The Historian’s view of the Deben Estuary
On the Woodbridge Riverside Trust website: is An interesting map of the Deben with some historical notes. It has a different explanation of the name Kingsfleet.
On the Woodbridge Riverside Trust website: is An interesting map of the Deben with some historical notes. It has a different explanation of the name Kingsfleet.
World War I: Understanding the War at Sea Through Maps | Worlds Revealed (loc.gov)
From the David Rumsey Collection.
An interesting website with various research papers relevant to some topics on this site.
Zoomable version here. Also see Tizard for Thames Estuary.
1807 W Heather The New British Channel Pilot. Containing Sailing Directions from London and Yarmouth to Liverpool, and from Ostend to Brest.
The Pilots Guide to the Thames Estuary and the Norfolk broads for yachtsmen by w. eric wilson d.s.o & douglas branson, d.s.c.,r.n. Available to borrow online. It was corrected to 1949—a useful history section at the beginning.
Sailing directions for the river Thames, from London, to the Nore and Sheerness, and thence to Rochester, in the river Medway; also from the Nore, through the Swin and King’s channel, to Harwich, Hollesley bay, Orfordness, & Yarmouth: and through the Queen’s, South and Prince’s channels, to Margate, Ramsgate, the Downs, and Dover. To which …
Read more “1847 Sailing directions for the river Thames, from London…Norie”
Variants of 1934 chart. 1952 Admiralty Chart No 1975 Kentish Knock and the Naze to The Nore, Published 1934.jpg – Wikimedia Commons 1953 :Admiralty Chart No 1610 North Foreland to Orfordness, Published 1953.jpg – Wikimedia Commons 1970 Admiralty_Chart_No_1610_North_Foreland_to_Orfordness%2C_Published_1953.jpg
Full size on file.
Geo-referenced Harwich area. The British Library, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons Other plates in series- Wikimedia Commons Available here with charts and sailing directions.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_draught_of_the_sands,_channels,_buoyes,_beacons_and_sea-marks_upon_the_coast_of_England-_from_the_Southforeland_to_Orfordness._Discovered_by_Capt._Gilbert_Crane,_and_Capt._Tho-_Browne,_Elder_Bretheren_of_ye_Trinity_House._RMG_F8058.tiff John Darby; Lamb, Francis; Seller, John, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
We do hold similar surveys of River Orwell and River Stour in the collection. I believe the reference numbers are L4361 and L5429 but will send you the relevant survey ledger separately for you to undertake your own search. If I have identified the correct surveys then I can advise we do not currently have digitised versions. However, we …
The river of Thames from London to the Buoy of the Noure Collins, Greenville (16..-1696 ?). Cartographe The Entrances of the River Thames ; The East coast of England from Folkstone to Hasborough Gat […]Steel, Penelope (17..-18.. ; éditeur). Fonction indéterminée A new and large chart… from the river of Thames to Orfordness and the South …
A great deal of local interest within this chart. Vintage Maps – excellent selection: (Grahame Spence Charts – If you like to download the image of this map with a resolution of 1200 pixels, please follow the link below. You can use this image for publication on your personal or commercial websites for free if you set …
Not online as most are still copyrighted. All these are on file.
A large scale chart of Kent to Yarmouth. His other charts are more useful. Captain Greenvile Collins, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Available here.
Available here.
Shows Burnham near the sea, Ray Sand, Landguard fort. Shows marshes between Stour and Blackwater.
1574 A regiment for the sea William Bourne – about navigation techniques, not a pilot.
These were originally in a ring bound set and are not much larger than A5 size. If there is one of the Deben it is elusive. These are from personal collection.
Shows land and sandbanks. High definition.
