Worcestershire – an old map by John Speed
Price range: £35.55 through £59.95
An Old Map of Worcestershire by John Speed
The soil of Worcestershire was fertile and was kind to the farming community. The many forests and small parks supported large herds of deer. There were many orchards carrying good crops of apples and pears. Pear trees also grew well in the fields and hedgerows along the roads. John Speede noted that “with their juice the inhabitants made a bastard kind of wine, called Perry, which is both pleasant and good in taste”. The county town of Worcester is shown on this antique map reproduction and, as can be seen from the aerial view, its cathedral physically dominated the city.
A stunning certified FINE ART PRINT on heavy textured art paper — not a poster
- Direct from the publisher — no middlemen
- Printed in-house in Cornwall
- Free UK delivery — international shipping available
- Produced to meet — and often exceed — museum-quality standards
Size
Fine Art Map Reproductions – Museum-Quality Printing
Unlike most online offerings, our maps are produced entirely in-house, not outsourced to print-on-demand or drop-shipping services. This allows complete control over quality while offering better value. Each map begins with a high-resolution original, carefully enhanced and printed to order using archival papers and pigment inks for exceptional clarity, depth, and longevity. Every piece is personally overseen — no map leaves our workshop unless it is of a quality we would be proud to display ourselves.
Authentic Old Map Paper & Accurate Colour Reproduction
Paper choice is essential to the authenticity of our maps. We use specially sourced 190gsm paper made in the UK from pure materials and traditionally pressed with natural woollen felts. This process creates a subtle, randomly textured surface that closely resembles an original antique document. Likewise the use of premium quality ink fully saturates the paper, producing remarkable clarity, depth, and historical character. Colour fastness and sharpness will remain good for in excess of 100 years!
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The Old Map Company of Great Britain offers a vast and carefully curated collection of the very finest expertly reproduced vintage maps. Our range includes works by renowned cartographers such as John Speed and Willem Blaeu, covering Scotland, England, and beyond. Free UK courier delivery is included, with EU, USA, and worldwide shipping available at cost and calculated at checkout. If you need assistance, our team is always happy to help you choose the perfect map.
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Historical Background
John Speed’s old map of Worcestershire brings together the county landscape, a detailed plan of Worcester and a miniature battle scene at Evesham. The River Severn runs through the composition, while heraldic shields and elaborate lettering give the map its distinctive decorative character.
Map Details
- Original title: Worcestershire described
- Mapmaker: John Speed
- Engraver: Jodocus Hondius
- Map date: 1610; first published in Speed’s The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine in 1611
- Edition reproduced: Later Bassett and Chiswell state, associated with the 1676 edition; their publisher’s imprint is visible on the map
- Area shown: Historic Worcestershire, with a Worcester town plan and Battle of Evesham vignette
Worcester beside the Severn
The large town plan at the upper right rewards a closer look. Buildings are drawn individually, the cathedral occupies a prominent position beside the river, and a lettered key identifies places within the city. Streets, gates and the river crossing sit alongside small scenes of working life. This is a view of Worcester before its later expansion, rather than a modern street plan.
Forests, hundreds and scattered county boundaries
Across the main map, settlements appear as small groups of buildings. Woodland is marked with clusters of trees, hills with pictorial peaks, and the county’s hundreds are named across the landscape. The Forest of Wyre, Droitwich, Pershore and Evesham can all be found. Several detached areas are carefully labelled as parts of Worcestershire or neighbouring counties, an intriguing reminder that historic county boundaries were not always neat continuous lines.
The Battle of Evesham
A small scene along the lower edge depicts the Battle of Evesham, dated 1265 in the accompanying inscription. It adds a narrative element to the geography, while the column of heraldic shields at the left records figures associated with Worcester. These features make the map especially rewarding for someone with a connection to the county.
Reproduced as a fine art print and supplied unframed, the map preserves the original’s engraved detail and warm appearance.
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