Description:
This is the first historical atlas of a major region of the United Kingdom. Its aim is to create and communicate the history of the south-western peninsula of England-Cornwall, Devon and the Isles of Scilly - from the beginnings of man's occupation to the present day.
Brief description:
Born in New England, Todd Gray has been fascinated by Devon's history since a school trip in 1973. After completing his degree in London, he moved to Exeter in 1984 to study for a PhD. He completed his doctorate in 1988 and has been a Research Fellow at the university ever since.
He became a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society in 1992, in 2006 he became a British citizen and was awarded an MBE for voluntary services to Devon's history in 2014. He has organised numerous exhibitions, more than 50 history conferences and has given nearly 2,000 public lectures in Britain, North America and Asia. He is, or has been, a committee member, chairman or president of Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries, the Devonshire Association, Devon History Society, Devon & Cornwall Record Society, Devon Gardens Trust, Devon Family History Society, the Centre for South-Western Historical Studies and the Friends of Devon's Archives. He is currently co-organising the first Exeter History Day to be held in 2019.
Todd has examined every document collection in Devon's three public archives - 16 linear miles of papers. This extensive use of archives has allowed him to shine a light on previously forgotten or overlooked parts of Devon's history such as slavery in the late 1600s, the rise of fascism in the 1930s and the outbreak of looting in 1942. He has also examined lighter aspects of history - two years ago he discovered forgotten Tudor swear words used in Devon and another Exeter word, quilling, is currently being considered for inclusion in the Oxford English Dictionary.
During the Cathedral Yard fire in Exeter two years ago Todd acted as an expert for journalists, explaining the history of the area during more than 50 interviews. He later organised two public meetings in the city for people to discuss the impact of the fire and his book, St Martin's Island, written with Sue Jackson, is a lasting account of the fire and its aftermath.
Review Quotes:
"Not to be missed by historians, geographers, and archaeologists who might wish to acquire an almost perfect example of the genre . . . Text, maps, and illustrations are at once authoritative, clear and unambiguous . . . A key text for future studies of the south-west." (Journal of Historical Geography 27, 2001) "Where this atlas wins hands down over its rivals is its massive inclusiveness and the depths of the articles that accompany the maps. Coverage runs from the geology of the South West and its palaeolithic settlement patterns right up to the contemporary hot potato of second home ownership. The general editor, Roger Kain, points out that 'Each author was given the opportunity to frame his or her own contribution within broad parameters set by the editors.' This lightness of touch has worked in that it is quite possible to sit down and view the atlas as a 'good read' in its own right . . . The 65 chapters cover everything a local historian or geographer could reasonably want to know and many are a masterpiece of compression and data presentation." (The Local Historian, November 2000) ". . . massively comprehensive and detailed, with a proliferation of excellent colour and black and white reproductions, diagrams and photographs, as well as some 400 specially drawn maps . . . Its worth as a work of reference for the specialist can be judged by, for example, the linguistic scientist being able to turn to a chapter, complete with relevant map, on the retreat of the Cornish language, or the social historian to a remarkably well illustrated chapter on printing, the book trade and newspapers. This is not to say that it is of lesser interest to more generalist readers, such as map collectors or, indeed, anyone with more than a passing interest in the peninsula." (Journal of the International Map Collectors Society, Autumn 2000) "A very fine production . . . provides good value on the historical and geographical background to that fascinating south-western peninsula of England." (The Geographical Journal March 2001, Vol. 167) "This marvellous book." (Mapline, Vol. 91 2000) "The enduring hold of local history on the imagination is also manifest in Roger Kain and William Ravenhill's sumptuous Historical Atlas of South-West England, the product of twelve years' work and one of the most substantial collaborative cartographic ventures undertaken in the United Kingdom." (Journal of Historical Geography) "Thanks to generous contributions from the University of Exeter Development Fund and a series of charitable organisations, this Atlas sells for £55, which is extraordinarily cheap at the price and not to be missed by historians, geographers, and archaeologists who might wish to acquire an almost perfect example of the genre." (Journal of Historical Geography) "... the contributors to the Historical Atlas of South-West England have given us a volume which is as beautiful as it is scholarly; a handsome work to be enjoyed by student and 'general' reader alike." (Journal of Historical Geography)