STORM AND COMPANY

CHARTS OF THE 1580s

In the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1

Lucas Janszoon Waghenaer, a Dutch pilot and Hydrographer, produced the first printed sea atlas of Europe called De Spieghel der Zeevaert in 1584. It was subsequently translated into other languages including English and Latin. The first chart below is from the English version entitled Mariners Mirrour published in 1588. Robin Hood's Bay appears at the far left edge of the coast. It is displayed on this website under copyright from the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, and may not be used for any other purpose.

	North Coast of England from Whitby to Coquet Island by L J Waghenaer, Mariners Mirrour 1588
	At the top there are references to " the coast of Hundry foote and Redcliff" to the north of Whitby.
	Place names are Robin Hood's Bay, Whitby, Skelson(?), Hundry foote, Redd Cliff, Gisborough, Stockton, Hartlepoole, Easington, Sunderland, Hewerth, Newcastle, Tynemouth, Seaton, Newbiggen and Warkworth.

 

	WAGHENAER 'Spieghel den Zeevaendt' 1584

	An extract from the chart of 1584 showing a view of the Robin Hood's Bay coast from two leagues out at sea. Courtesy of the Maritiem Museum, Rotterdam.

	WAGHENAER 'Marriners Mirrour' 1588
	A navigational aid indicating leagues to be sailed before changing compass course. The reference to Robbinhoods bay is in the inner circle at 2 o'clock. Scan by courtesy of The Bodleian Library, Oxford.

While the foregoing charts were being published there was in existence a map of North Riding showing Robinhood bay. This map. EBORACENSIS COMITATUS, is from the first edition of the Saxton atlas of England published 1579 and held by the British Library. It can be found at at the address below, where it is interactive.:

http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/personalisation/object.cfm?uid=001LAN000000889U00027000

A section of the map is presented below where Robinhood bay, Fylinge and Filing hall are shown clearly. This is displayed under copyright from the British Museum and may not be used for any other purpose.

	EBORACENIS COMITATUS -zoomed section.

 

	Section of map in the National Library of Australia
			Interestingly in 1659 a map produced by Hanrick Doncker of "....North Sea and surrounding countries..." showed the name Romenhoost bay. The fact that the map radiates out from York makes one wonder if the Dutch might have sailed up the Ouse to York to trade. This could be something to be examined later.

	GOUGH MAP section.
		A section of the Map of Great Britain cAD 1360 known as THE GOUGH MAP showing the coastline from The Wash to the River Tyne. The detail is unidentifiable but the curve of the coastline between the Tees and the Humber can be observed. The Gough Map is preserved in The Bodleian Library, University of Oxford.

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