Fascinating 19th century map of London shows capital as tiny city with south and east almost uninhabited

A REMARKABLE early 19th century map of London has emerged for sale revealing how the city has dramatically changed over the past two centuries.

The detailed 1830 map produced by celebrated cartographers shows how vast swathes of South and East London were practically uninhabited.

While there are some built up areas on the South Bank, south west London is very sparsely populated, with large green spaces.

It’s  a similar story in the East End of London, where few people lived east of Tower Hamlets other than a small settlement in Hackney and a few areas in the developing Docklands.

While in the west of the city, where Earl’s Court now stands were fields, while Camden Town, with its docks, was one of the most northern outposts.

A collection of buildings at Greenwich in south east London was right on the outskirts of the capital which had yet to become the sprawling metropolis of today.

At the time the Greenwood brothers produced the map, London’s population was still just around 1.5 million – although this still made it the most heavily populated city in the world.

However, as a consequence of the industrial revolution, its population doubled to 3.2million by 1860, and shot up further to 6.7million by 1900.

To cope with the increasing population, the East End underwent major development and the open spaces were rapidly filled in in the mid-19th century.

The map shows the recently completed Great Surrey Canal, Regent’s Park, St Katharine Docks and the planned development of Belgravia by Thomas Cubitt.

One of the most interesting buildings is Millbank Prison in Pimlico which opened in 1816 as a holding facility for convicted prisoners before they were transported to Australia. It closed in 1890.

Cricket lovers will be able to identify Lords Cricket Ground and The Oval on the map.

However, the home of English rugby, Twickenham, and football, Wembley Stadium, were not built until the early 20th century.

The opening of Westminster Bridge in 1750 and Blackfrairs Bridge in 1769 encouraged growth in the south west of London in the late 18th and early 19th century.

But only Tower Bridge provided access south east of the river, so it grew much more slowly until the Surrey Commercial Docks were built.

The map, which carries a dedication to William IV, measures about 4ft by 6ft and uses a scale of 8ins to a mile.

Christopher and John Greenwood spent three years preparing the new survey of London before it was published.

It has been consigned for sale by a private collector with Dominic Winter auctions of Cirencester, Gloucs, and carries a pre-sale estimate of £5,000.

Chris Albury, specialist at Dominic Winter, said: “Large-scale detailed maps of large towns and cities have an instant visual appeal.

“Large and colourful maps of London, both modern and antique, are currently very popular and highly in demand.

“As a nation we are all familiar with the snaking shape of the Thames in central London as seen on this map, if only from the credits to EastEnders, and it is then impossible not to be drawn into looking at the beautifully depicted and organised details – the roads, green spaces and landmark features.

“Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral are of course still with us now but one can get lost in the detail looking at the various parishes trying to work out what has gone and what has yet to be built.”

The sale takes place on December 12.

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