Chapter 7: Maps

7.1 Ordnance Survey maps | 7.2 Goad fire insurance plans | 7.3 Plans | 7.4 Manuscript maps earlier than 1860

The library possesses some 4,500 printed maps, including a chronological sequence of miscellaneous maps (indexed); a numbered and chronological sequence of Ordnance Survey maps; and a separate sequence of Goad Fire Insurance Plans indexed by street name. Miscellaneous maps are also held in the Prints Collection and the Printed Books Collection. Copies of some early maps of Westminster can be found on the website Motco.

Westminster is included in many early views of London, and the library has copies of most of these, from Van den Wyngaerde's "View of London" (c 1550) onwards. Early detailed maps include the so-called Agas "Map of London", about 1563, and Faithorne's "Map of London and Westminster", 1658 (London Topographical Society reproductions). The first detailed survey of which the library has an original copy is Rocque's "Plan of the Cities of London, Westminster and Southwark", 1746 (26" to 1 mile). The library also has original copies of Horwood's "Plans of London and Westminster", 1792-1799 and 1819, as well as the London Topographical Society reproductions of both Rocque and Horwood. The earliest most detailed map we have of Paddington is 1742; 8": 1 mile (lands of Sir John Frederick)

7.1 Ordnance Survey Maps

• 1:10560 (6 inches to 1 mile) 1894-1896
  Complete coverage of Westminster
• 1:2500 (25 inches to 1 mile) 1868-1939
  Partial coverage of Westminster
• 1:1250 (50 inches to 1 mile) 1949 +
  Whole of Westminster
• 1:1056 (60 inches to 1 mile) 1848-1850
  Outline plan only; covers southern area; no buildings shown
• 1:1056 (60 inches to 1 mile) 1863-1874
  Complete coverage of Westminster
• 1:1056 (60 inches to 1 mile) 1893-1896
  Virtually complete coverage of Westminster
• 1:1056 (60 inches to 1 mile) 1906-1922
  Partial coverage of Westminster
• 1948 London County Council revision of OS 1894-1896
  Complete for Westminster.

7.2 Goad Fire Insurance Plans

Relevant sections of Goad's Fire Insurance Plan of London (1888 -1960s), on a scale of 1" to 40 feet, provide a detailed survey of the city. However, the area coverage of the published plans is not comprehensive.

7.3 Plans

Plans and sections of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire railway extension to London; and the Great Central Railway London extension showing Marylebone Station.

7.4 Manuscript maps earlier than 1860

These are maps which were not acquired as part of a larger archive. Parish maps which are kept with the parish records are included in Chapter 23.2. The local studies collection also includes many copies of manuscript maps, the originals of which are held elsewhere.

• Craven Estate (Acc 1815):
  Plan of Dame Elizabeth Craven’s estate near Charing Cross by Samuel Parsons 1621
• Craven Estate (Acc 1307):
  Book of plans of land in St James Piccadilly, St Martin-in-the Fields, St Mary-le-Strand and Paddington 1829
• Grand Junction Canal Company:
  Map of the estate at Paddington south of the canal basin, scale c80 in:1 mile c1845
• Paddington Estate of the Bishop of London:
  Map of the estate in seven sections by G H Eliot, scale c35 in:1 mile c1820-1825
• Paddington and Notting Hill:
  Map showing the Grand Junction Canal and Great Western Railway terminus, scale c24 in:1 mile c1842
• St Margaret, Westminster (Acc 277):
  Photocopy of tithe apportionment with map of land near Kensington 1854-1856 (originals at Tithe Redemption Office)
• St Marylebone:
  Map of the bounds of the parish with buildings by Joseph Phillips and James Haywood, scale c21 inches: 1 mile 1768
• St Marylebone:
  Map of the built area south of Marylebone Road by John Jones, scale c40 in:1 mile 1784
• St Marylebone:
  Map of the estates on the north side of Marylebone Road by John Jones, scale 5.1 in:1 mile 1799
• Manor of Westbourne Green:
  Map of land belonging to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, scale c13 in:1 mile 1810-1811