Old Map of Cambridgeshire (1610) by John Speed

This historic map of Cambridgeshire, engraved by John Speed in the early 17th century, captures the county at a time when much of the landscape was still shaped by open fenland, river routes, and scattered market towns. The map includes a detailed inset plan of Cambridge, along with decorative elements typical of Speed’s work, offering both geographical and historical insight. A carefully prepared fine art reproduction, printed on heavy textured paper using a twelve-colour process to capture the character and tone of the original engraving.

John Speed’s map of Cambridgeshire forms part of one of the most important atlases of early modern Britain. Compiled in the first years of the 17th century, his work represents a transition between medieval cartography and the more precise county surveys that followed.

Cambridgeshire at this time was defined by its relationship with water. Much of the county consisted of low-lying fenland, particularly around the Isle of Ely, where settlements were shaped by seasonal flooding and limited routes of access. The map reflects this landscape, showing rivers, drainage patterns, and the positioning of towns relative to these natural features.

The inclusion of Cambridge as an inset town plan adds further interest. It highlights the university city as a centre of learning and importance even at this early date, with recognisable street patterns and key buildings already established, making it particularly useful for those looking for an old map of the city itself.

As with many of Speed’s maps, decorative cartouches, coats of arms, and figures are included, combining practical geography with visual richness. These elements make the map as appealing for display as it is for historical interest.

Above: The verso of the map.

THE DESCRIPTION OF CAMBRIDGESHIRE.

CAMBRIDGESHIRE, written by the English Saxons, Grentbrigescire, lieth bounded upon the North with Lincoln-shire and Norfolk; upon the East with Norfolk and Suffolk; upon the South with Hartford-shire and Essex; and upon the West with Bedford and Huntingdon-shires.

(2) This Province is not large, nor for ayre greatly to be liked, having the Fens to spread upon her North, and lying neere the Sea for the rest: from whose furthermost point unto Roiston in the South, are five and thirty miles; but in the broadest it is not fully twenty: the whole in circumference, I recken, by the compasse of many indents, one hundred twenty and eight miles.

(3) The soile (both differing both in ayre and commodities:) the Fenny overcharged with waters: the South is Champion, and yieldeth Corne in abundance; with Meadowing and Pasture upon both sides of the River of Cam, which divideth that part of the Shire in the midst, upon whose East-bank, the Muses have built their most good Seat; who with plentious Nurserie, they have kindly continued for these many hundred yeares.

(4) For from ancient Grantchester, Cairgrant by Antoninus, now Cambridge, the other brest and nurse-mother of all pious literature, have flowed full streames of learning into all other parts of this Land and elsewhere: ancient indeed; if that storie be rightly written, that will have it built by Gurgunt a Spaniard, three hundred yeeres before the birth of our Saviour; who thither first brought and planted the Muses. This City Grant-bridge by the tyrannie of time hath lost her owne beauty and her professors admiration stained, so that in Bede’s daies, seven hundred yeeres after the Word became flesh, it is described to be a little olde Citie, and as yet retaineth the memorie onely of her walls, the height and compasse whereof may be seene.

Of this City, in the yeere of Christ 1114 (as the Monk of Bury writeth) some Scholars received their Baptisme, and became Preachers of the Gospell of Christ among the Britains; which happened in the Raigne of Hadrian the Emperour. But when the Picts, Scots, Hunnes and Saxons had laid all things waste, and with their savage sword cut our necks of learning, then this (as the rest) yeelded to destruction, and all lay forlorn till the Saxon times were called againe unto civill; when Sigebert the first Christian King of the East-Angles, from the example of France, whither he had been banished, built Schooles in his kingdome, and here at Grantchester the chief, recalling thither the Professors of Artes and Sciences, as the Story recordeth, and Traditions doe sound.

But afterwards, as it seemeth, by their increase being straightned, the Students complained (as the Prophets did of Elisha) that the place was too little for them; and then, in their enlarging more Northward, seated themselves neere unto the Bridge, whereupon the place began to be called Grant-bridge, though others from the crooked River Cam will have it named Cam-bridge. This place (though sacred, and exempted from Mars, as by some tokens (when the Dane invaded) the Danes in their cruelties regarded not, who, whether often wintered there their spoiles, and left the scars of their savage feeres over this Land: and in the yeere 1010, when Swaine in his fiercenesse had borne all in his bosome, this place was no place for Scholars to be in: It was not almost any where safe for men to live.

