Other 17th-century conflicts
Printed and manuscript maps, prints and views of 22 seventeenth-century wars
Siege of Colchester, 1648
The SIEGE of / COLCHESTER / By the Lord Fairfax, As it was / with the Line and Outworks / 1648
1648 or laterEtched and engraved map with four columns of engraved text below and one column of text to each side; printed from one copperplate on paper | 32.6 x 43.6 cm (neatline) | RCIN 723082
A high oblique view of Colchester, besieged from 12 June to 28 August 1648 by the Parliamentary forces commanded by Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron (12 January 1612-12 November 1671) resulting in the surrender of the town by its defenders, Sir Charles Lucas (1613-28 August 1648) and Sir George Lisle (c.1610-28 August 1648), both of whom were executed by firing squad on the day of capitulation. Second English Civil War (1648-1649). Oriented with north to top (compass rose).
The view is surrounded by engraved text giving an account of the siege from 13 June to 22 August, a week before the capitulation. The account includes a list of the Parliamentary forces together with the names of officers and ends with a transcription of 'A Manuscript of COLCHESTER taken out / of the Records of the said Town.'
Another state of this print is distinguished by the imprint which is engraved in the blank rectangular panel, br: 'Printed and Sold by Tho: Witham at the / Golden Ball in Long Lane near West / Smithfield [blank space] LONDON' [see Folger Shakespeare Library Digital Image Collection; Digital File Name: 13268; Source Call Number: 207255]. Also BL Maps *2390.(1.)
? Thomas Witham (active 1648?) (publisher)
Watermark: Fleur-de-lys in crowned shield, a ‘4’ suspending the letters G V H below; countermark: IHS / I VILLEDARY
Condition: one fold line. Remains of blue paper around the edges of one half of the verso, as if the item had been formerly mounted and the mount has been removed
32.6 x 43.6 cm (neatline)
48.9 x 69.0 cm (image)
cropped (platemark)
49.7 x 70.0 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
The SIEGE of / COLCHESTER / By the Lord Fairfax, As it was / with the Line and Outworks / 1648 [top left, in cartouche decorated with drums, trumpets, cannon and rifle]
Additional text:
[top right of view, an explanation of the letters on the view, A-I, K-T, V-Z.] [Engraved text around map giving a diary and account of the siege:] A DIARY of the Siege of COLCHESTER / by the Forces under the Command of Generall / FAIRFAX. [At the end of the 'Diary':] A Manuscript of COLCHESTER taken out / of the Records of the said Town.
Annotations:
George III heading: Colchester 13 June – 22 August 1648.
Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [top right, black pencil:] 1648; [bottom, right of centre, red pencil, erased:] 3/[?]9.
George III catalogue entry:
Colchester The Siege of Colchester by the Lord Fairfax as it was with the Line and Outworks; besieged on the 13.th of June and taken on the 22.d of August 1648: with a Description on the Margin.
Subject(s)
Colchester, Essex, England, UK (51°53ʹ21ʺN 00°54ʹ15ʺE)
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
