1832 Robert Dawson Reform Map IOW

Isle of Wight borough plan. REFORM LAW. Cowes Newport. Old map of Dawson 1832. Robert K. Dawson’s antique lithographic map with hand-colored outline. Lieutenant R.E. “Engraved by” J. Gardner (1832). 30.0 x 33.5cm, 11.75 x 13.25 inches; foldable map. Condition: Fair: The print has been offset by text and/or images from the facing page. Plain back side has no printing. This map showed the proposed electoral borough constituency in the 1832 Reform Act. At this period, the House of Commons chose county and borough representatives. Many “rotten” or pocket boroughs had small electorates controlled by affluent landowners before reform.

Urban populations were underrepresented in industrial towns and cities rising rapidly due to the industrial revolution. The Reform Bill redrawn parliamentary seats, enlarging or disenfranchising rotten boroughs and recognised industrial towns. The maps show the previous, unreformed boundaries (green) and the new, reformed bounds (red) for existing boroughs. Some maps show parish or township boundaries in brown. Robert Dawson was a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers charged with survey and production of maps to illustrate the changes.

• https://www.abebooks.com/maps/Isle-Wight-Dawson-Robert/31543333567/bd