{"id":57,"date":"2017-05-25T13:14:03","date_gmt":"2017-05-25T13:14:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.dorsetforyou.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/?p=57"},"modified":"2018-05-03T12:16:44","modified_gmt":"2018-05-03T12:16:44","slug":"bankes-archive-releasing-treswells-survey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/2017\/05\/25\/bankes-archive-releasing-treswells-survey\/","title":{"rendered":"Bankes Archive: Releasing Treswell’s survey"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Treswell’s Survey contains the first pictorial description of Corfe Castle, alongside a series of beautiful maps of Dorset, but their full charm could not be accessed due to the volume in which they were bound. Our Conservator describes releasing the maps so they could be justly appreciated.<\/p>\n

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The Treswell survey, ‘Maps of Dorsetshire’, is a collection of intricate drawings dating to 1585, some of the earliest of their kind. In 1572 Corfe Castle was bought by Sir Christopher Hatton from Queen Elizabeth I.\u00a0He engaged Ralph Treswell to prepare a survey of his Purbeck estates and Treswell\u00a0went on to draw 16 plans, including the first surviving graphic of Corfe Castle.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"Treswell
Treswell survey of Corfe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Hidden treasures <\/strong><\/h2>\n

The survey was originally bound in the sixteenth century, not long after the maps were produced.\u00a0 We can deduce this from the gold tooling on the leather; the centrepiece and corner fleurons [floral decoration] were principally used between 1580 and 1620.\u00a0 However, the volume has undergone at least two restoration events since then.\u00a0 The survey has been rebacked, which means the text-block has been re-sewn and new leather has been adhered to the spine, and further additional leather repairs were made to the corners and edges of the binding at a later date.<\/p>\n