A TRULY STUNNING AND EXTREMELY RARE LARGE PLAN of the ancient town of Richmond in Yorkshire. Only TWO COPIES RECORDED in King George III’s Topographical collection at the British Library (K.Top.44.44) and at York Minster. It is a large four-sheet birds-eye view of the town from the south with the River Swale in the foreground. The Castle and the large market square which are the towns major tourist destinations are prominently featured. The detail is truly remarkable with each building having its own character and garden featured. Running along the bottom is a brief description of its political structure, market days etc., followed by a list of the 24 Earl’s of Richmond since the Norman Conquest and the Dukes of Richmond. Then follows an Explanation with 66 numbered points of interest to the plan including ‘Mr Kay’s Dy house”, Where severall pieces of old Roman Coyns were found”, “A pleasant walk round the Castle”, “The oat cross & pillory”, “Stables for Running horses” (see later), “The Ducking Stoole” and “Brinks Brick Kilns”.

We have been unable to find anything about Robert Harman, this is the only work recorded by him in Tooley’s Dictionary of Mapmakers. The plan is dedicated to Sir Ralph Milbank, 4th Baronet of Halnaby (1689-1748) whose interests included mining and horse racing. Note the presence of “Stables for Running horses” on the map. Richmond is a Norman town whose wealth was built on the wool industry and the nearby lead mine, it prospered during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. The plan is engraved by Benjamin Cole (1697?-1783) and appears, according to the recent work of Worms and Baynton-Williams, to be his earliest recorded piece. The whole is finished off with the coats of arms of no less than 470 gentlemen. If these are all subscribers it is an indication of how important Richmond was in its day. THE ONLY KNOWN EXAMPLE IN PRIVATE HANDS. Provenance: private English collection. Oliver (2019); Tooley (1999-2004); Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).