Title:
'Plans of the estates of Thomas Western Esqr. 1809. Robt. Baker'
Level: Category
Estate and Family records
Level: Fonds
MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS MAINLY RELATING TO NORTH-EAST ESSEX
Level: Sub-Fonds
MAPS
Scope and Content:
8 maps in one volume, all on a scale of 1 inch to 6 chains [1:4,752], except key plan and (7) below; scale bars.

At front, un-numbered: 'General plan of the estate of Thomas Western Esqr. in the parishes of Aldham, Chapel, Copford, Great Tay, Little Tay, Marks Tay, Stanway, Fordham and Lexden in the county of Essex'.
Scale of 7.4 inches to 1 mile [1:8,562]; scale bar.
Shows South Green; does not show area of Abbots Farm [and is largely duplicated by D/DWe P9 which does show area of Abbots Farm and bears same field-reference numbers].

(1) Bourchiers Hall Farm (319 acres) in Aldham and Chappel. Shows moats, osier meadow on River Colne and hopgrounds.
(2) Hill Farm (159 acres) in Aldham. Shows moats, Gallow Green, tollgate at Ford Street, strip in common meadow.
(3) Aldham Hoe Farm (220 acres) in Aldham and Great Tey. Shows moat; course of Stour Valley Railway with acreages added later in ink
(4) Church House Farm (278 acres) in Aldham and Little Tey. Shows Aldham church drawn in perspective view; strips in common meadow; course of Stour Valley Railway with acreages added later in ink.
(5) Aldham Hall Farm (268 acres) in Aldham, Marks Tey and Copford. Shows course of Stour Valley Railway, added later roughly in pencil.

These first 5 maps together cover almost the entire parish of Aldham with small area in Chappel and tiny areas in Copford, Great Tey, Little Tey and Marks Tey.

(6) Abbots Farm (134 acres) in south-east of Stanway with tiny areas in Fordham and Lexden. Shows turnpike roads from Chelmsford and Halstead to Colchester; course of Stour Valley Railway with acreages added later roughly in pencil.

(7) Thurgores Farm (39 acres) in Copford; scale of 1 inch to 3 chains [1:2,376].
This map differs from (1) - (6) in draughtsmanship as well as in scale, and is bound in after a 'summary of the forementioned estates'; it may have been added at a slightly later date.

The maps in general show woodland, water, hedges, fences, and names of adjoining farms or owners. Buildings are shown in block plan and coloured red, pink or grey [the latter apparently for buildings not belonging to the estate]. Reference tables on (1) - (7) show field-names, acreages and states of cultivation; in addition, except on (7), 'the ancient names [are] written in the plan'. On title-page, coloured achievement of arms of Western.
Dates of Creation:
1809
Extent:
1 volume
Creator Name:
Robert Baker
Custodial History:
According to a note on the front endpapers, this volume was presented to Colchester Corporation Museum by Western and Sons of 35 Essex Street, Strand, London, in March 1926. It was deposited in the Essex Record Office in 1966.
Physical Characteristics:
Parchment, with paper endpapers. The volume has been re-bound, but the original marbled flyleaves survive.
475 x 585 x 25 mm.
Existence of Copies:
For a copy of these maps on a reduced scale see D/DWe P17.

Key terms

TypeKey termsDescription
Personal Names Robert
Baker 		surveyor, 1809
Document Types Manuscript map Estates of Thomas Western in Aldham, Stanway, Copford etc., 1809