Hugh Draper

Drapers' astronomical map on a wall of the Salt Tower

Hugh Draper or Hew Draper was an innkeeper in Bristol and a prisoner in the Tower of London . He is best known to posterity for his ornate engravings that he carved into the walls of his cell in the Salt Tower . This is on the one hand an astronomical map and on the other hand a globe.

Draper was a wealthy inn keeper and astronomer who was well reputed among his neighbors. Draper was locked in the Tower in 1560 on charges by the astronomer John Man. He was charged with sorcery to the detriment of William St. Lowe and his wife. In his testimony, Draper confessed to having tried magic before. However, not to the detriment of third parties. In addition, it was a long time ago, all relevant books and utensils had already been burned. Nothing is known about Draper's whereabouts.

At the time of his imprisonment in the Tower, his health was compromised. He left several legacies on the walls of his cell, the astronomical clock being the best known and most striking.

Draper's map shows the astrological symbols of the zodiac signs , marked with digits and calculations, and numerous lines connecting them. Engraving a globe shows both geographical precision and the impression of depth. The globe is marked with the date May 30th 1561. Among the more than 300 wall engravings in the tower, Draper's works are two exceptions. On the one hand, they are unusually artfully executed. On the other hand, they differ thematically from all other works. These usually extend to simple names or short quotations from the Bible. An elaborate work on a non-Christian motif is an absolute exception in the tower.

literature

• John Whitcomb Bayley: The History and Antiquities of the Tower of London , London 1821 p. 210

Web links

• Jonathan Jones: 'Sorceror' Hew Draper's Tower of London graffiti: a black art indeed , April 12, 2010