Medieval Inclesmoor map

Download Inclesmoor map files:

The Inclesmoor files contain four quarters, which are marked as top left and right, and bottom left and right.

Additionally, there is a separate road marker file, which is to be printed separately as many times as necessary, to add depicted road markers to their locations on the map. These road markers can be delicate, so the file has been provided separately so any breakages can more easily be fixed.

Map painted on parchment. Several fields in the centre are surrounded by rivers on all sides. A road with houses and churches along it goes through the fields and rivers. The words North, South, East and West are written along the sides of the map, indicating the directions.

The Inclesmoor map, illustrating a land dispute, c.1450. MPC 1/56

This document is a map made in 1407, in medieval times. It shows an area of Yorkshire, in the north of England. The map was designed so a group of people sitting at a table could all read it.

This map shows the final agreement in a long argument between the Duchy of Lancaster, a powerful land-owning family and a church, St Mary’s Abbey, in York. The dispute was about who could use different areas of the land. Particularly, who was allowed to cut peat to sell for fuel. Peat could be burned. This is the moorland, the area in the middle of the map. Making maps was very unusual in the medieval times, therefore this is an extremely special document.

This document can be used alongside our lesson plan Medieval agreements and arguments.

Questions:

  1. What different areas of landscape does the map show?
  2. What details can you find on the map?
  3. Why do you think the map was made?
  4. Why do think the map is this shape? [Clue: think of an animal]

Challenge questions:

  1. What do you think the stone crosses mark?
  2. What was this map used for?
  3. Why was the map designed to be so detailed and impressive?

Images of the tactile model:

Tactile version of the map described above rendered in grey resin. The shape of the animal hide is copied. The houses on the map are rendered as small model villages along with small model bridges. The fields are rendered with a grass-like texture.

Close-up on the surface of the tactile model revealing small crosses along the roads that are depicted on the original map.

The tactile model next to the original map. The tactile version is about half the size and has simplified the details of the map.

A person using their hand to touch the small houses on the tactile map.