1794 A New Map of England & Wales Drawn from several Surveys &c. On the New Projection; Corrected from Astronomical Observations...
DESCRIPTION
A New Map of England & Wales Drawn from several Surveys &c. On the New Projection; Corrected from Astronomical Observations & the Places marked where thh Observatns. were made By Thos. Kitchin Geogr. The Canals inserted to 1792 by J. Phillips, Surveyor
A large and highly detailed map of England and Wales devoted to the inland navigation system at the height of the canal age, this impressive multi-sheet engraving presents the country not simply as a geographic entity, but as a network of engineered waterways that underpinned British industry prior to the rise of the railroads. Issued on four sheets and here joined on linen for display, the map presents a moment when canals were the dominant means of transporting coal, raw materials, and manufactured goods across the landscape.
The geography is rendered in great detail, with counties, towns, and principal rivers clearly delineated, though the true emphasis lies in the intricate web of canals and navigable rivers that bind the country together. These waterways are carefully traced across England and Wales, illustrating both completed routes and, in some cases, projected or partially realized lines, a reminder that canal building was an evolving and speculative enterprise during this period. Contemporary sources note that canal mapping often included not only operational routes but also proposed schemes, underscoring the ambition and rapid expansion of the system.
Along the coasts and throughout the interior, engraved text panels provide practical and commercial information, describing navigable routes and surveying efforts that were critical to merchants and investors alike. Most notably, the table titled “The Inland Navigations in England &c.” offers a remarkably technical summary of more than thirty canals, listing their lengths and elevation changes. This data reflects the engineering challenges inherent in canal construction, where gradients, locks, and water supply dictated both feasibility and cost.
The map captures the infrastructure that defined Britain’s Industrial Revolution, when canals such as those linking the Midlands to major ports transformed regional economies and enabled large-scale distribution of goods. Before the widespread adoption of railways in the mid-19th century, these waterways formed the backbone of inland transport, facilitating trade on an unprecedented scale and reshaping both urban growth and rural industry.
CONDITION
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