Yet when the Norman had the rule, and their head continued, and able Philip from Godstow into St. John’s Isle, Gilbert de Monks, with Odo, Jeremie, and Ralf his sonnes, after the like Monastical Professors, in the raigne of King Henry the first, fortified this little Island, and in a public Barn read the Liberal of Grammar, Logick, and Rhetorick, and Gilbert Divinity upon the Sabbath and Festival daies. From this little fountain (saith Peter Blesensis) grew a great River, which made all England plentiful, by the many Masters and Teachers proceeding out of Cambridge, as out of a holy Paradise of God. The first Colledge therein endowed with Possessions was Peter-house, built by Hugh Balsham Bishop of Ely, in the yeare of Grace 1284. Whose godly example many others followed; so that at this day there are sixteen most noble Colledges and Halls, for building, beauty, endowments, and store of Students to be admired, and, that unless it be in other ancient Cities, the like are not found in all Europe.

But at what time it was made an University, let Robert de Kenington tell you: he saith, that Pope John (helped by King Edward the first, Grandsires, of a School, by the Court of Rome, was made an University, such as Oxford is. Laity, the Meridian line cutting this Province neere this City, is distant from the furthest West-point, according to Mercator, 202 degrees, 50 scruples, and on the Arch of the same Meridian lying between the Equator and Tropicall-point, is 52 degrees, 20 scruples.

(5) Another City renowned in this Shire is Ely, by the Saxons Elge, had a name of the repletion and multitudes of Elyes (Eeles) that there were found: built by Audrey wife to Tonbert a Prince of Lyndsey: who in this place set a power of a Monastery: Having departed from her second Husband Ecgfrid King of Northumberland, devoted the rest of her time to Christ, and built here a Monastery, whereof she became the first Abbesse. This is that Audry whom the vulgar doth so often talk of; often said by Bedes words of Wincestre, who stood it with Monks; unto whom King Edgar granted the jurisdiction over four Hundreds and an half; within the Fens and the East-Angles limits, which to this day are called the Liberties of S. Audry: after whose dayes many Nobles of the Conqueror in large Revenues; that as Malmesbury saith, the Abbot lived in princely sort in Bishops-wise; and had great power and dominion. And of later times the Monks thereof became so wealthy, and that old decayed Church being new, rich and meetly adored, they kept within it.

This early description, alongside the map itself, offers a detailed view of Cambridgeshire as it appeared in the early 1600s.

N.B. We do not reproduce this verso on our editions.

The map includes and/or covers the locations of the following towns, villages and hamlets:

Abington Pigotts

Arrington

Ashley

Babraham

Balsham

Barrington

Barton

Bassingbourn

Bottisham

Bourn

Boxworth

Brinkley

Burrough Green

Burwell

Caldecote

Cambridge

Carlton-cum-Willingham

Castle Camps

Chatteris

Cherry Hinton

Cheveley

Childerley Chippenham Comberton Conington Coton Cottenham Coveney Croxton Croydon Doddington Downham Dry Drayton Dullingham Duxford Elm Elsworth Eltisley Fen Ditton Fen Drayton Fordham Fowlmere Foxton Fulbourn Gamlingay Girton Grantchester Graveley Great Abington Great Eversden Great Shelford Great Wilbraham Grunty Fen Guilden Morden Haddenham Hardwick Harlton Harston Haslingfield Hatley St George Hauxton Hildersham Hinxton Histon Horningsea Horseheath Ickleton Impington Isleham Kennett Kingston Kirtling Knapwell Landbeach

Landwade

Leverington

Linton

Litlington

Little Abington

Little Eversden

Little Gransden

Little Shelford

Little Wilbraham

Littleport

Lolworth

Longstanton

Longstowe

Madingley

Manea

March

Melbourn

Meldreth

Mepal

Milton

Newmarket All Saints

Newton

Oakington

Orwell

Outwell

Over

Pampisford

Papworth Everard

Papworth St Agnes

Parson Drove

Rampton

Royston

Sawston

Shepreth

Shingay

Shudy Camps

Snailwell

Soham

Stapleford

Stetchworth

Stow-cum-Quy

Stretham

Sutton

Swaffham Bulbeck

Swaffham Prior

Swavesey

Tadlow

Teversham

Thetford

Thorney

Thriplow

Toft

Trumpington

Tydd St Giles

Upwell

Waterbeach

Welches Dam

Wentworth

West Wickham

West Wratting

Westley Waterless

Weston Colville

Whaddon

Whittlesey

Whittlesford

Wicken

Wilburton

Willingham

Wimpole

Wisbech

Wisbech St Mary

Witcham

Witchford

Wood Ditton