1941 Sudost-England. England Blatt Nr. 12. Militargeographische Objektkarten 1941 Ost-Anglia. England Blatt Nr. 9. Militargeographische Objektkarten 1940 Oberkommando reconnaissance photos from David Rumsey Collection extensive. Samples:
Windfarm map and also see here
1539 Richard Cavendish chart of the coast of Essex and Suffolk at BL 1539 Mouths of the Thames and Medway from Ipswich to Sandwich and Maldon and Rochester to the Sea can best be view here and select overlay (much clearer, beware projection types).
1671 Sellers English Pilot title page only at BM. To be found.
See page 32 for Estuary. Other charts are of rest of World. Available here. Atlas maritimus, or A book of charts : Describeing the sea coasts capes headlands sands shoals rocks and dangers the bayes roads harbors rivers and ports, in most of the knowne parts of the world. With the true courses and distances, …
Available here in medieval Dutch. Illustrations are superb. There are instructions for building and using a backstaff as well as how to calculate tides. A knowledge of sixteenth century Dutch is handy. This was translated and adapted for the English market as the Mariner’s Mirrour, known colloquially as a ‘Waggoner’.
A selection of old pilot guides ranging from the twelfth century to the twentieth. Where possible the section related to local waters is extracted.
Collected maps, some of high definition on England, Essex and Suffolk. The purpose is largely to assess the changes in the coastline over the centuries. The map of Dunwich is certainly a revalation.
These charts cover different periods, the focus is the Thames Estuary and East Coast rivers although an excursion to Dunwich was irresistable.
Library of Congress incomplete – local below.
1773 French Chart of Thames from David Rumsey Collection. Shows Deben, note the orientation and Meridian. Clone of Sellers chart. Does not show buoys that were there at the time.
At UCLA very high definition.
shows channels at Ramsey, Holland on Sea and lots of other places. Islands at Wallsea, Foulness, channel north of Canvey.. BL Georeferencer on Norden At UCLA
Available at high definition at BNF. This shows the Orwell Beacon at Havengore. Did this lead to the Essex Inshore route? Some of the beacons, such as at Harwich Navy Yard, show shapes and the marshes and ‘-wicks’ along the Essex coast are worthy of note.
A Draugth of the East Coast of England from Dover to Yarmouth & the Different Channels of the River Thames up to Leigh Road [Material cartográfico] / by John Chandler
The Coaster’s Companion, Containing Directions for the Downs, for Sailing and Turning Thence, Thro’ the Different Channels, to the Nore; for Going Into Harwich, and Over the Naze Into the Wallet; … Also, Courses by Compass, … Round England, Scotland, Ireland, … To which is Added, a Large Tide-table, … By John Hamilton Moore, …google …
1790 Stanier Thames Estuary on wikimedia has drawings of beacons and buoys as well as tidal data. A lovely chart.
To the Right Honourable the Master, Wardens, & Elder Bretham of the Trinity House, this chart of the entrances to The River Thames
1823 New and Extensive Sailing Directions for the Navigation of the North Sea (google books)
1844 Coasters Guide (google books) The improved coaster’s guide, and Marine board examination, for the east coast of England and Scotland, and the English channell. By Alexander Baharie · 1844
Features Easton Ness.
Available here.
British Library Copyright but visible in low resolution here. Zoom only works with Flash! A good view of sandbanks but text is not readable. North up version below.
Download here.
Download here.
Full size here.
Full size here.
1852 A new chart of the River Thames. With its entrances, James Imray, Harwich by Washington.
This is a 1907 British chart copied into German and updated until 1945. Clearly there has to be doubt regarding updates post 1939. 1945 Kriegsmarine chart at nls
Note Pollard on Souhern sheet. A New Chart from the Nore to Orford Ness [Material cartográfico] : containing The Swin and King’s Channel with The Wallet Harwich Harbour and Horsley Bay to Aldborough Knapes and from The North Foreland : Comprehending The Five Fathom and South Channels…
Ordnance Survey Maps – National Library of Scotland Good source of historical OS and other maps at Vision of Britain British Library Maps and charts (rmg.co.uk) Foxearth Local History – local maps L Brown Collection – no re-use. David Rumsey Collection – excellent. Royal Collection Rijks Museum National Library of Spain OMNIA – Europe’s Culture …
Similar to, but later than, the Collins chart and sits nicely between it and Washington’s 1845 chart. See online for extracts. Shows the Brew House, Platters, Red Beard but not the Bawdsey beacon. Good marks.
