Essex Parks on the Map
great accuracy; the outline of the Chalkney Wood of 1598 is shown to be identical with that of
modern Ordnance Survey Maps.
A slightly later, and much less accurate map of the Keepers Walks in Epping Forest c.1630 (but
possibly earlier and again surveyor unknown), shows twelve parks in south-west Essex (notably
Warlies is not shown):
Bedfords Havering Pyrgo
Copped Hall Latton Waltham
Gaynes (Theydon) Nelmes Wanstead
Harold's Ongar (Vnger) Wintry
The parks are shown in stylised form with no accurate detail (Bedfords appears to be depicted
without a pale). Waltham Park is depicted without being named, but it docs show Havering Park in
the last years of its existence, before being disparked in 1652. The original of Illis map is in the
Public Record Office.
Estate maps, although utilitarian in purpose, were often decorated with an elaborate cartouche and
polar indicator, particularly in the 18* century, to delight the eye of those who had commissioned
them. Armorial bearings were sometimes incorporated into the maps - the survey or Thomas Browne
(1702-80) was better known as a herald, becoming Garter King of Arms in 1774. Browne surveyed
Lord Waldegrave's estate at Navestock in 1726. On the map he shows decoys and deer in the park
and also incorporated the Waldegrave Arms. Many surveyors appear to have had other jobs - many-
were teachers and farmers doing land surveying as a sideline - perhaps as and when the weather or
farming calendar permitted.
The 18th and early 19th century was the golden age of the land surveyor- some outstanding maps of
Essex parks were made during this period - John Rocque - Wanstead (1735); Edward John Eyre -
St Osyth's (1762); John Mackoun - Barrington Hall (1766); Peter Bernard Scale - Mistley Hall
(1788) and Henry Clayton-Thorndon (1805) amongst many. Rocque and Scale, both Huguenots,
bring us to John Chapman and Peter Andre - the latter also a Huguenot. Scale lived for a time at
Warley. His sister Mary Ami married John Rocque and carried-on the business after her husband's
death in 1763. It was probably she who solicited subscriptions for a county map of Essex - resulting
in what is one of the finest pieces of 18th (or indeed any) century cartography - the Chapman and
Andre map surveyed 1772 - 74 and published in 1777. John Chapman of Dalham. Suffolk, was the
surveyor.
The map of 26 engraved sheets at a scale of 2 inches to a mile, is an astonishing piece of work -
bearing direct comparison with the modern Ordnance Survey. It is one of the most important
references for a landscape historian working on Essex today. It accurately defines saltings, marsh,
fens, heaths, commons, village greens, tyes, ancient royal forests, coppiced woodlands and from
the point of view of this publication - parks.
Firstly it names the then owner of the park (some of these were subscribers to die map). The park
boundary is also indicated, most parks are shown with a pale, Audley End is shown with its wall
(Braxted's wall did not happen until 1825). Others arc shown without pale or wall. Possibly they
were hedged or fenced (like Langleys and Rivenhall today). The mansion itself and gardens are
also shown (not very accurately at this scale). Lesser features, such as carriage turn-arounds are
also shown (New Hall). Landscape features, such as lakes and avenues of trees (Wanstead and
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Essex Parks: Section 1 - Parks in Essex