This is the FIRST LARGE SCALE MAP OF SUSSEX here in its third state, the first is believed to be a proof and survives in one known example. Indeed very few large scale maps of any English County pre-date it. It incorporated a great deal of previously unpublished information garnered from a number of sources and as such was a great improvement on those before it. The industrial revolution, yet to get into full growth, is represented by the presence of a number of iron forges and furnaces. They were already gaining in importance however as reflected by images of them featured in the extremely ornate title cartouche.

According to Kingsley its advances hold up particularly well along the coastline when compared against the much later and highly praised Gardner, Yeakell and Gream map of 1795. The coastal information given around Selsey Bill is derived directly from the separately published chart by William Mount and Thomas Page entitled ‘An exact draught … of the sea coast from Arundel in Sussex to St. Albans in Dorset’ and published in 1721, just two years prior to the first edition of this map. The Budgen can make a number of claims including the first to be orientated to true north and include magnetic variation, the first to include parallels and meridians and the first with a scale bar in statute miles. The graticules are used to locate the country seats of the gentry whose arms are illustrated below the map. Each are numbered to correspond to the arms although as Kingsley points out Monk at Id 26 is not marked on the map.

The topographical detail included is remarkable as is the information contained. A quick glance at the Explanation shows that market towns are labeled as are disused ones! Furnaces and forges and mineral waters each have their own symbol. Rowing boats are placed in the rivers to mark to which point they are navigable. A great deal of effort has gone into depicting the terrain too with separate symbols for marshland, woodland, commons, rocks and sands. Mileages on the major routes are given. About the engraver of the map little need be said. John Senex was one of the most prolific engravers of his day and published many fine atlases in his own right. He produced one other large scale county map, this time in his own name of the neighbouring county of Surrey in 1729. Above the map are the extremely ornate titles, dedication to Spencer Compton, Speaker of the House of Commons with 16 larger coats of arms. The whole is topped with fine views of Chichester and Lewes flanked by plans of the two towns.

Richard Budgen (1695-1731) did not live long, he married Elizabeth Carpenter in 1727 and they had one child Richard II in 1730. It appears he was a native of Frant just south of Tunbridge Wells where it appears he worked. Kingsley records that no work prior to the first publication in 1723 could be traced although many estate plans survive from after this date. In 1729 he published a pamphlet about a tornado that passed from Bexhill to Newingden Level on 20 May 1729. This showed he had a fascination with meteorology. Despite his father dying when he was still a baby Richard II continued the family practice of surveying. A third generation, also Richard, worked in the same field and may be the author of some of the later works surviving up to 1783. In 1774 he produced a map entitled ‘A scetch of the roads within fourteen miles of Tunbridge Wells’ which was published by Jasper Sprange. This is the same Sprange who co-published this edition of the map with Richard Budgen. Beyond the first edition being financed by subscription as was common of the period little is known of its original publication. Of the 160 shields along the bottom 143 were finished for the first state. A further five were found for the second state issued the following year. Provenance: George A. Clarkson, Amberley Vicarage written in a contemporary hand on the title label pasted to the slipcase. Kingsley (1982) 24 st. 3; Rodger (1972) 458.