Sheldon Tapestry Map of Warwickshire - Description

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Date:1588 - 1647 (c.)

Description:This is a detail of the description panel.

Transcript in original spelling:

Warwikshear so namid as wel by the Saxons as of us at this
daye it is devided in two parts by the river avon ronninge
through the midest the on is called feldon the other wood
land the most memorable townes in the feldon are lemington
taking the name of the river leam where a salt well springeth
itchington and harbury between which two townes fremudus
the sonn of kinge offa was slayn a man of singuler vertue
and was buried in his fathers palace called ofchurch
the woodland beinge the north part and the greater was
by an auncient name called arden which signifieth a wood
in the middle of this region standeth coventre so called of
the covente of monkes a citie in times paste populus and
riche by the trade of clothing and making of capes
near coventre on the east part is called on the auncient
seat of the lorde segrave from whom it is descended
to the barons of barkley by the mowbraies dukes of northfolk
westward from coventre standeth the castle of kenelwo
rth compassed about with a great pool firste biulded by
ieffrey Clinton chamberlayne to kinge henre the first
about V miles from thence standeth warwicke called by
the britaynes caer gvarvic which signifieth a place of
defence whear is a castle of great force biulded by the
romanes william the conqueror ordeyned XII burgesses in
warwicke to attende on him in his warres
near unto warwick is guyes cliffe a place of wonderful
pleasure whear guye of warwicke builded a chapel
and was there buried - read w camden his discripcion of bri



Modernised translation:

Warwickshire, named by the Saxons, as it is known today, is divided in to two parts by the River Avon running through the middle. The one is called Feldon, the other woodland. The most memorable towns in the Feldon are Leamington, taking the name of the River Leam where a salt well rises; between the towns of Itchington and Harbury, Fremund, the son of King Offa was slain. A man of singular virtue he was buried in his fathers palace called Offchurch. The woodland, being larger [than the Feldon] and to the north part [of the county] was by an ancient name called Arden, which signifies a wood. In the middle of this region stands Coventry, so called due to the covent of monks. It is a city, that in the past had a large population and was wealthy due to the trade in clothing and cappes [?] Near Coventry, to the east, is the ancient seat of Lord Segrave, this has descended to the Barons of Berkley by the Mowbray’s, Dukes of Norfolk. Westward from Coventry stands the Castle of Kenilworth surrounded by a great pool. It was first built by Geoffrey Clinton, Chamberlain to Henry the First. About five miles from here stands Warwick , which was called by the Britains, Caer Gvarvic, which means a place of defence. There is a castle of great strength built by the Romans here. William the Conqueror ordered that twelve burgesses from Warwick should help him in his wars. Near Warwick is Guy’s Cliffe, a place of wonderful pleasure, where Guy of Warwick built a chapel and was buried. – Read W[illiam] Camden’s Description of Britain.

[William Camden, Britannia or a Chorographical Description of Great Britain and Ireland. First published in Latin 1588; First published in English in 1610.]


Timeline

The timeline shows resources around this location over a number of years.

1300s
The Sheldon Family
The Sheldon Family

The Sheldons were an ancient family who came originally from Sheldon, a parish on ...

1550s
Bond in £1,000 from William Barnes to John Throckmorton
Bond in £1,000 from William Barnes to John Throckmorton

Bond in £1,000 from William Barnes to John Throckmorton for indemnifying him certain ...

1580s
Annuity to Ralph Sheldon
Annuity to Ralph Sheldon

Release from John Alderford to Ralph Sheldon of an annuity of £66 on Barcheston. [Date ...

1910s
Barcheston Manor. Postcard
Barcheston Manor. Postcard

Postcard of Barcheston Manor from the rear, near the River Stour.

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Source: Warwickshire Museums ,  Warwickshire County Record Office

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