The Cassini Historical Maps of London provide a unique and fascinating overview of 150 years of London’s rich history from 1805 to 1946.They reveal how the capital engulfed surrounding villages to become, for much of this period, the largest city in the world. Each map explores a crucial period in London’s recent history: the late Georgian (1805-22), the late Victorian railway era (1897-8), the dawn of the motoring age (1919-20) and the period of reconstruction following the Second World War (1945-6). Cartographical and historical notes provide background information to help bring London’s past to life.

Each of the four maps covers an identical area, extending from Bushey to Theydon Bois and from Esher to Halstead – roughly the area within today’s M25.

London (box set of 4)*
London 1805-1822
London 1897-1898
London 1920
London 1945-1948
More information on rolled maps

*The sets of four maps also contain a free street map of Central London (1:10,000 scale) from 1891.

All four maps have been created by scanning original sheets from the respective historical series and then re-projecting and enlarging them so they match the scale of the present-day 1:50,000 Ordnance Survey Landrangers®. Each Cassini Historical Map of London has then been centred on Charing Cross to provide complete coverage of the development of the city between the early 19th century and the Second World War, and superimposed with the National Grid for ease of reference. Exact comparisons with present-day London can be made by consulting Ordnance Survey Landrangers 176 (West London) and 177 (East London).

The maps are available individually or as a box-set of all four. The box-set – ideal for a gift – also contains a free street map of Central London from 1891.