



Map Of London 1868, By Edward Weller, F.R.G.S.

Revised And Corrected To The Present Time By John Dower, F.R.G.S.



















The Map





Title: London Mapmaker: Compiled And Engraved By Edward Weller, F.R.G.S. (Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society)

Revised And Corrected To The Present Time By John Dower, F.R.G.S. John Dower, 1866. Publisher: London G.W Bacon & Co. 337 Strand WC. Scale: 9 ⅜ " : 1 Statute Mile Date: Updated by Bacon to 1868 Size: 197cm x 142cm (77½" x 56") Extent: Upper Holloway - Poplar - Kennington - North Kensington Description: Hand-coloured map, dissected and mounted on linen. 36 sections each measuring 33cm x 24cm (13" x 9½")



Not recorded in Hyde, but would be No. 73, between states (6) and (7).

This map originates from a large scale map of London compiled and engraved by Edward Weller F.R.G.S., issued in parts as supplements to the Weekly Dispatch newspaper during 1861 and 1862. The map consisted of nine sheets on a scale of 9 ⅜ " to 1 Statute mile. This map predates Edward Stanford's Library Map of London (Hyde No. 91) produced for the 1862 International Exhibition, and Weller's map is on a much larger scale than Stanford's 6" to 1 mile Library map.



Dispatch Atlas published in early 1863. The plates for Weller's London map were purchased by Cassell, Petter & Galpin in mid 1863, and the map was immediately printed for sale by them. A copy of this printing is included in the MAPCO collection. Cassell declared that their "large map of London, as well as being the largest, is universally admitted to be the best map of London ever produced".



'A new and special survey' of London was commissioned by Cassell to update the map for publication in 1866. The work was undertaken by John Dower F.R.G.S, and resulted in a much updated and improved map that included proposed developments in London as well as the new buildings, streets and railways that had already been completed.



By 1868 the Weller plates with Dower's updates had been sold by Cassell, Petter & Galpin, and were in the possession of George Washington Bacon, "the American map publisher". Bacon had been declared bankrupt on 23 May 1867 while occupying premises at 49 Paternoster Row, but by January 1868 he was rebuilding his business at 337 Strand, premises he was sharing with one William Tweedie, also a mapmaker and publisher. It was while he was at 337 Strand that Bacon first published his copy of the Weller map (displayed above).



It is important to realise that Bacon overlaid many of the new London developments over the top of the Weller and Dower plates. Some of the London features shown on the map were speculative in nature, representing known planned developments or information published in Parliamentary Papers, some of which never eventuated and were not build. For more information see the ' The map was extremely popular with the map buying public, being reprinted numerous times, and as a result was included in thepublished in early 1863. The plates for Weller's London map were purchased by Cassell, Petter & Galpin in mid 1863, and the map was immediately printed for sale by them. A copy of this printing is included in the MAPCO collection. Cassell declared that their "large map of London, as well as being the largest, is universally admitted to be the best map of London ever produced".'A new and special survey' of London was commissioned by Cassell to update the map for publication in 1866. The work was undertaken by John Dower F.R.G.S, and resulted in a much updated and improved map that included proposed developments in London as well as the new buildings, streets and railways that had already been completed.By 1868 the Weller plates with Dower's updates had been sold by Cassell, Petter & Galpin, and were in the possession of George Washington Bacon, "the American map publisher". Bacon had been declared bankrupt on 23 May 1867 while occupying premises at 49 Paternoster Row, but by January 1868 he was rebuilding his business at 337 Strand, premises he was sharing with one William Tweedie, also a mapmaker and publisher. It was while he was at 337 Strand that Bacon first published his copy of the Weller map (displayed above).It is important to realise that Bacon overlaid many of the new London developments over the top of the Weller and Dower plates. Some of the London features shown on the map were speculative in nature, representing known planned developments or information published in Parliamentary Papers, some of which never eventuated and were not build. For more information see the ' Aids To Dating This Map ' section below.



Cassell, Petter & Galpin's London 1863

By June 1869 Bacon had relocated to 127 Strand, where he built one of the most commercially successful map businesses that London has ever known. G.W. Bacon & Co. flourished throughout the Victorian era, and Bacon remained associated with the business until his death at his home, Woodlawn, Bacon Hill, Hindhead, Surrey, on 21 January 1922.



An 1870 advertisement for Bacon's map reads:



LONDON in 1870. - BACON'S GREAT MAP of LONDON, six by eight feet. Largest and best published. Showing 22,000 streets. Price, in case or on rollers, £2 2s. Reduced editions from 12s 6d. - G.W. Bacon's map depot, 127, Strand, 20 doors west of Somerset-house.

(Source: The Times, Thursday, Nov 17, 1870; pg. 3; Issue 26910; col A)

















Brief History Of This Map



The map was purchased by Alfred John Owen on a trip to England from Australia around 1880. Upon Alfred's death the map passed to his daughter Lyzette Owen, and it remained in possession of the Owen family of Victoria, Australia, from the 1880s until 2007, when it was purchased by MAPCO for display on the MAPCO : Map And Plan Collection Online website.















Condition



There is much life recorded on the surface of this map, as the ink splashes at the bottom of the map testify.



The map has been a working map at some point in its long history, having been pinned up for display for a significant period of time at some stage. The map has suffered considerable yellowing due to exposure to natural light, so it must have been on display for many years. It was hung on a wall with a window to the right of the map, as the yellowing of the map is far more extensive to the right hand side than to the left.



While it was on display many items were pinned over top of the map, resulting in uneven patchwork discolouration to the paper upon which the map is printed. Drawing pin holes and marks from the pin heads are evident over much of the surface of the map, and one can only speculate what the map may have been used for, and what was pinned upon its surface. Perhaps it was used for planning of London engineering works such as sewer extensions by the London Metropolitan Board of Works, or railway extensions by one of the many railway companies operating in the Metropolis? Perhaps it was simply displayed because it is an attractive item, or because it reminded someone of home?



