I coloured a map: Darwin's attempts at geological mapping in 1831

Abstract

In his autobiography describing his geology of 1831 Darwin wrote, “on my return to Shropshire I coloured a map of parts around Shrewsbury.” There are four extant maps in the Cambridge University Library, which fit this description. Two, at a scale of ⅞ inch to 1 mile, are of Anglesey and Llanymynech and are hand-drawn copies of Evan's map of North Wales, and are without geological annotation. The other two of Shrewsbury and Kinnerley have a scale of 1 inch to 1 mile and are copied from Baugh's Map of Shropshire (1808). These contain orange shading to the west of Shrewsbury indicating New Red Sandstone, but make no allowance for drift. The Shrewsbury map includes some attempted stratigraphic boundaries and marks four sites; A, B, C and D. These maps demonstrate Darwin's grasp of geology before his Welsh tour with Sedgwick in August 1831. They show his realisation of the need of a topographic base map, an acquaintance of the conventions of geological mapping in shading and the marking of boundaries. These maps form an early part of Darwin's considerable geological activity in the summer of 1831.

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