Published almost 300 years ago by master mapmaker John Rocque, this is the first detailed map of South London and South East London. It was originally published in 1746, following a highly accurate survey of London and its suburbs starting in 1740. It is a beautiful, highly detailed and extremely rare old map.
This is sheet 8 of 16, covering the London Boroughs of Lambeth and Bromley, both of which form part of Greater London, located in the south and southeast of the city.
On the bottom right of the map, you can see Beckenham which is located between the London Borough of Bromley and the historic county of Kent. Back in the 1740s, the now bustling town of Beckenham was just a small village surrounded by rural and private parkland.
The district of Streatham at the time was broken up into several farms, which are visible on the map. You may also have heard that Norwood used to be the Great North Wood, which is shown on this map!
Some of the locations on this map include: Streatham, Beckenham, Sydenham, Knights Hill, Penge, Norwood, Crystal Palace, Lambeth and Bromley.
Rocque published two major maps of London. This map here is a single sheet from a very fine 16-sheet map of "London and 10 miles around". His other map, a 24-sheet map of central London with magnificent detail, is far more famous.
This map looks great at all sizes: 18x12in (46x30.5cm), 16x20in (40.5x51cm), 18x24in (45.5x61cm), 24x36in (61x91.5cm), 30x45in (76x114.5cm), 33x50in (84x127cm), 40x60in (102x153cm) and 47x70in (120x178cm), but it looks best at larger sizes.
I can create beautiful, large prints of this map up to 120in (305cm). Please get in touch if you're looking for larger, customised or different framing options.
The model in the listing images is holding the 24x36in (61x91.5cm) version of this map.
The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.
If you’re looking for something slightly different, another option would be this amazing map of South East London by Edward Stanford in 1891.
Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.
This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving or housewarming gift for someone interested in South London and South East London or someone from the London Borough of Lambeth or Bromley .
This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.