Similar to Adams map. Best viewed online with zoom. Gunfleet and Havengore are interesting.
1677 English chart. Best viewed online with zoom.
This is not dated but probably 1670s or earlier. Best viewed online with zoom. Easton Ness and Gunfleet are interesting.
French chart with excellent zoom facility. Presumably based on English charts and maps but gives a very interesting, combined view of the land and sea. The original is 205 x 159 cm so it needs to be viewed in sections. Longitude is in Leagues from the meridian of Paris. Unfortunately, the chart stops at Bawdsey …
The Thames Estuary: its tides, channels, ports and anchorages. A practical guide for yachts, coasters and small vessels. With a chart. Like East Coast Pilot without the nice pictures. One chart at the end. Download from British Library (Creative Commons).
See Sailing past 1587 Dunwich
Thresoor der zeevaert, inhoudende de geheele na… (uu.nl) page 179. All in Dutch.
‘Zee-atlas ofte waterwereld’ by Goos – Special Collections – Utrecht University (uu.nl) page 59 for Essex/Suffolk. These are not detailed charts as they cover a wide area. Note that Bawdsey is marked as “Basel”. According to Hussey, this was also the name given by the Dutch to the sea area between Bawdsey Bank and Felixstowe.
Available here Essex from page 225 followed by Suffolk. In Dutch. This is a description of the country with maps and not sea charts. Nice drawing of forts at Shoebury.
Interesting to look at the Essex coast.
This chap spent twenty years translating it only to discover that the source text was useless. In 2017 he found that somebody else had done job – Geographia e codicibus recognovit, prolegomenis, annotatione, indicibus, ta… – Google Books The earliest useful found is the Geography of Claudius Ptolemy which mentions a promontory that seems to …
1907 Reynold’s new chart of the Thames estuary… soundings in fathoms et low water spring tides
Note the boom at Shotley and netting from the breakwater. Also, the bombing range is buoyed.
From US National Archives: Target Dossiers Pertaining to the British Isles, 1938–1945 Suffolk set, Felixstowe more, Harwich also with Felixstowe, Ipswich, Orfordness. Essex set. Harwich. See also Kreigsmarine Chart and 1944 WD charts. Soviet Charts – seem to have disappeared.
These items are for the London River rather than the Estuary. 1790 Bowles’s new map of the River Thames, from it’s spring in Gloucester-shire, to it’s influx into the sea : with a table of all the locks, wears, and bridges thereupon ; shewing the tolls payable at each and their distance by water from …
Charles Dickens featured the Thames in many of his works. As part of his research he described features along the river from source to sea and gave excellent descriptions of the buoys. This excellent website has a transcription of the most relevant parts. The original book by Dickens is available online and well worth a …
First detailed Survey – Tidal heights – Reach names – not a chart – Captain Stanley – HMS Blazer
Good description of local sandbanks and buoys.
