Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
A confiscated Jacobite estate
WOODHALL, NORTHUMBERLAND, 1736
Why is a set of estate maps of northern England found among Admiralty records? The lands
in question were those of the Third Earl of Derwentwater, whose mother was an illegitimate
daughter of Charles II. The Earl grew up at the Stuart court in exile in France as companion
to the young prince James, and his part in the attempt to restore James to the throne in 1715
by force of arms led to his execution for treason by the Protestant George II. The Earl's lands
in Cumberland and Northumberland were seized by the Crown and given to support Green-
wich Hospital for old Royal Navy men, which was administered by the Admiralty.
The Hospital had a survey made in 1736 to record the extent and value of their acquisition.
This is one of 34 manuscript maps which illustrate the survey, showing land in a number of
