[MR] History Blog: Rare Tudor Property Map Saved by Museum

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

Today the History Blog reports on the public purchase of a rare Tudor-era
property map.

The piece in question is the circa 1586 "Kingsbridge Platt". It was
commissioned by Sir John Petre to record the properties he owned. It shows
various Kingsbridge houses, the church, the market and even the town
pillory. The buildings are shown in great detail, including their slate or
fired tile roofs. While made for a different purpose, the detail is similar
to the legendary 19-20th century American Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps.

The map was due to be auctioned, but was instead purchased for £18,425 by
the Southwest Heritage Trust. It will be preserved at the Devon Heritage
Center in Exeter and made available for scholars to study.

You can see the map at https://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/75279 .

The article also discusses Sir John's father, Sir William Petre, a courtier
who served all four Tudor monarchs, made a killing on the dissolution of
the monasteries by Henry VIII, and managed to stay out of prison and keep
his head despite being a Catholic. A short bio on Sir William Petre is at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Petre .

More about Sir John Petre is at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Petre,_1st_Baron_Petre .

Yours Aye,

Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆
Continuing a crusade to keep the original Merry Rose relevant and in
business.