This large scale map of Monmouth is by Christopher Greenwood (1786-1855) and his brother John Greenwood (1791-1867). It is assumed the ‘H’ Greenwood in the title is an error. Christopher Greenwood was from Yorkshire and settled in Wakefield by about 1815, before moving to London in 1818. His first large-scale survey was of Yorkshire published in 1817. His brother John was also a surveyor and in 1821 they joined forces. Along with the distribution capabilities of George Pringle and Son, they made an immediate impact with their series of large scale surveys of many English counties. Their surveys utilised the latest system of triangulation adopted by Colonel Mudge and his surveyors for the Ordnance Survey. Indeed they were in open competition with them. The Greenwood maps were coloured as opposed to the more functional black and white Ordnance Survey’s of the period.

This is one of two published in 1830 and it is their penultimate publication. One of Huntingdon was to follow in 1831. We know that their intention was to publish a complete set of the counties, however they fell six short. The reason appears to be their getting into financial difficulties. The rarity of this publication may well be a reflection of this. There is a large view of Tintern Abbey upper left. It differentiates between woods, parks and pleasure grounds, heaths and commons, different types of waterway and road. Both watermills and windmills are identified indicating their significance to the local economy. There are also several railways indicated, all related to the mining industry. The early 1800s was a time of rapid change in the landscape with the burgeoning industrial revolution. Not in Michael (1985); Rodger (1972) 306; Tooley’s Dictionary; Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).