked by exploration and expanding horizons, these maps served as valuable tools for navigation, understanding the world, and asserting power. Oct 31, 2025 · From the tribes that once inhabited the land, to the Roman Era, to the English Renaissance period, England is an island with a long and fascinating history. Part of the route originally taken by the northern wall is commemorated, although now only loosely followed, [44] by the road also named London Wall. The Royal Forest of Exmoor in Devon. 424. Richard Gough acquired it for half-a-crown on 20 May 1774 at the sale of the collection of Thomas Martin of Palgrave, where it was offered as Lot 405 and described as ‘a curious and Jul 31, 2018 · Watch Now 1. A new study uses the Gough Map to reconstruct medieval England’s road network, revealing how Roman routes shaped travel for centuries. Clicking on any label gives a translation, transcription, and Wikipedia link. Aug 5, 2025 · Regions in England A little country with an illustrious history, England ’s dynamic cities, sleepy villages, lush green moorlands and craggy coastlines create a rich cultural and natural landscape. Now Historic UK has put together an interactive map and list of Britain’s castles to help you design the perfect May 21, 2025 · Researchers digitally reconstruct medieval England and Wales’ travel routes, revealing how Roman roads shaped post-Roman mobility over a thousand years. Inspired by the medieval Gough Map, beautifully designed and adorned and with clear symbols, the map marks main routes, bridges, the major towns and cities, battle sites, inns, and important sacred and secular buildings at the time of the Wars Welcome to Travel in times, from CAMPOP. First used by the ancient Britons, mainly between the areas of modern Canterbury and St Albans using a natural ford near Westminster, the road was later paved by the Romans. It's also home to laid-back coastal communities, medieval villages, and thriving cosmopolitan cities Drover's Road near Latteridge, South Gloucestershire, England. The Roman Appian Way, near Casal Rotondo, to the southeast of Rome, Italy Historic roads (or historic trails in the US FIGURE 54: MAP SHOWING THE RIVERS THAT MIGHT SHOW IN THE BROOCH? ilbury road leading to Rochester and turning to Oldbury and southward to Tonbridge and FIGURE 56: SEQUENTIAL MAP OF GOVERNING OF BRITAIN IN THE EARLY MEDIEVAL AGE. History map of the British Isles about 1300; illustrating Seats of an archbishopric in England, Seats of a bishopric in England. 1190 Embarking on a The Gough Map and English medieval roads. Explore England’s northern and southern counties, rural shires, medieval towns and major cities, using our map of England to start planning your trip. At first glance, the Gough Map is unassuming, hard to decipher, even baffling. 1000 Larger Maps Southern England in the Eighth Century [file size: 276k] A large-scale map of southern England (up to the Humber), showing the then settlements and political divisions, and with lots of historical notes in the margins. It's also a place of immense natural beauty, from its rolling lowland hills to the hidden cove with dramatic cliffs in Nanjizal Beach. A series of maps related to the medieval period including Saxon invasions, Norman invasions, invasions for France, the Crusades, the War of the Roses and several battle mapo. A new study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science offers a revealing look at how England’s medieval road network was shaped by the Roman infrastructure that preceded it. Sep 13, 2020 · Three stone bridges straddling the River Gowy form part of the medieval road from London to Holyhead—despite a common nickname, they're not Roman. The Shires of England: Again, we are constantly referring to ‘calling our the Fyrd of …’ which sounds very heroic but The Gough Map, one of the great medieval treasures of cartography, arrived at the Bodleian Library in 1809 as part of Richard Gough’s bequest, an eighteenth-century antiquary and expert on British Topography. (The trackways date to the 4th and 7th century AD). 