I can't say that I've ever noticed this either, probably because I'm trying to rush past all the outlet shops as fast as possible in order to get to the view (the only desirable part of Gunwharf Quays in my opinion).
It may be that Mercator is honoured in this way because Portsmouth is twinned with Duisburg. On the other hand I think you can probably stick "H.M.S." in front of all the avenue names at Gunwharf Quays (Vernon, Togo, Marlborough, Sirius and Philip).
David
--
David Sherren
Map Librarian
The University Library
University of Portsmouth
Cambridge Road
PORTSMOUTH
PO1 2ST
United Kingdon
Telephone: +44 (0) 23 9284 3655
Facsimile: +44 (0) 23 9284 3233
Email: [log in to unmask]
http://www.port.ac.uk/library/maplibrary
Thing of the Day http://reden.wordpress.com/
>>> On 08/06/2010 at 21:14, in message <9E44A1B2EE5A49CE9B9CFFBFFDB42B0E@FRANCIS>,
Francis Herbert <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> "Gerhard Mercator produced | the first maps in the world | during 1624.
> | He lived in Duisburg, Germany | for most of his life and is |
> considered a son | of the city." [explanatory plaque (with line endings
> indicated here) on Mercator Avenue, Gunwharf Quays [shopping centre],
> Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK].
>
>
>
> Below is an edited version of my message recently sent to the Gunwharf
> Quays (Management) in Portsmouth - a mere gun-shot east of the
> Portsmouth Historic Dockyard containing also the Royal Naval Museum with
> its Collections (Library, MSS, etc.):-
>
>
>
> "As a visitor to Gunwharf Quays I first noticed - admittedly only in
> 2006 - its short-length Mercator Avenue. And transcribed, four years
> ago, the 'interesting' facts on the Avenue's explanatory plaque; the
> same information remains as up to my visit recently, when I called in to
> your Information Office to enquire about it.
>
>
>
> Fact: Mercator (born 5 March 1512, died 2 December 1594) indeed "lived
> in Duisburg, Germany for most of his life . . ." (i.e. from 1552
> onwards).
>
> Fiction (alas): Mercator "produced the first maps in the world during
> 1624."
>
> Corrections:-
>
> 1] By no measure did he produce "the first maps in the world" (these go
> back several thousand years); his first (copper-engraved) map - of the
> Holy Land - was issued on 6 sheets in 1537.
>
> 2] "during 1624" - having been dead for 30 years!
>
>
>
> As the scientific/cartographic world is preparing for the
> quincentennial, in 2012, of Gerard Mercator's birth it would be good to
> know that the facts on Gunwharf Quays' Mercator Avenue might be
> corrected - or expanded - by then. Incidentally, as you can discover,
> Kremer (his father's family name in German, and which Gerard latinized
> only in 1530 to Mercator) means 'merchant': surely an added (commercial)
> factor to attract more visitors! And, also incidentally, no reason is
> offered on the plaque as to why Kremer/Mercator is honoured. Could it be
> that an implicit reference to the 'Mercator Projection' and its
> suitability for sea navigation was intended?
>
>
>
> Yours truly,
>
> (Mr) Francis Herbert (former Curator of Maps, Royal Geographical Society
> with IBG) FBCartS
>
> [log in to unmask]"
>
>
>
> Today I received a response from Land Securities Group plc, conveying
> thanks for an "informative email regarding Mercator . . . [which] made
> us all re-think . . . our various plaques around Gunwharf . . . and
> amend the plaque as appropriate. This may take some time for a remake .
> . ."
>
> Strange that no participants at local cartographic meetings (BCS, ICA,
> etc., or University of Portsmouth Geography staff) have noticed this
> discrepancy (sit back and await fall-out . . .),
>
> FH
>
>
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