A PROOF EXAMPLE OF KIRKPATRICK’S EXTREMELY RARE PANORAMA OF NORWICH. On the 24 August 1723 John Kirkpatrick (1687-1728) published a set of Proposals for printing a prospect of the city of Norwich. The name of his brother Thomas (c.1690-1755) did not appear on the document. John was a keen antiquarian and he asked for subscriptions to be received by him in St. Andrews Parish and at Brathwait’s Coffee House in the Market Place. The price was 3 shillings, half to be paid up front. The document states that the drawing had already been seen by ‘competent judges’ both in Norwich and London. On the 11 December it was shown to the Society of Antiquaries in London ‘thereupon several Fellows present subscribed for it’. The prospect was engraved in London by Elisha Kirkall (1682?-1742). It was first advertised for sale in the ‘Norwich Gazette’ for 12 December 1724 and in the ‘London Journal’ on 2 January 1725. The finished engraving identified John’s elder brother Thomas as the author of the drawing. Thomas is identified in the London announcement as being a seller and as a ‘Linnen Draper at the Golden Ball in Lady Lane’.

The viewpoint is from a hill to the north east of the city. Outside the clearly shown city walls on the north side is the suburb of Pockthorpe here early in its development. A windmill is prominent in the foreground on the right. This example is however a PROOF COPY, issued before letters. It also appears as if it might be a working copy as various annotations have been made on the print. If so it may well be the hand of one of the Kirkpatrick brothers. Firstly although the title banner has been engraved already the title itself and the arms of the city are in manuscript. It was clearly printed before the inclusion of any description below or even the two engravings of the plan of the city and ancient coins. Evidence supporting the theory of it being a working copy is derived from the fact that the dedication below also in manuscript differs in wording from the printed version. Similarly the numbered keys are here present throughout in manuscript. The previous owner’s long standing research into the print identified only one other proof example which was at the Brooke Hall Estate, south of Norwich.

The dedication is to Viscount Townshend whose name is known more popularly in history as Turnip Townshend. A man of whom fun was made because of his interest in the use of turnips in farming he was in fact instrumental in the Agricultural Revolution by encouraging the four field crop rotation method. Examples are recorded at the British Library in the Kings Topographical Collection, the Bodleian Library, Norfolk Library and Norwich Castle Museum. Provenance: antiques dealer in Southwold, Suffolk, c.1950; by descent to the family. Chubb & Steven (1928) ‘Printed Maps of Norfolk’ pp. 204-6; ESTC T208938 (Proposals); Frostick (2002) ‘The Printed Plans of Norwich 1558-1840) no. 22; Hyde (1985) ‘Gilded Scenes’ pp. 96-7; ODNB; Worms & Baynton-Williams p. 375.