1823 "The Dorset Survey of the Parish of Tottenham] The true platt and inscription of ye lands belonging to ye Mannors of Pembrooke, Bruces, Daubeneys & Mockings, in the Parishes of Tottenham and Edmonton in the County of Midd[lesex]. being [part?] of ye possessions of the right honorable Richard Erle of Dorsett, wherein all the Demeanes and Lease lands lying in severall are marked thus [three dots with tail symbol] ye freehold thus fr. The Customarie Lands thus cp. The intermixed lands belonging to other Mannors are all laid in a Skyrcullc [circle?] and marked with different letters according to their hold as P for Paul's hold, Tn for Tmyfords. The rivers and waters are blue, the Commons and highways are light browne, the content of each [part?] is mentioned in the ye Survey Booke. The length and breadth as Pr Scale here set down"

This highly decorative & original Antique map of the Parish of Tottenham, known as "The Dorset Survey" is an early 18th century printed copy of the original 1619 manuscript map by the surveyor Thomas Clay. The map takes its name from Richard Sackville, 3rd Earl of Dorset, whose grandfather, Thomas Sackville acquired the Manor of Tottenham In 1604. Richard, who inherited his title at the age of 20, has been described as "one of the seventeenth century's most accomplished gamblers and wastrels". In 1619 he commissioned a survey to record the value of his lands, possibly in order to determine a means to pay off some of the substantial gambling debts that he had accumulated. The survey comprised two parts: a hand drawn plan and a field book which recorded the names of people who leased or possessed land within the parish of Tottenham with a detailed description of the land, any associated buildings, and the monetary value. The original 17th century field book, though incomplete, survives today. The original plan has been lost, but was still in existence in the 1800s when it was used as the basis for this printed copy which was created for inclusion in William Robinson's "History and Antiquities of Tottenham". The map is orientated towards the south. Houses and buildings are shown pictorially. To the top-left is an elaborate cartouche explaining the background, and providing descriptively a legend to the map. The Earl of Dorset's Coat of Arms is on the right hand side. In the lower left-hand corner is a pair of dividers; on a small scroll underneath, Thomas Clay has recorded his name and the date 1619, alongside a 'Scale of Perches", the perch being a unit of measurement equal to 5 and a half yards.

Overall size approx 40.5 x 60cm. Condition is generally very good with two folds, as issued. On the right side margin, there is a tear into the plate mark, which has been historically restored on the reverse side.