Old DEVON Map John Speed in 1611 Exeter Plymouth Devonshire Dartmouth

This classic piece was produced by John Speed the best known mapmaker of the Stuart period. It is a wonderful example of a decorative county map that was produced over 400 years since. This is an antique reproduction of the original hand coloured map and therefore each original map is in itself unique.

This picturesque county with its coves and modern day seaside resorts of Paignton and Torquay are part of one of England's most ancient counties, Devon or known as Devonshire during Speed's time. The county town was and still is the cathedral town of Exeter (then Excester) which numbered nearly 10,000 souls by 1600. Devon's coast line has numerous fishing villages and the strategically important port of Plymouth. The remote, bleak yet beautiful Dartmoor (Dart More) fall within the county of Devonshire and has formed the setting for numerous works of literature.

Of Devonshire Speed stated:
Corn was the staple product of the valleys, and sheep and cattle were grazed on the hills. With the introduction of better breeds of sheep with finer fleeces in the late Middle Ages, not only had wool production become more profitable in Devonshire, but the weavers had prospered, producing a fine kersey much in demand, unlike the coarser cloth or straits which until then had been their mainstay. To this business was added in Elizabeth's reign the manufacture of lace (introduced by Flemish emigres fleeing religious persecution), thus making Devonshire one of the leading textile counties.
There was also mineral wealth. In and around Dartmoor there were veins or lodes of tin, which were mined by means of shafts, or exposed by cutting a trench across likely ground and then diverting a stream into it.

This full colour antique reproduction would look stunning when mounted and would form a striking centrepiece to any room.

This would make a wonderful gift for someone from Devon or who has Devon in their heart.

Features:
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• A visually beautiful stunning and detailed map of 17th century Devonshire which including rivers, wooded areas, place names and hill ranges
• A superb inset map of the county town of Exeter (Excester) including an index of places of interest
• Nine Coats of Arms are depicted of nobility linked with the Exeter and Devonshire area
• A superb crest of Dieu and Mon Droit - God and My Right, the motto of the British monarchy
• All offset with a lovely decorative border