David Fletcher (London Guildhall University, UK)

Career:

My research is on the history of cartography and although trained as a geographer, I am now a History lecturer. I graduated in Geography from St. John's College, University of Oxford in 1982. My Ph.D. thesis was entitled "Estate Maps of Christ Church, Oxford: The emergence of map-consciousness c. 1600-1840." My supervisor was Professor Roger Kain, Professor of Geography. The Ph.D. was awarded in July 1990. From September 1990 to August 1992 I was Tutor in Geography at the University of Exeter. In September 1992 I took up the post of Lecturer in Geography at City of London Polytechnic, subsequently renamed London Guildhall University. In 1998 I became a Senior Lecturer in History having been re-deployed at the same institution.

Selected Publications:

D.H. Fletcher, The emergence of estate maps: Christ Church, Oxford 1600 to 1840, Oxford University Press, 1995.

D.H. Fletcher, "Mapping and estate management on the early-nineteenth century estate: The case of the Earl of Aylesford's estate atlas." Archaeologia Cantiana 109 (1991) 85-109

D.H. Fletcher, "Map or terrier? The example of Christ Church, Oxford, estate management, 1600 - 1840". Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers NS 23 (1998) 221-237.

D.H. Fletcher, "The Ordnance Survey')s nineteenth century boundary survey: Context, characteristics and impact" Imago Mundi 51 (1999) 131-146.

Current Research

I currently hold a British Academy research grant. The project title is ‘The History of Parish Boundary Records in England: Documents and their Significance.')

• This project examines the development of the idea and practice of parish boundary determination in England. This is to understand how maps became the preferred method of documenting these boundaries when previously written records and oral wisdom had sufficed.
• This research is part of a longer project on the history of administrative boundary mapping that has already resulted in conference presentations as well as a paper in press for the Journal Imago Mundi on the Ordnance Survey boundary records.

Other Research:

• The Ordnance Survey's nineteenth century Boundary Survey. This looks at the records of this original boundary determination which are now held mainly in the OS class at the Public Record Office in London.
• The development of map-consciousness in England with respect to estate maps. Most of this research related to the estates of Oxford colleges, particularly Christ Church. Although these records are mainly concerned with the administration and demarcation of private property, they often touch on the question of administrative boundaries.
• The history of the parish and the development of local government in England. This research is in parallel with, and provides context for, my work on the emergence of parish boundary mapping.

Go Back