A601 - Laurie's Chart of The Bermuda or Somers' Islands

Hurd, Barnett, Evans & Lemprieri

h30" x w37"

L

In the making of the chart Laurie draws heavily on earlier editions of Lampriere's original survey of the Bermudas which had originally been completed a century earlier, and was in itself a major advance on the earlier 17th century Dutch charts of the island.

 

Laurie also makes full use of the definitive Bermuda surveys of Lt. Thomas Hurd and his associates between 1888 and 1897 (see A603a & A603b) as well as the 1827 Admiralty publication of Hurd's work (see A607). This chart follows the modern trend of depicting the island as it is in relation to true north, at an angle of about 50 degrees.

 

Early depictions of the island, including those by Lempriere and Hurd showed the island stretching East/West. The problem with late editions, such this chart, is of course accuracy, where much of the hydrographic detail may well be decades out of date - note that the hydrography of Hog-fish channel off Wreck point on the west coast which dates from 1846, nearly 20 years before the date of publication.

 

No soundings are included for the inner waters and anchorages of Great Sound by the Royal Naval Base. The chart does however include two detailed insets of the waters to the north east of the island. The first is of Murray's Anchorage and the channel through the reefs down to St George's Town and Castle Harbour which first discovered by Thomas Hurd as part of his definitive survey of 1788-1797. The second details the bar and harbour of St. Georges which had, until 1814, been the seat of government before it was moved to Hamilton.

 

The chart also includes a beautiful view of the town and harbour of St. Georges along with a sketch of the Lighthouse at Gibb's Hill which had been constructed in 1844 and was the first lighthouse in the world to be constructed of cast-iron. Laurie makes full use of the trend used by surveyors such as Clement Lempriere and later, the great British surveyor of Florida, George Gauld, to include notes and observations to better inform the reader. In this case Laurie's notes include sailing directions, hazards including reefs and sand-banks, anchorages and water clarity. The chart further details division of land and provides a key to the nine 'parishes' of Bermuda.

 

By 1863 the more traditional label of 'Tribes' was no longer applied. Forts and other military dispositions are marked and named as are telegraphs and batteries. Churches and houses are also clearly marked along with settlements and towns. The chart contains as much information about the development of the island of Bermuda as any history book. What is considered important enough to be included is as revealing, to the student of Bermudian history, as that which has been excluded.

 

The chart was originally produced for the benefit of people back in Britain. It shows, as much as anything, a stable - religious, cultural, economic and military - outpost and gives no clue as to the hardships and realities - slavery, poverty, danger, climate - that living on such an island could bring.

Laurie's Chart of The Bermuda or Somers' Islands