THE BRISTOL CHANNEL, 1693

By Captain Greenvile Collins

This reproduction is taken from an original document, held within the Archives of the UK Hydrographic Office, Taunton, Somerset.

Until the late 17th century, British mariners had to depend on the work of Dutch surveyors and cartographers, when navigating in home waters. However, in June 1681, Samuel Pepys, Secretary of the Navy, issued an Admiralty order assigning a naval officer, Captain Greenvile Collins, to the task of surveying the British coasts and harbours. With a measuring chain, a compass and a leadline, Collins took seven years to complete the work which was eventually published as 'Great Britain's Coasting Pilot' in 1693. It contained forty eight harbour and coastal charts including the Bristol Channel. Although compared unfavourably with other contemporary atlases, the 'Great Britain's Coasting Pilot' met the needs of British seamen, and more than a dozen editions were published during the 18th century. Despite many inaccuracies, the work is a landmark in British Hydrography, being the first complete Pilot-book of the entire British coast.

This attractive chart of the Bristol Channel is dedicated to Sir Robert Southwell and bears his coat of arms. It is also decoratively enhanced by a small inset view depicting the arrival of King William III at King Road on his return to England after defeating King James II in Ireland.