1847 Sailing directions for the river Thames, from London…Norie

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 …

1952 to 1970 Thames Estuary

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

1675 Thames Estuary

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

UKHO/Admiralty Charts

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 …

1583 Janszoon Waghenaer’s Spieghel der Zeevaerdt

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’.

Maps of Land

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.

Sea Charts

These charts cover different periods, the focus is the Thames Estuary and East Coast rivers although an excursion to Dunwich was irresistable.

1773 French Chart of Thames

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.

1782 Chandler East Coast

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

1844 Coasters Guide

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

1794 George Burns Thames Estuary

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…

+Sources for Charts, Maps and Images

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 …

1788 George Burns Harwich

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.

1894 The Thames Estuary: its tides, …

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).

1677 ‘Zee-atlas ofte waterwereld’ by Goos

‘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.

FRG242_122211647_Harwich_GB45138_0004 from U.S. Archives

1939 – 1945 World War Two Maps and Charts

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.

1948 Thames Wharfage Chart No. 2 from personal collection showing Barge Wharves along the London River from Beckton to Vauxhall Bridge

Thames River

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 …

1588 Mariner’s Mirrour

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 …

1915 USNO England East Coast Pilot Harwich extract

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 .

1817 Norie Sailing Directions Nore to Orfordness

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, …

1892 – The Coasts of Essex and Suffolk by Frank Cowper – Extract Harwich area

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 …