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Map collections
Find out more about cartographic resources in the IHR Wohl Library. Covering all parts of the world, the collections include sheet maps, atlases, gazetteers and guides.
Introduction
Sheet Maps and Drawings
The Library has a collection of sheet maps, stored in the map cabinet in the Foyle Room alcove (classmark M). For anyone studying particularly the history of London and its surrounding counties, these are an excellent resource. The collection also includes various maps of other English counties, and other parts of Great Britain. Alongside the maps are various views and drawings and a few architectural sketches, mostly from the London Topographical Society.
Atlases and Bound Editions of Maps
Map holdings in the rest of the IHR's collections are shelved according by subject area and are therefore spread across the library. Most of the geographical collections have a separate place for maps, although maps in particular subjects may be shelved according to the subject rather than material type. The page with outline some examples, please ask for further help if you are interested in any particular collection not covered here.
Highlights from the Collections
Sheet Map Collection:
These are stored in the map cabinet in the Foyle Room alcove. Classmarks begin with M and are in the format M/country/county/year (e.g. M/Eng/Ken/1779 for a 1779 map of Kent). Classmarks for London maps start M/Eng/Lon, broken down into sub-locations where necessary.
The earliest cartographic materials include facsimiles of maps of Great Britain from the early fourteenth century, through many representing London in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, into the twentieth century. Some of the oversized maps are in closed access. The following can be requested from the onsite store:
- Plan of the road from Hyde Park Corner to Counter’s Bridge
- The County of York: Surveyed in MDCCLXVII, VIII, IX and MDCCLXX
- Facsimile of the Ordnance Surveyor’s drawings of the London area, 1799-1808
General British: There are several items at classmark BB.087, including some general atlases and compilations of historical maps.
London Collection: A number of bound maps can be found at classmark BL/BLL.1 and in the map drawers, including:
- Mary Lobel's The City of London : from prehistoric times to c.1520
- Eight maps of Middlesex 1646-1785
- Facsimile of Ogilby's map of 1677
- Original Wren drawings from the collection at All Souls College, Oxford
- Roque's map of 1746
- John Tallis' London Street Views (several editions)
- Bacon's atlas of London and suburbs from 1910
- Booth's Life and Labour of the people in London and Descriptive map of London poverty 1889
- Devastated London : the bombed city as seen from a barrage balloon
Ireland: Most items are at classmark BI.083, including the Irish historic towns atlas.
Scotland: Most items are at classmark BS.156, with guides at B.0724.
Wales: Most items are at classmark BW.156, with guides at BW.0724.
English Local History: There are numerous maps stored in the various English local collections. They are shelved within the individual county collections, and also in the general local history section where there are many historic itineraries, guides and directories covering travel by road, railway and canal. For example:
- Christopher Greenwood, county map-maker, and his Worcestershire map of 1822
- Faden’s Map of Norfolk
- Lanhydrock atlas : a complete reproduction of the 17th century Cornish estate maps
- Cary's improved map of England and Wales
There is some overlap with colonial/trade history where material is held in the collection relating to the administrating country rather the geographical location, for example the Grote atlas van de Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie and Afrika in de XVIde eeuw en de handel van Antwerpen. Some other examples of cartographic material of areas outside Europe:
- Atlas de centros históricos do Brasil
- The royal atlas & gazetteer of Australasia
- The Champlain map of 1616 (Canada)
- The new atlas of African history
- An historical atlas of the Indian peninsula
- A literary & historical atlas of Asia
- The atlas of North American exploration : from the Norse voyages to the race to the Poles
- Atlas de los exploradores españoles
Covering a variety of subjects, including:
- Historical atlas of the Crusades
- Maps on military campaigns/wars such as An Atlas of the Peninsular War and many accompanying volumes of maps in the Military collection.
- Atlas of modern Jewish history
- The historical atlas of political parties in the United States Congress, 1789-1989
- Cram's standard American railway system atlas of the world
- The Routledge historical atlas of women in America
- An atlas of Victorian mortality
- Australian census maps, 1901
Many maps collected by the IHR have accompanying guides, or can be used in conjunction with some of the secondary works available in the library. These include historical guides, survey guides and a select number of journals relating to cartography or local history which may have relevant material for your research. Some examples of these include:
- Guide to the history of cartography: an annotated list of references on the history of maps and mapmaking
- Irish map history: a select bibliography of secondary works, 1850-1983, of the history of cartography in Ireland
- The historical cartography of Scotland: a guide to the literature of Scottish maps and mapping prior to the Ordnance Survey
- Catálogo de cartografía histórica de Sevilla
- The mapping of Australia and Antarctica
- Guía de cartografía histórica de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, 1854-1900
- Maps: a historical survey of their study and collecting
- Dictionary of land surveyors and local map-makers of Great Britain and Ireland 1530-1850
- Imago Mundi: the International Journal for the History of Cartography [follow the Taylor & Francis link via IHR catalogue]
To compliment any study into the geography of Britain or further afield, there are various other libraries and institutions in London that can help any research in this area. The following locations house extensive map collections:
- Layers of London: a free, historical and geographical resource where you can explore historic map layers over the contemporary map of London.
- The British Library has an extensive collection of maps including the Crace Collection which consists of around 1200 manuscript and printed maps of London.
- The Guildhall Library has a collection of London maps.
- The Royal Geographical Society is the most authoritative body in London on maps and surveys and houses one of the world’s largest private map collections.
- Senate House Library map collection.
- David Rumsey collection: free online world map collection.
- OldMapsOnline: free online gateway to historical maps.
Contact us if you would like help on finding or using our collections, or if you have any comments or suggestions about the content of this guide. We are happy to help.
You can also book a tour or training session.
