CUMBRIA, 1000 YEARS OF MAPS

by William Shannon
Lakeland book of the year winner 2025.

An illustrated talk on Maps took place last week in Threlkeld’s bright, warm Village Hall, given by David Fenton, publisher of this fascinating “Coffee Table” sized book, working from the Author William Shannon’s original notes.

It was as Isabel Berry’s “item of interest” in the latest BL Club Newsletter that it caught my eye, but a round trip of 80 miles on a dark winter’s night didn’t appeal to this veteran. However, a request from Paul Williams, from twenty or so miles further North, for passengers to keep him awake on the journey made an irresistible offer and two Whitworths signed up for the trip.

Definitely worth Paul’s effort.

Some of the earlier maps bore an astonishing resemblance to reality, given the lack of surveying knowledge and equipment. Even with place names the victims of communication between offcomer cartographers and Cumbrian dialect speakers, some of the local maps were topologically accurate even if distances were a bit dependent on spacing of lettering, while a mediaeval map of the whole of Great Britain and Ireland, with East (ie the Holy Land) at the top, had recognisable bulges in the right places – Wales, East Anglia, Cornwall, even Scotland, sticking out appropriately. How did they manage it?

An Itinerary (no map) for a trip from Cockermouth to London, with a long list of towns visited en route (Cockermouth, Penrith, Kendal, Lancaster, Preston..) gave reasonably accurate (modern) distances between towns (I didn’t check the whole distance!) and reminded me of the Itineraries the AA could produce when my Dad used to ask for routes from London to Glasgow, or similar holiday trips. (He never used them. It was much more fun doing it himself.)

We thought we might see a few people we knew there, given our long association with the Cumbrian Outdoors, so it was good to see Jeff PD, Isabel, Steve Birkinshaw and Emma Moody. The room was full.

Thanks to Isabel and to Paul Watson, BL Newsletter Editor, for advertising the night out.

More Info? Google:-
CUMBRIA 1000 YEARS OF MAPS by William Shannon Lakeland book of the year winner 2025.

DIY Socialising. A great Idea.
Let’s have some more!
ALREADY on offer are:-
“Run longer, run stronger” at Bothel Village Hall, Fri 6th Feb, 7 00 – 9 30pm
And
Damian Hall “Running Forever” at Rheghed
Weds 29th April.

Details in previous Newsletters.

Keep ’em coming!!