Applecross in maps
2. 17th Century - Pont and Gordon
John Speed 1610
Most maps in the early part of the 17th century, including this well known one by John Speed, were basically copies of Mercator’s map, but new material for a much more detailed map of Scotland had already been gathered by Timothy Pont. Pont travelled throughout Scotland in the late 16th century, collecting information and preparing maps. His maps were never published in his lifetime, and unfortunately the handrawn maps which he left do not cover Applecross. His work was, however, used by Robert Gordon to produce new maps in the mid-17th century.
Robert Gordon ‘Coygach and Loch Breyn drawn out of many imperfyt papers of M T Pont’ (drawn ca. 1636-52)
Applecross is marked as ‘Combrich’, i.e. ‘A’Chomraich’ – the sanctuary, as Applecross is still known in Gaelic today. Just to the south is a line marked ‘This is ye marche betwix Combrich and Kissernes’. On the left of the map is the information ‘it is 1 myles betwix Keanloch Carron and Rossoll and thrie myles more to ye kirk of Combrich.’ The sentence to the right of Applecross is very difficult to read but some words can be made out. It reads something like ‘This [piece?] within [these?] marks is out of order […] specially loch Gerloch and loch Turretan [… …] right, which sould shoot out […] more to ye west.’ Looking carefully it can be observed that the map is basically two maps joined together – to the north is Gruinard, with its nearby lochs ‘Fadd’ (Fada), ‘Fina’ (Fionna) and ‘na Shalg’ (na Sealga), and to the south, Loch Carron. Applecross has been marked at the north of the lower map, but a map for the area between, including Loch Torridon and Loch Gairloch, was obviously not available at the time and so that part of the country is completely missed out.
Another version of Gordon’s map shows Applecross as ‘Combrich k[irk] or Apilgirth’. ‘Girth’ referring to the sanctuary which is said to have extended to a defined area around the church.
Gordon’s work was in turn used by various other mapmakers, most famously Blaeu in the first atlas of Scotland. Blaeu himself was copied by numerous other mapmakers, including Sanson.
Blaeu 1654