Map of encampment at Blackheath, 1780 (Blackheath, Greater London, UK) 51°27'52"N 00°00'28"E

A map of the encampment on Blackheath, 10 August-20 October 1780. American War of Independence (1775-83). Oriented with north to top (cardinal points).

The area covered extends from the Observatory in Greenwich Park in the north to Sir Gregory Page's mansion in Greenwich Park to the south, and from the Green Man pub in the west to Morden College in the east. The encamped regiments, with colour of facings in parentheses, are: Hertfordshire Militia (buff); 2nd West Yorkshire Militia (green); 1st or North Hampshire Militia (black velvet).

This is one of 31 maps of encampments which are likely to have been drawn up as a set from original field surveys and draft maps between about 1782 (the last encampment ended on 13 November 1782) and sometime in or after 1784 (the date of Bowles's plan of London, RCIN 734032.am). The original field surveys and draft maps from which they will have been compiled would have been made between 1778 and 1782, according to the actual dates of the encampments. The execution date for the fair drawings of the maps of 1783 or later has, however, been assigned to all the encampment maps, consistent with the date of Paterson's commission as Captain in the 36th Foot, with which rank he styles himself on the title page of the volume.

In: 'Plans of Encampments and Dispositions of the Army in Great Britain from 1778 to 1782. Presented to King George III by George Morrison, Quarter Master General. Drawn by Captain Dan. Paterson, 36.^th Reg.^t Assistant to the Quart. Mast. General.' See main entry under RCIN 734032.

BL Add MS 15533: p.95 PLAN / OF THE / ENCAMPMENT / ON / BLACKHEATH / under the command of / M. GEN. RAINSFORD / from 10.^th Aug.^t to 20.^th Oct.^r / 1780. [Bottom right, below border:] By Lieut. Paterson Assist.^t to the Q.^r M.^r Gen.^l. Watermark: fleur-de-lys in crowned shield, the scrolled letter W below.

Condition: flat; no fold lines; brown discolouration along edges.