Rare Old Pictorial Map of Cambridgeshire by Clegg, 1947: Cambridge, Ely, WWII, King's College, See of Ely

Ernest Clegg's 1947 masterpiece, titled "Cambridgeshire," is a captivating blend of artistry and cartographic precision, embodying the rich historical and cultural tapestry of this iconic English county. This pictorial map is adorned with vignettes of the illustrious King's College Chapel and the majestic See of Ely, drawing the viewer into the heart of Cambridgeshire's storied past. The map's dedication to Field Marshal the Rt. Hon. Jan Christiaan Smuts, a prominent figure in World War II, underscores its significance as a tribute to the allied victory and the resilience of the British spirit.

Clegg, renowned for his meticulous and artistic cartographic works, has infused this map with an array of historical and cultural details. The map features city coats of arms, towns, and rivers, each rendered with exquisite detail. Notes about Cambridge and its famous figures, alongside quotes from Sir Winston Churchill, provide a rich narrative that celebrates the county's contributions to history and academia. This map is not just a geographical representation but a celebration of Cambridgeshire's enduring legacy.

The thematic elements of the map are particularly striking, highlighting both historical and contemporary themes. Agricultural regions are meticulously marked, reflecting the county's rich farming heritage. The map also pays homage to the wartime efforts of British farms and Women's Institutes, capturing the spirit of resilience and community that defined the era. The inclusion of radar development and D-Day rehearsals further emphasizes Cambridgeshire's strategic importance during World War II.

Geographically, the map offers a detailed portrayal of Cambridgeshire and its neighboring counties, including Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Essex. The intricate illustrations of the Wash, rivers, and agricultural zones such as fruit and market gardening, potatoes, and sugar beet regions, provide a comprehensive view of the county's landscape. The historical notes about John Harvard, the founder of Harvard University, and other notable figures associated with Cambridge, add layers of depth and context to the map.

Ernest Clegg's "Cambridgeshire" is a testament to the county's historical and cultural significance. The map's design, with its rich decorations, coats of arms, and detailed illustrations, offers a visual feast that is both informative and aesthetically pleasing. It stands as a remarkable piece of cartographic art, celebrating the legacy of Cambridgeshire and its contributions to history, academia, and wartime efforts. This map is a perfect addition for collectors and history enthusiasts who appreciate the intricate blend of art and history.

Cities and towns on this map

• Cambridgeshire:
• Cambridge
• Ely
• Wisbech
• March
• St. Ives
• St. Neots

Notable Features & Landmarks

• King's College Chapel
• See of Ely
• Cambridge University
• Vignettes of historical landmarks
• Coats of arms of various cities
• Quotes by Sir Winston Churchill
• Dedication to Field Marshal Jan Christiaan Smuts
• Notes on British farms
• Notes on Women's Institutes
• WWII references, including D-Day rehearsals and radar development
• Illustrations of the Wash
• Detailed agricultural regions (e.g., fruit and market gardening, potatoes, sugar beet)
• Historical notes about John Harvard, founder of Harvard University
• Illustration of Field Marshal Jan Christiaan Smuts
• Illustrations of radar and its significance
• Illustrations of the allied victory in World War II
• Notes on historical figures associated with Cambridge

Historical and design context

• Name of the map: Cambridgeshire
• Pictorial elements: Includes vignettes of King's College Chapel and the See of Ely.
• Points of interest: Highlights points of interest, city coats of arms, towns, and rivers in high detail.
• Historical notes: Contains notes about Cambridge and famous persons and places in its history.
• WWII celebration: Celebrates the allied victory in World War II.
• Quotes: Features quotes by Sir Winston Churchill from July 14, 1940.
• Dedication: Dedicated by kind permission to Field Marshal the Rt. Hon. Jan Christiaan Smuts, P.C., C.H., K.C.
• Date of creation: 1947
• Mapmaker/publisher: Ernest Clegg
• Context about the mapmaker: Ernest Clegg was known for his detailed and artistic cartographic works, often blending historical and contemporary themes.
• Topics and themes:
• Historical and cultural: Emphasizes historical events, famous persons, and cultural landmarks of Cambridgeshire.
• Agricultural and wartime: Notes on British farms and Women's Institutes, reflecting the wartime context and post-war recovery.
• Countries and regions shown: Primarily focuses on Cambridgeshire, with references to neighboring counties such as Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Essex.
• Design and style: The map has a thematic and pictorial design, richly decorated with coats of arms, vignettes, and detailed illustrations.
• Historical significance: The map commemorates the historical and cultural heritage of Cambridgeshire, celebrating its contributions during World War II and the allied victory.

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.