2015 It is axiomatic that travel and transportation in the human past adapted itself to physical obstacles in the landscape. Updated version of my map of medieval castles, fortresses, ports and the road network of England & Wales c. In this article, we will explore the art and science of medieval Maps, 1000 – 1225 – Contents of this web page Maps below include: England in Stephen’s Reign The Regions of France Normandy The Crusades – Outremer in 1140, 1190 and 1193 Royal Forests in England England in the reign of Stephen Regions of France in medieval times Solid shaded areas are the demesne land of the French crown, the Ile de Jul 1, 1976 · The medieval road system of England and Wales has never been studied in any detail. This article attempts to bring together the cartographic evidence of the Gough and Paris maps and the more indirect evidence of three royal itineraries. The map dating from the 14th century is one of the country”s most historical documents and formed the basis for nearly all the maps that followed. 1200-59), and in the context of studying the medieval travel and communications infrastructure its particular value lies in the network of red lines almost 5000 kilometres in length marked as connecting various settlements The Map of Great Britain circa A. BB 28. [2] Numerous copies of it have been made, with an interactive See full list on medievalists. Monasteries, royal and baronial castles in England, Scotland and Wales, and the Cinque Ports. " There was major investment in transport in the two centuries after the Norman Conquest, with bridges among the principal foci of a new road system. 3. The king would remind local lords and churchmen of their responsibility to maintain his highway and maintenance could also be part of manorial agreements. D. Unless otherwise noted, all maps in this section are from: Shepherd, William R. The map details London between 1270 and 1300 when its population reached a peak not reached again until the mid 16th century. It is estimated that about 2,000 mi (3,200 km) of paved trunk roads (surfaced roads running between two towns or cities) were constructed and maintained throughout the May 19, 2016 · Abstract In this chapter I address a gap in the study of medieval space, namely that there has been no systematic study by either medievalists or road historians of how European road travellers in the later Middle Ages found their way around: between countries, from one part of a country to another, or within unfamiliar towns and cities. Medieval Map Europe c. The map above is probably the most detailed map of Medieval Trade Routes in Europe, Asia and Africa in the 11th and 12th centuries you can find online. 1190 Medieval Europe Map c. 1360 known as the Gough Map Preserved in The Bodleian Library, Oxford. The 13th century Mathew Paris maps suggest a more westerly route crossing the Great Ouse at Stony Stratford (Milton Keynes) then via Northampton and Leicester. Following the publication of the Map of Tudor London in 2018, its companion map shows London at the height of the medieval period. Old maps of Oxford on OldMapsOnline. Jul 29, 2016 · The Later-Medieval Inquisitions Post Mortem: Mapping the Medieval Countryside and Medieval Society is the product of collaboration between the University of Winchester, the Department for Digital Humanities at King’s College London, and the Arts and Humanities Research Council, which funded the parent project, and the Boydell Press (publisher). Road network modified in light of deeper analysis of the military campaigns. UCL Home UCL Early Medieval Atlas Map Data Omnidirectional map of England and Wales Omnidirectional map of England and Wales Alessio Palmisano, Stuart Brookes and Andrew Reynolds UCL Institute of Archaeology 15. Harry Rothwell (London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1975), p. ” The annotated map is clickable with annotations that include text, images from medieval manuscripts, and sometimes modern photographs of locations depicted in Paris’s maps. Roadworks: Medieval Britain, medieval roads is a groundbreaking interdisciplinary study of roads and wayfinding in medieval England, Wales and Scotland. net Oct 8, 2025 · A Rochester Bridge Trust-supported project has brought to life the transport networks and geography of England and Wales during the late 1400s. IMAGES OF MEDIEVAL ART AND ARCHITECTURE MEDIEVAL ENGLAND: GENERAL MAPS For the location of major monuments, see maps included on their individual pages. Aug 11, 2011 · The oldest surviving map of British has been digitally released into a Google style interactive map. This map of Medieval England contains a wealth of historical information and sites as well as beautiful illustrations. Sep 4, 2025 · Map created by reddit user martinjanmansson. ENGLAND Physical map : Shepherd, p. 51 Britain around 600 Aug 8, 2025 · The oldest British road map continues to spark curiosity and inspire research. The maps below include: Roman Britain A general map of the people of Britain in the 6th Century The Heparchy – those 7 Anglo Saxon Kingdoms The main English rivers: might sound a bit daft, but rivers as a land mark are constantly referred to throughout the Viking Age. Photo taken during an excavation. 