It is intriguing to speculate about what this map may have been used for in its working like.















Variations In The Hand Colouring



The paper sections of this map have been individually hand coloured prior to the map being mounted onto linen.



In 1871 Bacon issued updated images of the large scale Weekly Dispatch map in his Illustrated Complete Atlas, as well as publishing it under the title "Bacon's Library Map of London and Suburbs" (Hyde No. 165). Individual map sheets could also be purchased, presumably hand-coloured to suit specific customer requirements. It seems likely that Bacon would have had a number of workers involved in hand colouring the individual sheets, so variations in colouring and accuracy to detail would be expected.



It now seems likely that Bacon was issuing the Weekly Dispatch map as individual sheets as early as 1868 from his premises at 337 Strand.



Variations in attention to detail and hand colouring and are evident in the map displayed here, and the individual sections certainly suggest different hands at work on the hand colouring process. A few examples of this variation are evident in the coloured north section and uncoloured south section of Victoria Park (the south-west corner is completely uncoloured), and in the coloured north section and uncoloured south section of the St John's Wood railway line. There are many other examples of this inconsistency throughout the map.















Aids To Dating This Map



This map was previously thought to have not been published by Bacon until 1871, so it has been important to date this copy as accurately as possible. There are many features shown on the map that aid with the dating process, not the least of which is Bacon's address at 337 Strand, where he is known to have been resident from at least January 1868 until April 1869, possibly longer.



Dating was carried out by identification and interpretation of the following London developments shown on the map. It is important to recognise that Bacon overlaid many of these features on top of the Weller and Dower plates, and that some of the features shown were speculative in nature, representing known planned developments or information published in Parliamentary Papers, some of which never eventuated and were not build.



1867

G.W. Bacon & Co. address at 48 Paternoster-Row on 23 May 1867.

Bacon declared bankrupt on 23 May 1867, after which he vacated these premises.

Great Northern Railway's Edgware, Highgate & Finchley branch opened 22 August 1867.

Albert Hall construction commenced 20 May 1867.

Note that the Albert Hall was originally called the Central Hall of Arts & Sciences, but Queen Victoria changed the name during the laying of the foundation stone on 20 May 1867. It is shown on this map as the Central Hall of Arts & Sciences, indicating that Bacon did not always update every detail on his maps to reflect the ever changing state of the expanding Metropolis.

Construction of Holborn Viaduct commenced.

St Pancras Goods Station started to receive trains in September 1867.















Brief Chronology Of Bacon & Co 1866-69



1866 - Aug 1867



Bacon at 48 Paternoster-Row

Daily News, Mon 30 Jul 1866

Last mention of BACON at 48 Paternoster Row in 19th century newspapers.

London Gazette 23 Aug 1867

George Washington BACON and Francis APPERTON of No 48 Paternoster-Row, in the city of London, Booksellers, Publishers and Copartners, adjudicated bankrupts on the 23rd day of May 1867. An order of Discharge was granted by the Court of Bankruptcy, London, on the 2nd day of Aug 1867.

Daily News, Wed 6 Feb 1867

J.F Shaw & Co 48 Paternoster Row

Jackson's Oxford Journal, Sat 16 Nov 1867

J.F. Shaw & co 48 Paternoster Row

The Bristol Mercury, Sat 23 Nov 1867

Thacker & Co 48 Paternoster Row

The Leeds Mercury, Tues 17 Dec 1867

Birmingham Daily Post, Wed 18 Dec 1867

Glasgow Herald, Thurs 19 Dec 1867

The Leeds Mercury, Sat 21 Dec 1867

Birmingham Daily Post, Mon 23 Dec 1867

The Leeds Mercury, Tues 24 Dec 1867

The Pall Mall Gazette, Tues 25 Feb 1868

W Tweedie at 337 Strand

Birmingham Daily Post, Thurs 27 Feb 1868

Bacon at 337 Strand

Hampshire Telegraph and Sussex Chronicle etc, Sat 18 Apr 1868

P.T. Bacon 337 Strand

The Leeds Mercury, Mon 20 Apr 1868

L. Bacon & co 337 Strand

The Hull Packet and East Riding Times, Fri 12 Jun 1868

H.P. Bacon 337 Strand

The Ipswich Journal, Sat 20 Jun 1868

J Bacon 337 Strand

Birmingham Daily Post, Tues 18 Aug 1868

G. Bacon 337 Strand

Trewman's Exeter Flying Post or Plymouth and Cornish Advertiser, Wed 28 Apr 1869

R.B. Bacon & Co 337 Strand

The Derby Mercury, Wed 26 Jan 1870

Tweedie 337 Strand

The Era, Sun 1 Nov 1868

The Savoy Restaurant at 127 Strand opening today

Birmingham Daily Post, Wed 23 Jun 1869

First mention of G.W. BACON at 127 Strand















How To Use These Map Pages



Use the thumbnail map at the top of each page to navigate your way around the map.



Hovering your mouse pointer over the thumbnails will highlight the individual sections, and display a pop-up message showing the northern and southern extent of that map section, or significant streets, buildings and places. Click the desired area to jump to a page displaying a full size image of that map section. You will need to scroll down the page a little to see the image of the map.



A coloured thumbnail image on the thumbnail map at the top of the page will show you which section of the entire map you are currently viewing.





Click To Enlarge



Once you are viewing the desired map section, you can click on the map image to view an enlarged image of that section. Clicking on the map image allows you to switch back and forth ('toggle') between the normal sized image and the enlarged view of the section.

















Acknowledgements



MAPCO would like to thank: