Rare Old Map of Herefordshire by Speed, 1611: Hereford, Leominster, River Wye, Battle, Coats of Arms

"Hereford Shire Described" is an exquisite monochrome map created by the renowned English cartographer John Speed in 1611. This map is a captivating representation of Herefordshire, a county rich in history and natural beauty. The map is intricately detailed, showcasing the county's physical geography, including its rivers, hills, and forests. The River Wye, a prominent feature, meanders through the landscape, while the undulating hills and dense forests, such as Deerfold Forest, add depth and texture to the map. Speed's meticulous craftsmanship is evident in every line and contour, making this map a true work of art.

John Speed, a celebrated cartographer and historian, is known for his detailed and historically significant maps. His works are highly regarded for their accuracy and artistic quality. Speed's maps were not only functional tools for navigation and understanding geography but also served as historical documents that captured the essence of the regions they depicted. "Hereford Shire Described" is a testament to Speed's skill and dedication to his craft, offering a glimpse into the geography and history of Herefordshire in the early 17th century.

The map features a detailed inset of the city of Hereford, providing a closer look at its streets and buildings. This inset is a valuable addition, offering insights into the urban layout and architecture of the time. The map also includes an illustration of a historic battle between the Earl of Pembroke and the Earl of March, adding a dramatic and historical narrative to the piece. This depiction not only enhances the map's visual appeal but also serves as a reminder of the region's tumultuous past.

In addition to its geographical and historical details, the map is adorned with the coats of arms of various Herefordshire nobles. These heraldic symbols add a touch of nobility and prestige to the map, reflecting the social and political landscape of the county. The inclusion of these coats of arms highlights the importance of the local aristocracy and their influence on the region's history. This combination of geographical, historical, and heraldic elements makes "Hereford Shire Described" a rich and multifaceted representation of Herefordshire.

The map also delineates the boundaries of Herefordshire and its neighboring counties, such as Shropshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Monmouthshire. This detailed depiction of borders and regions provides a comprehensive understanding of the county's location and its relationship with surrounding areas. The map's design and style, characterized by its decorative cartouches, scale bar, and compass rose, reflect the artistic and cartographic conventions of the early 17th century. "Hereford Shire Described" is not just a map; it is a historical artifact that offers a window into the past, capturing the essence of Herefordshire in a way that is both informative and visually stunning.

Cities and towns on this map

• Hereford
• Leominster
• Ross-on-Wye
• Kington
• Bromyard
• Ledbury
• Weobley
• Eardisland
• Pembridge
• Ewyas Harold
• Lingen
• Wigmore
• Brampton Bryan
• Presteigne
• Hay-on-Wye
• Clifford
• Ludlow (partially shown)
• Newent (partially shown)

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Battle illustration between the Earl of Pembroke and the Earl of March
• Coats of arms for various Herefordshire nobles
• Detailed inset map of Hereford
• Rivers (e.g., River Wye)
• Hills and mountainous regions
• Forests (e.g., Deerfold Forest)
• Boundaries of neighboring counties (Shropshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire)
• Scale bar and compass rose
• Decorative cartouches and borders
• Illustrations of cartographers at work

Historical and design context

• Name of the map: Hereford Shire Described
• Date of creation: 1611
• Mapmaker/Publisher: John Speed
• Monochrome map of the county of Herefordshire: Presented in black and white, characteristic of early 17th-century cartography.
• Illustration of a battle: Depicts a battle between the Earl of Pembroke and the Earl of March.
• Coats of arms: Displays the coats of arms for various nobles of Herefordshire.
• Political boundaries: Delineates the boundaries of Herefordshire and its neighboring regions.
• Physical geography: Shows physical features such as rivers, hills, and forests.
• Historical significance: Provides valuable insights into the geography, political boundaries, and historical events of Herefordshire during the early 17th century.
• Design and style: Intricately designed with detailed illustrations, coats of arms, and an inset map, reflecting the artistic and cartographic style of the early 17th century.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 70in (180cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and custom made maps take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes a day or two.

Please note that for larger framed orders (over 40in/100cm), and some other framed sizes, the delivery time will be closer to 7-10 days.

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps in 22 countries around the world. This means your map will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and reduces the chance of your map being damaged during delivery. There won't be any extra taxes or duties to pay, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all maps within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks or mugs) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

We can sometimes do next-day delivery if you order before 10am. But usually it's best to contact me first before you order.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps are also available as a framed canvas. The map is printed on matte (not shiny) canvas, stretched over a box frame, and then 'floated' within a simple wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing in front of your map.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map yourself, please read my map size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your unique map for any reason, contact me for a no-quibble refund.

I am very confident you will like your old map. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and have over 4,000 real 5-star reviews.

I use a unique process to restore my maps that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore the maps. As a result, I guarantee my maps are a cut above the rest - that's why I can offer a no-quibble refund.

Almost all of my maps look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.