American War of Independence (1775-83)
George III’s maps and views showing the development of the war at home and abroad, from North America to India
Map of encampment on Hornwood Heath, 1781 (nr Wivenhoe, Essex, UK) 51°51'19"N 00°57'28"E
c.1784-91Pencil, pen, ink and watercolour on paper | Scale: 1:7,315 approx. | RCIN 734032.ay
Hornwood Heath lies south-west of Wivenhoe, across the River Colne. Today, a small village, which has no name on the Ordnance Survey map, has developed around the cluster of buildings which are immediately to the west of the camp. The 'Ballast Key' and 'Ferry' are commemorated today in the names 'Ferry Road' and 'Ballast Quay Road'. The encamped regiment, with the colour of its facing in parentheses is: West Essex Militia (green).
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.105 PLAN / OF / THE ENCAMPMENT ON / HORNWOOD HEATH / NEAR / COLCHESTER / from 16.th May, to 31.st Oct.r / 1781. [Bottom right, below border:] By Lieut. Paterson, Assis.t to the Quar. Mast. Gen.l. Watermark: J WHATMAN. Notes: Oriented with north to top (cardinal points).
Condition: flat; no fold lines; surface dirt on right edge. Verso: discolouration and surface dirt on edges.
Daniel Paterson (1738-1825) (draughtsman and surveyor) [bottom right, above border:] By Lieut. Paterson Ass.t to the Q.r M.r Gen.l
Subject(s)
Army-GBWatermark: J WHATMAN
Condition: flat; no fold lines; surface dirt on right edge. Verso: discolouration and surface dirt on edges
Scale: 1:7,315 approx. Scale bar: [125 mm =] 1000 Yards.
28.5 x 40.7 cm (neatline)
0.4 x 41.0 cm (image)
36.2 x 53.5 cm (sheet)
Manuscript title:
PLAN / OF / THE ENCAMPMENT ON / HORNWOOD HEATH / NEAR / COLCHESTER / from 16.th May to 31.st Oct.r / 1781. [Top right, above border, page:] 101. [bottom centre]
Annotations:
(Recto) none. (Verso) [top left, ink, page:] 102.
George III catalogue entry:
Encampment A collection of drawn Plans of the Encampments and Dispositions of the Army in Great Britain from 1778 to 1782: by George Morrison, drawn by Danl Paterson. oblong Folio. [The same entry appears under the heading England.]
Subject(s)
nr Wivenhoe, Essex, UK (51°51'19"N 00°57'28"E)
Page revisions
8 June 2024
Current version