-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Early Irish maps online at The National Archives, London Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:35:45 +0100 From: Rose Mitchell Reply-To: To: The National Archives has launched a digitised collection of early Irish maps (c.1558 – c.1610) from the State Papers Ireland at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/irishmaps.asp. There is an article about these maps on the BBC website at http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8307000/8307233.stm and an interview about them is currently playable there at http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/how_to_listen_to_today/default.stm There is also a story about the maps on the front page of The National Archives website http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/news/stories/373.htm?WT.hp=nf-39355 The collection comprises more than 70 maps, amongst the earliest cartographic representations of Ireland, depicting plantations, fortifications and townships during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I. Attractive and colourful, these maps include the famous 1567 map of Hibernia by John Goghe, and are normally held in our safe room. But now, as a result of our digitisation programme, these valuable treasures are accessible to millions globally. Some of the maps are by Richard Bartlett, on whom John Andrews has recently written in his book ‘The Queen's last map-maker’, obviously drawn before Bartlett was beheaded by inhabitants of Donegal. Other well known mapmakers of the day are represented, such as Robert Lythe, Francis Jobson, Richard Bartlett and John Norden. For general information about the map holdings of The National Archives please see our map web pages at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/maps Rose Mitchell Map archivist , The National Archives