Old Map of Huntingdonshire

Historical Background

John Speed’s old map of Huntingdonshire pairs the historic county with separate plans of Huntingdon and Ely. The Fenland waterways around Ramsey contrast with the settlements farther south along the Great Ouse. Hunting figures, open-book inscriptions and nine heraldic shields turn this relatively small county into one of the most densely decorated sheets in the series.

Two towns, with a deliberate distinction

Huntingdon’s plan occupies the upper left and Ely’s the upper right. Each has a lettered key and its own scale. Ely lies outside the county: the adjacent inscription acknowledges that fact and explains its inclusion. The cathedral dominates the Ely view, while Huntingdon is shown with its streets, river crossing and surrounding fields. The county view and the enlarged insets can be read together, but they use different scales.

The Fens before later transformation

Ramsey Fenn and Ramsey Mere are prominent towards the north and east, surrounded by channels and low-lying land. Farther south, Huntingdon, St Ives and St Neots trace the river landscape, while Kimbolton appears inland to the west. The named hundreds include Norman Cross, Hurstingstone, Leightonstone and Tosland. The map records an early configuration of settlements and wetlands; its waterways should not be expected to match those of the later drained Fens.

Hunting in the title and the town

The title cartouche is flanked by hunters with dogs and a stag. Huntingdon’s inset carries further small scenes around the built-up area, with mills and a market cross among the features recorded by the town-map catalogue. The imagery connects the county’s name with hunting, while the historical book panels and earls’ shields give a separate account of its status and past.

An early engraving in a later publisher state

The bottom signature names Jodocus Hondius and bears the engraved date 1606. The town-map catalogue groups the Huntingdon plan under 1610 and records a manuscript predecessor dated to 1607 with some uncertainty. These dates concern different stages of preparation and should not be collapsed into a single survey date. Speed’s atlas first appeared in 1611; the Bassett and Chiswell imprint on this reproduction belongs to a later state associated with 1676. The print is supplied unframed.

HUNTINGTONSHIRE
Speed associates Huntingdonshire, formerly known as Hundedune, with the Iceni of Roman Britain and, later, the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia. The county is bordered by the River Nene to the north (which also forms part of Northamptonshire), and is adjacent to Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire to the south, and Ely to the east. The county is naturally separated by a body of water, known as the Benwick Stream, and possibly enhanced by human efforts (Canutus Delph, or the “Canute Ditch”). It was part of the realm shared by King Alfred or possibly even earlier by Offa, the king of Mercia, who divided land among principalities.

In the early years, the country was covered by forests, which were eventually managed and regulated by the kings, including laws enacted by King Canute to regulate hunting and the management of wild beasts. The king’s forest laws were of great importance, and during the reign of Henry I, forest jurisdiction was formalized and enforced by forest officials known as “Forest Justices,” tasked with ensuring that the king’s laws were followed in relation to hunting, timber, and forestland.

In the 12th century, the forest boundaries and the land administration were revisited by Henry II, and this continued into the reign of the later reign of Henry III. Land was assessed in terms of “Hides” (a unit of land measurement), and the assessment system involved counting acres based on the quality and productivity of the soil.

THE HUNDREDS AND PARISHES
Huntingdonshire was divided into four or sometimes five hundreds, each containing several parishes. These parishes, often measured in terms of “Hides” or plough-lands, were further subdivided into areas based on the strength of the lordship or the fertility of the land. A “Hide” was a unit of fiscal assessment, rather than a fixed acreage; its extent varied by location.

Each of these parishes also had markets, and some were measured in “Virgates” or “Yardlands,” which represented a fraction of the land assessed in “Hides.” This method of land measurement was standardized across most of England, except in a few places like Kent and Lincolnshire, which used different systems.

GOVERNANCE AND COURTS
Huntingdonshire’s legal and administrative structure was complex, with several levels of justice administered by various figures. Initially, local issues were handled by the “Hundred Court,” where civil and minor criminal matters were judged by the local freemen or barons. The next level of court was the county or sheriff’s court, where more serious cases were heard, often involving the local Earl or Sheriff.

Higher judicial matters, including more serious civil cases and ecclesiastical disputes, were handled by the king’s court or specialized royal officers. Courts were held regularly, and the system of “view of frankpledge” (a form of communal responsibility) and “sessions of the peace” continued to operate throughout this period.

HUNTINGTON – THE COUNTY TOWN
Huntington, the main town of the county, was strategically located on a hill overlooking the river Ouse. It was known as “Hundredown” or “Hunters’ Down,” a name reflecting its history tied to hunting. By the time of the Conqueror, it was divided into four wards, with significant market activity and responsibility for the local administration. It was the site of many royal charters and had a history of royal influence, including the establishment of a hospital by David, Earl of Huntington, and later the development of religious institutions, such as the Priory of Black Channons and the establishment of a hospice.

The town was known for its strong economic and political importance, with annual elections and governance by two Bailiffs. It held significant autonomy, with its own seal and a long history of royal support.

OTHER HISTORICAL NOTES
The region saw numerous religious foundations, such as the Monastery of Ramsey, which grew wealthy and influential through land donations and royal favor. In time, however, these religious estates were dissolved, often due to political or financial pressures. Many of these sites, like the monastery at Ramsey, contributed to the local economy and were centers of learning and charity.

Ramsey itself was founded in the 10th century by Earl Aylwin and grew to encompass hundreds of acres of land. Over time, it became a center of power, with the abbey and its leaders holding significant influence in the region, until it was ultimately dissolved during the reign of Henry VIII.