A plan of Birmingham plotting its growth

KEMPSON, John.

A New Plan of Birmingham Exhibiting its present state & progressive increase.
Birmingham: James Drake, 1825. Original colour. Sheet 405 x 330mm.

Binding folds flattened.

The first issue of this comparative plan of Birmingham, coloured to show the city's size at the time of Julius Caesar, the Norman Conquest and the years 1731 and 1781. It was engraved by T. Simms for Drake's 'Picture of Birmingham'.
Although the present outline is adapted from John Kempson, the early extents are based on the work of William Hutton (1723-1815), who published his 'History of Birmingham' in 1782. The 1731 and 1781 extents are based on maps by William Westley & Thomas Hanson.
In 1801 William Hutton walked from Birmingham to Hadrian's Wall, along the length of the Wall and home again. In his account he wrote: ''Perhaps, I am the first man that ever travelled the whole length of this Wall, and probably the last that will ever attempt it''.


Stock ID : 20749