I always start with maps when I am writing about places and planning trips in the UK. Old maps in particular add layers of knowledge to a place. Cities change all the time but it is also fascinating to see the changes to even a rural landscape, places that we think have stayed the same for centuries. I like to read the place names for woods and hills and think about how they came about too.
That's lovely, Carol. Thanks for your comment. I agree that rural landscapes can be as interesting as urban and cityscapes. Where do you get your maps from, especially the old ones? Do you buy them, source them online, or are libraries a good place to find them?
I'm so glad I found you, Yasmin! I'm enjoying your work here and looking forward to more. I'm a novelist, and every book I've written is mapped in one way or another, for one reason or another. (My favorite experience was exploring (via maps and on the ground) the Lake District area around Near/Far Sawrey and including what I found in a series of novels about Beatrix Potter.) I'm launching a Substack in Sept--writing from our Texas place.
I look forward to seeing your Substack, Susan, and thanks for commenting here. Texas sounds fascinating. I'm pleased you're enjoying these posts. Beatrix Potter did so much good for the Lake District and it's a great place to explore. Did you see the film 'Miss Potter'? I think it's a beautiful portrayal of her.
I enjoyed the film (all but the Christmas tree scene: the Potters deliberately did NOT celebrate Christmas). Also Linda Lear's biography, which details her years of land conservation on behalf of the Nat'l Trust in the Lake District.
Thanks, Stuart, I'm pleased you enjoyed reading this post. Describing a map as a novel is apt - when we 'read' a map we search for information and usually find surprises along the way. Do you have a favourite map?
I love the 16th-17th explorer maps, and one of my faves is one I bought from the Bibliothèque Nationale de France by John Thornton that dates back to 1701. I came across it trying to find old maps that include Ko Pha Ngan in Thailand for a feature we commissioned on the island, and the map named it Pulo Sacoria, love that name! That sent me down a rabbit hole learning about Thornton, lost a day or two there! Story here (with the map extract): https://www.travelfish.org/longreads/ko-pha-ngan-then-now?coupon=happyfish
What a fascinating article, and thanks for the link. The story of the growth of a community, in a beautiful place, decimated by Covid19. I hope the future for those who continue to live there is bright (and wholesome!).
I do love a good map! They're fascinating as historical sources in terms of seeing how places have changed but also in terms of what people thought was worth recording (especially pre universal mapping orgs like the OS)
I’m not sure what I’d do without maps, especially old ones. They bring a place to life for me, especially through the names of woods, copses and even hedgerows (that I then research). On some of our old local maps they have individual trees, that I love to find and sit under. I often wonder how many other people have done the same and have planted themselves in their surroundings.
Thank you for your comment, Jane. I think a map that marks out individual trees is wonderful. It reminds me of one of the talks at the conference I mention in this post. It was about fengshui maps. These maps denote landmarks that have importance to the people who live in the locality and would certainly include specific trees as well as earth veins, hills and rivers.
Loved this! I find old maps so fascinating and have recently started collecting them. Feel like it’s going to become a very expensive hobby. Really enjoyed how you related it to Place Writing here. Out of interest is the writing project you mentioned here your thesis?
Thanks, Mikey. I'm glad you liked this post. Actually, I had all the lovely images of your Substack maps in my mind when I was writing it. And, yes, this is my thesis project. It's all-consuming at the moment.
I always start with maps when I am writing about places and planning trips in the UK. Old maps in particular add layers of knowledge to a place. Cities change all the time but it is also fascinating to see the changes to even a rural landscape, places that we think have stayed the same for centuries. I like to read the place names for woods and hills and think about how they came about too.
That's lovely, Carol. Thanks for your comment. I agree that rural landscapes can be as interesting as urban and cityscapes. Where do you get your maps from, especially the old ones? Do you buy them, source them online, or are libraries a good place to find them?
I'm so glad I found you, Yasmin! I'm enjoying your work here and looking forward to more. I'm a novelist, and every book I've written is mapped in one way or another, for one reason or another. (My favorite experience was exploring (via maps and on the ground) the Lake District area around Near/Far Sawrey and including what I found in a series of novels about Beatrix Potter.) I'm launching a Substack in Sept--writing from our Texas place.
I look forward to seeing your Substack, Susan, and thanks for commenting here. Texas sounds fascinating. I'm pleased you're enjoying these posts. Beatrix Potter did so much good for the Lake District and it's a great place to explore. Did you see the film 'Miss Potter'? I think it's a beautiful portrayal of her.
I enjoyed the film (all but the Christmas tree scene: the Potters deliberately did NOT celebrate Christmas). Also Linda Lear's biography, which details her years of land conservation on behalf of the Nat'l Trust in the Lake District.
Nothing gives me a fever dream like a good map, and a great map is a novel all of its own. Enjoyed this piece, thanks.
Thanks, Stuart, I'm pleased you enjoyed reading this post. Describing a map as a novel is apt - when we 'read' a map we search for information and usually find surprises along the way. Do you have a favourite map?
I love the 16th-17th explorer maps, and one of my faves is one I bought from the Bibliothèque Nationale de France by John Thornton that dates back to 1701. I came across it trying to find old maps that include Ko Pha Ngan in Thailand for a feature we commissioned on the island, and the map named it Pulo Sacoria, love that name! That sent me down a rabbit hole learning about Thornton, lost a day or two there! Story here (with the map extract): https://www.travelfish.org/longreads/ko-pha-ngan-then-now?coupon=happyfish
What a fascinating article, and thanks for the link. The story of the growth of a community, in a beautiful place, decimated by Covid19. I hope the future for those who continue to live there is bright (and wholesome!).
The NLS map site is a really good way to lose an hour or three... https://maps.nls.uk/
Oh goodness, Shelly. I have bookmarked this. Aren't maps wonderful? And isn't the internet wonderful as well?
I do love a good map! They're fascinating as historical sources in terms of seeing how places have changed but also in terms of what people thought was worth recording (especially pre universal mapping orgs like the OS)
I’m not sure what I’d do without maps, especially old ones. They bring a place to life for me, especially through the names of woods, copses and even hedgerows (that I then research). On some of our old local maps they have individual trees, that I love to find and sit under. I often wonder how many other people have done the same and have planted themselves in their surroundings.
Thank you for your comment, Jane. I think a map that marks out individual trees is wonderful. It reminds me of one of the talks at the conference I mention in this post. It was about fengshui maps. These maps denote landmarks that have importance to the people who live in the locality and would certainly include specific trees as well as earth veins, hills and rivers.
I own old maps of where we live but others are often available online. This is quite useful https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/maps/?layer=europe&xMin=3201757.86723338&yMin=3007828.41968226&xMax=3231757.86723338&yMax=3037828.41968226
It's a useful link, Carol, thank you!
Loved this! I find old maps so fascinating and have recently started collecting them. Feel like it’s going to become a very expensive hobby. Really enjoyed how you related it to Place Writing here. Out of interest is the writing project you mentioned here your thesis?
Thanks, Mikey. I'm glad you liked this post. Actually, I had all the lovely images of your Substack maps in my mind when I was writing it. And, yes, this is my thesis project. It's all-consuming at the moment.