Old Map of Cambridgeshire 1645
Old Map of Cambridgeshire 1645 Detail from an old map of Cambridgeshire 1645 Detail from an old map of Cambridgeshire 1645 Framed Vintage Map Cambridgeshire on Wall

Old Map of Cambridgeshire – Joan Blaeu Cambridge Shire Map c.1645

Price range: £35.55 through £59.95

The map is especially attractive for its ornate Cambridge college arms and its historic depiction of the Isle of Ely before the fenland landscape was fully transformed by later drainage. For anyone looking for an old map of Cambridgeshire, or a vintage map of Cambridge and the surrounding county, this Blaeu map offers both decorative appeal and genuine historical interest Produced by the great Dutch cartographer Joan Blaeu, one of the leading mapmakers of the seventeenth century. The title, “Cantabrigiensis Comitatus, Cambridge Shire”, gives the county its Latinised atlas name, while the engraving itself presents Cambridge, Ely, Newmarket, Wisbech and the surrounding fenland in rich decorative detail.

At the centre of the county lies Cambridge, already renowned across Europe for its university. The borders of the map are filled with the arms of Cambridge colleges, including King’s College, Trinity Hall, Pembroke Hall, Corpus Christi College and St John’s College. These heraldic panels make the map especially interesting for anyone with a connection to the city, its colleges, or the long history of learning associated with Cambridge.

To the north, Blaeu marks “The Ile of Ely”, a name which reflects Ely’s distinctive position within the fenland landscape. Before the great drainage schemes transformed this part of eastern England, Ely stood above the surrounding wetlands almost like an island. Nearby names such as Wisbech, Littleport, Soham and Stretham still carry the memory of this low-lying country of rivers, marshes and causeways.

The map also includes Huntingdon, St Ives, St Neots, Peterborough and Newmarket, showing how historic county maps often reached beyond a simple modern boundary. Newmarket Heath is clearly marked to the south-east, an early reminder of the area which would later become world famous for horse racing.

One of the pleasures of this vintage map of Cambridge Shire is the mixture of familiar and older place-name forms. The Latin title, decorative coats of arms and beautifully engraved settlements give the print both historical interest and considerable decorative charm.

 

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3 years ago

Cambridgeshire, Cambridge and the Isle of Ely

This old map of Cambridgeshire gives a fascinating view of the county in the seventeenth century, when Cambridge, Ely and the surrounding fenland formed one of the most distinctive landscapes in eastern England.

The Latin title, “Cantabrigiensis Comitatus”, translates as the County of Cambridge, while the English wording “Cambridge Shire” reflects the older county name.

Cambridge itself appears at the heart of the map, surrounded by the arms of its historic colleges. These heraldic panels are one of the most appealing features of the engraving and make the map particularly attractive to anyone with a connection to the university, the city, or the wider county.

To the north, The Isle of Ely is shown as a separate and prominent area. The name recalls Ely’s raised position within the surrounding wetlands. Before later drainage works changed the region, this was a watery landscape of rivers, marshes, causeways and isolated settlements. Place names such as Wisbech, Littleport, Soham and Stretham still suggest the importance of water, movement and fenland geography.

The map also marks Newmarket Heath, Huntingdon, St Ives, St Neots and Peterborough, giving the print wider local interest beyond Cambridge alone.

For anyone looking for an old map of Cambridgeshire, or a vintage map of Cambridge and the surrounding county, Blaeu’s map remains one of the most decorative and historically rewarding examples.

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