Old Map of Essex in 1611 by John Speed - Colchester, Braintree, Wivenhoe

This 1611 map of Essex by John Speed puts Colchester, rather than any other town, at the centre of attention, with a detailed engraving of the town tucked into the bottom corner of the map. Colchester was regarded as the effective capital of the county in Speed's day, and its long history as one of the earliest substantial settlements in Britain, with roots reaching back to the Roman town of Camulodunum, gives this particular map an extra layer of interest for anyone drawn to ancient history rather than seaside towns. Chelmsford and Braintree also appear clearly, marking out the historic market towns that anchored inland Essex.

Away from Colchester, the map traces a landscape of small market towns and villages including Wivenhoe on the Colne estuary, along with Romford, Brentford, Chigwell, Basildon, Billericay and Clacton further along the coast. One curiosity is that Southend-on-Sea did not yet exist as a town in 1611; in its place the map shows only the small village of Prittlewell, which would later grow into modern Southend. Because the southwestern edge of historic Essex bordered London, the map also captures towns and villages that have since become part of the capital, including Hackney, Tottenham, Newington, Deptford, Barking, Walthamstow and Greenwich.

This map suits a study, hallway or reading room, and it has particular appeal for anyone with an interest in Colchester's Roman past or in the history of Essex more broadly. It makes a thoughtful work leaving gift for a colleague relocating from Essex, a Father's Day present for a history-loving dad, a housewarming gift for a new home in Colchester or Braintree, or simply a Christmas gift for someone who grew up watching the tide come in at Wivenhoe. It stands out as a genuinely distinctive piece of wall art with a real story behind it.