Maps of London

   There are no maps of London extant earlier than the 16th century, but from that time a regular series exists, some of which are of the utmost value and interest.

   The largest and most comprehensive are as follows : Agas' map, c. 1561-70 ; Hogenburg, c. 1578 (various states) ; Porter's map, c.1660 ; Faithorne's map, 1658 ; Leake, 1666 ; Ogilby and Morgan, 1677 ; Rocque, 1746, 1755, 1763 ; Strype's maps, 1720 and 1755 ; Horwood, 1799 ; Greenwood, 1827-9 ; O.S. 1848-51, 1875, 1880, 1894, etc.

   Agas' map is interesting on account of its early date, but it is not an accurate delineation of the City, and its representations have to be accepted with caution. The Guildhall copy is the more useful of the editions published.

   Hogenberg's map is good, but small. There are several different editions of it, in different states.

   Porter's map is useful as showing the City before the Fire, but not large enough for practical purposes.

   Faithorne's map is not accurate to scale.

   Leake's map, containing Hollar's survey after the Fire, is most interesting as showing the devastation wrought at that time, and the state of the City prior to the rebuilding.

   Ogilby and Morgan's Survey on the scale of 100 ft. to the inch is the first really accurate survey of the City that has come down to us. It is indispensable to a careful study of the streets and buildings as they existed immediately after the Fire and before the rebuilding was entirely completed. The reproduction of this map by the L. and M. Arch. Soc. is a useful piece of work.

   Rocque's maps are very valuable and detailed, but not strictly accurate in measurements. The scale is 26 in. to 1 mile.

   The ward maps in Strype's Survey are useful, but the maps of 1755 have to be used with caution as they do not always record the alterations that had taken place in the City subsequently to 1720, when the plates were originally engraved.

   Horwood's map of 1799, also on the scale of 26 in. to 1 mile, is a splendid monument of skill and industry, and the numbering of the houses makes it possible sometimes to identify property with marvellous accuracy.

   Greenwood's map, 1827-9, is useful, but it is not on so large a scale as some of the preceding ones, and is, therefore, not so valuable for detailed work.

   The Ordnance Survey maps produced in and since 1848 are beyond all praise and are indispensable to the student of London Topography. It is much to be regretted that it has not been possible to adhere to the earlier methods of engraving employed in the editions of 1875 and 1880.

   Amongst the smaller maps, of which there are countless numbers from 1666 onwards, mention may be made of Norden's map, 1598, Ryther's map of 1608, and Faden's and Carey's maps published in the 18th and 19th centuries.