THE FIRST LARGE SCALE PLAN OF THE CITY OF DURHAM. Although unsigned, the engraving of this plan is attributed to James Mynde (1702-70) who produced several similar separately published works. It is by Thomas Forster, no doubt related to the notable family from the region. The first printed plan of Durham was by Christoph Schwyter in 1595, of which only three examples survive. Subsequent plans included on the county maps of John Speed and Philip Lea were derived from it, as were smaller town plans by Rutger Hermannides in 1661, Johann Christoph Beer in 1690, and Vincenzo Maria Coronelli in 1706. This is the first large-scale plan of the city and itself appears to have been used for the Andrew Armstrong large-scale map of the county in 1768.

It is drawn on the large scale of nearly twenty inches to the mile. Many features are illustrated pictorially including Durham cathedral, the castle, town walls, cross, and fountain amongst others. This predates the construction of the Prebends Bridge in 1772-78, which replaced the old foot bridge over the Abby Mills Dam (62 on the plan) which was swept away in a flood in 1771. The map includes turnpikes, paths, mills, and the famous Smiddy Houghs race ground. A sports ground for Durham University to this day, it is believed it was so named after a smithy for the Priory of Durham. There are a total of 100 numbered references keyed to the plan. It is dedicated to the Lord Bishop of Durham and others including Henry Lambton (MP and colliery owner) and John Tempest MP. CBTM 19729; Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).