All Mapped Out

Maps are one of the historians key tools in deciphering our heritage. Here Hannah Salisbury from the Essex Record Office explains the treasures of Samuel Parsons maps of Essex

- Hannah Salisbury

Historic maps are some of the most interesting and beautiful things to be found in the collections at the Essex Record Office (ERO).

Maps can tell us all sorts of things about life for those who lived in Essex before us; how towns and villages have grown and changed over the centuries, how people used land for agriculture and industry, and how people could travel around. Some maps come with written records, which can even tell us who was living in individual properties.

ERO is lucky to look after a collection of estate maps, the earliest of which date from the 16th century. Estate maps were commissioned by landowners as useful tools for ensuring profitable management of their land. These often elaborate and beautifully drawn maps also often served as status symbols for their wealthy owners.