John Rudd (cartographer)
Encyclopedia
John Rudd was a Tudor
cartographer and clergyman.
In 1561 he was given two years' leave from his duties as Vicar
of Dewsbury
(1554-1570) and Rector
of Thornhill
(1558-1570/78) to travel the country with the objective of mapping England
. Although he does not appear to have completed this objective, it was completed by his apprentice, Christopher Saxton
. Saxton was employed by Rudd as a servant and it seems likely that he accompanied him on these trips, and learned draughting and surveying skills from his master.
As well as various benefices, Rudd held a prebend at Durham. He and his wife Isabel (whom he had to renounce during Mary
's reign) had at least three daughters and three sons, of whom John (1568-1640) followed his father in ministry. After becoming embroiled in controversy at Cambridge, leading to an appearance before the High Commission, the younger John settled down as Vicar of Shephall (near Stevenage) in Hertfordshire, where his memorial takes the form of a map cartouche
, with a depiction of him as the Good Shepherd, brandishing a very episcopal-looking crook! He left bequests to Durham Cathedral School and various churches in Durham and Hertfordshire.
Tudor period
The Tudor period usually refers to the period between 1485 and 1603, specifically in relation to the history of England. This coincides with the rule of the Tudor dynasty in England whose first monarch was Henry VII...
cartographer and clergyman.
In 1561 he was given two years' leave from his duties as Vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of Dewsbury
Dewsbury
Dewsbury is a minster town in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England. It is to the west of Wakefield, east of Huddersfield and south of Leeds...
(1554-1570) and Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Thornhill
Thornhill, West Yorkshire
Thornhill, is a village in Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England. Thornhill was absorbed into Dewsbury County Borough in 1910. It is located on a hill on the south side of the River Calder, and has extensive views of Dewsbury, Ossett and Wakefield...
(1558-1570/78) to travel the country with the objective of mapping England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Although he does not appear to have completed this objective, it was completed by his apprentice, Christopher Saxton
Christopher Saxton
Christopher Saxton was an English cartographer, probably born in the parish of Dewsbury, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England around 1540....
. Saxton was employed by Rudd as a servant and it seems likely that he accompanied him on these trips, and learned draughting and surveying skills from his master.
As well as various benefices, Rudd held a prebend at Durham. He and his wife Isabel (whom he had to renounce during Mary
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
's reign) had at least three daughters and three sons, of whom John (1568-1640) followed his father in ministry. After becoming embroiled in controversy at Cambridge, leading to an appearance before the High Commission, the younger John settled down as Vicar of Shephall (near Stevenage) in Hertfordshire, where his memorial takes the form of a map cartouche
Cartouche (design)
A cartouche is an oval or oblong design with a slightly convex surface, typically edged with ornamental scrollwork. It is used to hold a painted or low relief design....
, with a depiction of him as the Good Shepherd, brandishing a very episcopal-looking crook! He left bequests to Durham Cathedral School and various churches in Durham and Hertfordshire.