Robert Atkyns (topographer)

Sir Robert Atkyns (1621 – 1710) was an English lawyer, politician, and topographer, best known for his comprehensive The Ancient and Present State of Gloucestershire, published in 1712. He was the son of Sir Edward Atkyns, one of the Barons of the Exchequer.

Atkyns was called to the bar in 1645 and later became a Bencher of Lincoln's Inn. He served as Member of Parliament for Cirencester. He was a Justice of the Court of Common Pleas from 1672 to 1679, when he was removed from the bench, likely due to his opposition to the policies of Charles II. He was a strong supporter of the Protestant cause and the Glorious Revolution. After William III's accession, he was appointed Chief Baron of the Exchequer in 1689, a position he held until 1695.

However, it is Atkyns' The Ancient and Present State of Gloucestershire that secured his lasting fame. This ambitious work is a detailed topographical survey of the county of Gloucestershire, including historical information, descriptions of towns and villages, pedigrees of prominent families, and illustrations of notable buildings and landmarks. It remains a valuable resource for historians and genealogists studying the region. The work, though posthumously published, was largely completed during Atkyns’s lifetime and represents a significant contribution to the tradition of English county histories. His meticulous research and detailed observations provide a window into 17th and early 18th century Gloucestershire. He died in 1710 and is buried at Sapperton Church in Gloucestershire.