The map was first published in 1748. The decoration includes an elaborate dedicatory cartouche to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, a "Scale of Miles" in a formal framework and the coats-of-arms of the 164 subsribers. There is a large inset of the Isles of Scilly on the same scale but "which could not be placed in their proper position without making the map too greater length". In the "Explanation of Symbols Uses", surrounded by a plain floral border "Towns are shown by their ichnography or Ground Plot, and borough towns have a B added to them", whilst small symbols differentiate between churches, with tower or steeple, seats of the nobility, villages and farmhouses. With most travel at the time on foot or on horseback special attention is given to the roads, indicating whether "a lane, road over a common, or road with hedge". Further detail includes tin copper, and lead mines, hills commons, rivers and parks, hundreds and divisions of the county. To the upper right of the map is a beautiful compass rose incorporating a view of a surveyor at work.

The present map bears the imprint of William Faden and is dated 1784. Although the map was published by Robert Sayer in 1748 it was not included in his catalogue of 1775, so one must conclude that the maps passed to Faden at some point before 1775.

Scale: 1 inch to 1 statute mile.