Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 6.djvu/496

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [ii S.VL NOV. as, 1912.

when church registers were first intro- duced. In Lancashire they were confined to the country between the river Ribble and the borders of Westmorland.

W. H. CHIPPINDALL, Col. Kirkby Lonsdale.

VIEWS OF LONDON AT THE GUILDHALL. Among the prints which have recently been placed on exhibition in a dimly lighted corridor at the Guildhall, is a bird's-eye view of London which suggests a passing note. It bears the legend " gedruckt tot Amsterdam by f. de Witt," and, within the border, measures approximately 19| in. by 12* in.

It is clear that the original upon which this view was based was none other than Hollar's ' Panorama ' of 1647 or some derivative therefrom, A version by De Witt of the central portion of the ' Pano- rama ' often appears in the market and in exhibitions, and, in some instances, is dated as of the reign of Queen Anne. The varying sizes of the impressions and the numerous small variations in the pictures themselves indicate the frequency of the editions. Some of these editions are to be seen (if rightly remembered) among the bound collections of London prints in the Guildhall Library. Old St. Paul's, having been burnt in the Great Fire of 1666 and subsequently pulled down, manifestly coiild not be allowed to appear in its original form if the view was to be received by the public as a contemporary record. Consequently, the illustration of the Cathedral, as .set .forth by Hollar, was modified and a central dome somewhat clumsily superposed. Minor varia- tions were also effected as regards other buildings. Though these alterations are present, the result, in substance, is still a reproduction of the central portion of the ' Panorama.' Adaptations of this cha- racter were numerous in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, engravings of many sizes and characters being then published. For example, the Great Fire gave an opportunity for the issue of the Hollar view with London in flames. In subsequent issues the flames were excised from the plates and impressions taken from the plates thus altered. These impressions are constantly to be met with, and it is more than probable that the view now on exhibi- tion was adapted from one of these later issues. After this succession, the value of the later editions must from a topographical point of view be small. Their value is depreciated still further when the faults of

the original Hollar are remembered, and the necessity for the checking of its repre- sentations is borne, in mind.

The Guildhall view serves once more to emphasize the opinion that, where topo- graphical accuracy is desirable, bird's-eye views of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries require considerable care in their interpretation before they can profitably be employed. Yet, week by week, some book or other on London is published, and is accompanied by a copy of a map which the author happens to possess or has alighted upon ; and, as though the representations on the map were literally accurate, dogmatic assertion is made concerning the various buildings or natural features which occur thereon. Thus the map may, by reason of successive copyings qf copies, be many stages removed from the original, and may, at each of its stages, have received an inter- pretation by its immediate reproducer. Of these changes no hint is usually given. It may, however, be averred that, without a knowledge of the history of a map, false conclusions may readily be drawn, and, instead of being an aid, the map may prove a source of positive error.

From current practice in the publication and employment of old maps one is com- pelled to conclude that their interpretation is a neglected art, or, perhaps what is worse, that ignorance as to the necessity, or even of the existence, of the art is widespread. WILLIAM MARTIN.

Temple, E.C.

ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS. It does not seem to be generally known that Tunbridge Wells, so full of historical associations, enjoys the privilege of the prefix " Royal " by special permission of the late King Edward. A note of this honour conferred should be made in ' N. & Q.'

On the 10th of February, 1909, the Mayor, on behalf of the burgesses of the borough, applied to the King for permission to prefix the word " Royal " to its name. The special reason for such application was that Royalty had been identified with the place since 1 630, when Queen Henrietta Maria paid Tun- bridge Wells a visit, and in commemoration the name was altered to Queen Mary's Wells. Another Royal association with the place was when Charles II. and his Court came soon after the Restoration and stayed for two months. Queen Anne was also a resident before she ascended the throne ; and Queen Victoria resided for a time at the Wells in her girlhood.