See Graeme Spence
Great Britain’s coasting pilot: Being a new and exact survey of the sea-coast of England and Scotland, from the river of Thames to the westward and northward, with the islands of Scilly, and from thence to Carlisle…. The first part and the second part less.. Author Collins, Greenville, Printed by Freeman Collins, and are to be …
This was initially a translation of Spieghel der Zeevaerd published by Waghenaer. For some time they were known as ‘Waggoners“. the Shoe and Whittaker beacons are shown. Bawdsey Haven is not. Shoebury to St Peters is interesting. The inset table shows English Leagues to be 3 Nautical Miles as opposed to the Dutch four. 1588 …
Google Books Has a good description of shoals. Shows SHMs such as Cutler being Red Cones. Some good Middle Ground Buoys at Gabbard. 19 feet into Harwich. Submarine Bells Description of Deben. The coast . The coast from Orfordness trends southwestward for 3 miles and is a low shingle beach , from thence it curves to the southward for 2 miles to Orford Haven ; this forms Hollesley Bay . From the entrance to Orford Haven is a beach running 2 miles in a southerly direction to Boathouse Point , and from this point it runs southwestward for 2 miles to Bawdsey Cliffs . Orfordness and the coast for some distance to the westward is steep – to , but in Hollesley Bay and off Bawdsey Cliffs the 3 – fathom contour extends 0.6 mile seaward .The objects upon this coast which will be recognized are Crouch lifeboat houses , a small cluster of huts painted black and used only for fishing boats . Shingle Street , a cluster of cottages at the entrance to Orford Haven , and five martello towers between the haven and Bawdsey Cliff . The Colonial College , a large brick building with turrets and a flagstaff , close northeast of Hollesley , and just south westward of it is a large bare field that from a distance somewhat resembles Bawdsey Cliff , and Hollesley Church are prominent objects in the well – wooded background . A large white house among wood inland and to the northward of Bawdsey Cliff , a windmill at Alderton , and Bawdsey Church , with its broad stunted tower , are all plain objects . Coast guard.On the outer beach at 1.2 miles northeastward of Shingle Street is a small balck hut , with a flagstaff near it , the watch house of the coast guard , and at northeast extreme of Shingle Street is a large gray two – storied coast – guard house , with a flagstaff near it . Next to this house , there is a long , low , red building with a lookout turret in the middle . Martello Tower ( W. ) on Boathouse Point is East Lane coast – guard station , surmounted by a flagstaff , and the chimneys are whitewashed . Rocket stations . There are life – saving rockets at each of the above coast – guard stations . Bawdsey Cliff is of a reddish color and bears upon its face numerous marks of land slips . Bawdsey Manor , a conspicuous brick house , stands at the south west extreme of Bawdsey Cliff , and close eastward of it is a flagstaff . A glass house stands a short distance northeastward of the manor and is conspicuous in the sunlight . Bawdsey Sea Mark , an obelisk painted red and white in horizontal bands , stands near the northeast end of the cliff . Woodbridge Haven , or the entrance to the River Deben , is immediately westward of Bawdsey Cliff . The coast from the entrance trends southward for 4 mile to Tower T Point , from thence it assumes a south – southwesterly direction , and consists of cliff , alternating with grassy bank , for a distance of 1.2 miles to Felixstowe Point , when the high ground trends more westerly . From Felixstowe Point a low shingle beach extends 2.5 miles to the southwestward to Landguard Point , where it forms the eastern side of the entrance to Harwich Harbor . The golf pavilion , a white house , 600 yards southward of Tower T , and Felixstowe Hotel , surmounted by a clock tower , and standing on the cliff at Felixstowe , are conspicuous from seaward .
Sailing directions for the river Thames, from London, to the Nore and Sheer… – Google Books Extract THE SWIN AND KING’S CHANNEL Buoy on the Middle, No 3, black3 fathoms starboard. Whitaker Spit buoy, red, with staff and triangular vane3 fathoms larboard. South buoy of the Swin Spitway, blacklarboard. Gunfleet beaconlarboard. Gunfleet buoy, No. 9, …
Read more “1817 Norie Sailing Directions Nore to Orfordness”
Page 96 FROM THE COLNE TO HARWICH. …Trinity House. This serves as a land-mark, but will not be of any use to us, as its only advantage, beyond being a mark to tell ships out at sea what point of land they are off, is to clear the Longsand Head fifteen miles away out at …
Read more “1892 – The Coasts of Essex and Suffolk by Frank Cowper – Extract Harwich area”