The Abingdon Monks' Map (commonly known as The Monks' Map) is a 16th-century map of the
River Thames around the town of
Abingdon, Oxfordshire (formerly in
Berkshire
Berkshire ( ; in the 17th century sometimes spelt phonetically as Barkeshire; abbreviated Berks.) is a historic county in South East England. One of the home counties, Berkshire was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II as the Royal County of Berk ...
),
England.
It is held in the collection of the
Abingdon County Hall Museum.
The map covers the stretch of river between Abingdon and
Radley. It is long and wide, consisting of four pieces of
vellum that are glued together.
History
The map was preserved in the archives of the
Verney family, having been inherited by
Mary Blacknall
Mary Verney (née Blacknall, 1616 – 10 May 1650) was the wife of Sir Ralph Verney, 1st Baronet, of Middle Claydon DL, JP (1613–1696), an English baronet and politician who sat in the House of Commons.
Mary Blacknall was the daughter of Jo ...
(1616–1650), who married
Sir Ralph Verney, 1st Baronet, of Middle Claydon (1613–1696). In 1907, it was given to the Corporation of Abingdon and was framed and held in the Guildhall at Abingdon. The map was restored for a reopening of
Abingdon Museum, where it was put on display in 2012. As part of the investigation during this process, the map was x-rayed at the
National Gallery in London.
Monks map
Blacknall Map
Another smaller map of the river, known as the Blacknall Map (or Claydon Map), is held at
Claydon House, the Verney family home, in
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire (), abbreviated Bucks, is a ceremonial county in South East England that borders Greater London to the south-east, Berkshire to the south, Oxfordshire to the west, Northamptonshire to the north, Bedfordshire to the north-ea ...
to the north of Abingdon.
This was produced for William Blacknall in support of his mill-owning and fishery rights during a lawsuit in 1570. The Monks' Map itself may well have been produced for a similar purpose rather than by monks at
Abingdon Abbey.
See also
*
Abingdon County Hall Museum
*
The Abingdon Sword
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Abingdon Monks Map
1500s works
16th-century maps and globes
16th century in England
Historic maps of Europe
Maps of England
History of Berkshire
History of Oxfordshire
History of the River Thames
Monks Map