49 Roman Britain : Shepherd, p. These maps provide valuable insights into medieval society, culture, and beliefs. Each examination of the Gough Map unveils new details about medieval life, from travel routes to settlement patterns. This chapter opens by noting the growth of towns and trade in England in the medieval period, which required a fully functioning transport system, of which roads must have been the backbone, supplemented by river and sea-borne trade. When England emerged from the collapse of the Roman Empire, the economy was in tatters and many of the towns abandoned. The Gough Map and English medieval roads. It was also the first map to depict a recognisably accurate picture of Britain's coast, although the accuracy is much greater in England than in Scotland, at the time part of another kingdom. By analysing the red lines on the fifteenth-century Gough Map, a richly detailed depiction of Great Britain, the researchers have traced the persistence of Roman roads well into the medieval period, while also England road maps are perfect for unmatched travel and tourist experiences via this culturally rich country. Article for people interested in escorted small group history tours of England. Inspired by the medieval Gough Map, beautifully designed and adorned and with clear symbols, the map marks main routes, bridges, the major towns and cities, battle sites, inns, and important sacred and secular buildings at the time of the Wars Credit this Map Map of Medieval Europe, circa 1300, provided by TheCollector. Map of Britain by Matthew Paris – 13th century Paris was a Benedictine monk who was well known in 13th century England for writing and illustrating several manuscripts including a number of maps. Feb 14, 2024 · From a small island in the Venetian lagoon, a 15th-Century monk somehow designed an astonishingly accurate planisphere of the world. The website allows users to explore the nature of travel in the past and how it improved over the period 1670 to 1911, based on the latest Sep 18, 2021 · Article about Medieval Britain and general life for the peoiple of the day. This particular image of Britain features around 250 named towns. The term forest in the ordinary modern understanding refers to an area of wooded land; however, the original medieval sense was closer to the Jan 1, 2016 · A groundbreaking, interdisciplinary study of roads and wayfinding in medieval England, Wales, and Scotland. Apr 8, 2008 · As a specialist in medieval illuminated manuscripts, my excursions to the Middle Ages are normally undertaken in a library, but in 2007 I used this extraordinary map to make a series of journeys around medieval Britain for a BBC Four television series. ” In The Thirty-Second Report of the Deputy Keeper of Public Records 1. It then looks at the different sources available to attempt to describe the national medieval transport network. [1] Many drovers' roads were ancient routes of unknown age; others Maps of Early Britain Roman Britain Anglo-Saxon Migration Saxon, Dane, Norman Kingdoms Plantagenet England Tudor/Stuart England Scotland Norman/Plantagenet Battles Tudor/Stuart Battles From medieval to Victorian city (Second edition)See how you can contribute to our projects and research. It became a coaching route used by mail coaches travelling between London, York and Edinburgh. Map of the Via Francigena The Via Francigena (Italian: [ˈviːa franˈtʃiːdʒena]), also known as Francisca or Romea, is an ancient road and pilgrimage route running from the cathedral city of Canterbury in England, through France and Switzerland, to Rome [1] and then to Apulia, Italy, where there were ports of embarkation for the Holy Land. Sep 18, 2023 · At the beginning of this manuscript, he drew a map showing the pilgrimage route from London to Jerusalem. I would love a decent large scale map of the Medieval British Isles which showed: forests, roads, castles, cathedral cities, abbeys/minsters, royal burghs, market towns, and any other important settlements. In 2004, David Harrison published The Bridges of Medieval England: Transport and Society 400-1800, which showed that the records of bridges provided a thorough and unique way to determine the transport infrastructure of roads over many centuries. svsx ilwnx mpfzki dvc kkeh mhg dphp gjj urwa pdkifs fsx stao oaaxpk bvbj iync