Map of London : from an actual survey made in the years 1824, 1825 & 1826
Map of London
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Title:
Map of London : from an actual survey made in the years 1824, 1825 & 1826
Description:
Christopher Greenwood was a surveyor who compiled and published large scale maps of English counties from 1817 until 1831. In 1821, he partnered with his brother, John, also a surveyor and publisher. Together, they carried out entirely new surveys of England for seventeen years. This beautifully colored and intricately detailed map, dedicated to King George the Fourth, depicts the city of London and its surroundings. Unlike many European cities, London did not have surrounding fortifications that often confined cities to a round shape. After the Middle Ages, the earlier fortification walls no longer functioned as city limits, and London was able to expand unimpeded into surrounding areas. Thus, its growth was more organic than formally planned. In the nineteenth century, London became the world’s largest city, until New York superseded it in the following century. Due to its rapid rise in population, London became overcrowded, leaving little room for farmland. The city’s buildings became densely packed, particularly around the Thames River, which was vital for London’s overseas trade. Despite its limited space, the city also accommodated a fair number of parks, colored in a distinctive green. The map also features two stunning vignettes of St. Paul’s and Westminster Abbey, two of the most prominent churches in the world at the time, which are still famous today.
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