1668       CARR, Richard

According to sources, Robert Carr[1]  was a Deputy Engineer in the Post Office.[2] Sir Philip Frowde was responsible for the PO at the time, and Captain Carr was an assistant to James Hicks, the chief clerk. He is only known to have been involved in this one map and his involvement is reinforced by a letter written by Hickes in August 1667.

His Map of England & Wales is actually without a title but is accompanied by text below it, set out in four panels, in Latin, French, English and Dutch. There are two variations of this map, as described below. Shows only the post or main roads. In the South west the road through Exeter to Plymouth and Penzance as well as the road from Exeter to Barnstaple and then to Torrington and Bideford. In Somerset the roads from Chard to Taunton and Minehead, and Bridgewater.

 Map with no title. Map is dated Anno 1668 in upper panel with Royal Arms, top right. Bottom centre and right is an explanation table in four languages: this is surmounted by two putti carrying a banner R CARR F. Below the map border is letterpress text in four languages (Latin, French, English & Dutch): A perfect direction to travel all England by Post seven miles par houre, in the Summer, and five, in the Winter, as you will find an order for it in all Post-houses. Below a dividing line it continues A Description of al the postroads in England, from London to Edenborough in Scotland the stages, distances and names, of miles & the branches from the severall stages, Citties, Chief-Towns and Castles, in each shire and County, to be known by their several Characters, which are hear bove mentioned which is very neassary for all travellers to know, who do travell in that Kinghdom; drawn and perfected by R; CARR. This in the third of four columns, the other three having the same information in Latin, French and Dutch respectively.

Size: 325 x 378 mm. Two scale bars: Schalae contaenes 60 Engles miles: and Schala van 15 duitsche mylen. The map is published by C Landt (C. Landts Exc in map bottom left). (B, Leiden).[3]

                       

                              

A 2nd state (illustrated) dated 1670. Carr erased from banner held by putti. A new signature J. Scott Esq Geographer to his Majesty of England &c completes the English text and also signed Johannem Scot., Nobilem Anglum below Dutch text. Latin text erased. Carr´s original text has largely been reset, corrected and a sub-title added: For the use and benefit of all such as shall occasionally travel into England whether my Country-men or others. Upper scale bar now: A scale of Sixtie English miles. Erasure of a small section below Lyme Bay: Carr had The … Cannel flanking three ships, Cannel and right hand ship now erased and Chanel of England inserted. Briston (sic) Chanel inserted. THE GULFE replaced by I Scille (Isles of Scilly) and uishant added; both surrounded by crosses (to signify wrecks?). (B).

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1668 WALTON

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[1] Francis Bennett has Robert Carr, but this is probably an error and confusion with Robert Carr, 1^st Earl of Somerset (d.1645).

[2] See Laurence Worms and Ashley Baynton-Williams (2011): British Map Engravers. They also referred to notes by Rodney Shirley (Carr 1).

[3] The map could not be found on the Leiden University catalogue.