Old Map of Kent in 1611 by John Speed - Canterbury, Dover, Rochester

In 1611 the celebrated English cartographer John Speed produced one of the most detailed county maps ever made of Kent, and this reproduction brings his original engraving back to a modern wall. Speed's map places the cathedral city of Canterbury prominently in the bottom corner, complete with its own detailed inset engraving and a legend cataloguing more than fifty points of interest across the county. Further along the coast, the ancient port of Dover appears alongside Rye and Folkestone, while inland the map traces the River Medway past Rochester and the shipbuilding towns of Chatham and Gillingham.

Kent has long been known as the Garden of England, and Speed's map captures the county at a moment when many of its towns and villages were only just beginning to take the shape we would recognise today. The Isle of Sheppey and the oyster town of Whitstable sit along the northern shore, while Ashford and Maidstone anchor the interior. Because the historic county boundary once reached much further north than it does now, the map also captures towns that are today considered part of Greater London, including Greenwich, Woolwich, Blackheath, Lewisham and Beckenham, along with Southwark and Stepney close to the young city of London itself. Many of the names on the map are still spelled in their Early Modern English form, adding an extra layer of charm for anyone who enjoys tracing the history of a place.

This map of Kent makes a striking addition to a hallway, study or living room, and its warm historical detail suits both traditional and contemporary interiors. It's a thoughtful gift for a birthday or Christmas, and works just as well as a retirement present for someone who spent their career in Kent, a housewarming gift for a new home in Canterbury or Dover, or an anniversary present for a couple who met somewhere along the Medway. Anyone with roots in the Garden of England is likely to enjoy picking out the names of towns and villages they know.