London – Farringdon Ward Without With Its Division Into Parishes According to A New Survey – 1755

Engraver: Benjamin Cole
Publisher: William Maitland
Price: £95 including postage in the UK
Publication Date: 1756
Edition: Not stated
Sheet Size: 49.7cm x 39.4cm
Condition: Very good

Condition:

From ‘The History and Survey of London from its Foundation to the Present Time’. Original copper-engraved map. Sheet size: 49.7cm x 39.4cm. Original fold lines. Remnants of old tabs to verso. Minor age-toning and foxing. Short closed tear to upper margin. In very good condition overall.

The History and Survey of London from its Foundation to the Present Time: A Brief Overview

Published in 1756, The History and Survey of London from its Foundation to the Present Time is one of the most substantial and ambitious eighteenth-century topographical histories of London. Compiled by William Maitland, a Scottish historian and antiquary active in London, the work sought to combine historical narrative, antiquarian research, civic description, and urban survey into a single, authoritative account of the metropolis.

It stands at the intersection of antiquarian scholarship and Enlightenment urban history, reflecting both a reverence for the past and a systematic desire to document London as a functioning modern city.

1. Authorial Background and Purpose

William Maitland

William Maitland was a historian, biographer, and compiler with strong antiquarian interests. Although not formally affiliated with the great scholarly institutions of his day, he worked within the same intellectual milieu as:

• London antiquaries
• Civic historians
• Enlightenment compilers of knowledge

His London history represents the culmination of his scholarly ambitions.

Purpose of the Work

Maitland’s stated and implicit aims were to:

• Correct errors in earlier histories of London
• Consolidate documentary evidence into a coherent narrative
• Provide a systematic survey of the city’s physical and institutional structure
• Demonstrate London’s historical continuity and civic importance

The work was designed both for educated readers and for those engaged in law, commerce, governance, and scholarship.

2. Structure and Scope of the Work

Multi-Volume Format

The book was issued in two large folio volumes, reflecting its scale and seriousness. It combines:

• Chronological history
• Topographical description
• Institutional analysis

This hybrid structure was typical of major eighteenth-century urban histories.

3. Historical Narrative

From Legendary Origins to the Saxons

Maitland begins with London’s mythical and Roman origins, engaging critically with earlier traditions while drawing on:

• Classical sources
• Medieval chronicles
• Archaeological reasoning (as understood at the time)

He treats legendary material cautiously, often distinguishing between tradition and evidence.

Medieval and Early Modern London

Substantial attention is given to:

• Norman governance
• The development of civic liberties
• Guilds and livery companies
• The growth of trade and population

Maitland places particular emphasis on legal charters and municipal rights, reflecting the Enlightenment interest in constitutional development.

4. The Survey of the City

Parishes, Wards, and Streets

A major portion of the work consists of a detailed parish-by-parish and ward-by-ward survey of London.

For each area, Maitland typically records:

• Boundaries
• Principal streets
• Churches and public buildings
• Notable houses and former landmarks

This makes the book invaluable as a snapshot of London before large-scale Victorian redevelopment.

Topographical Precision

While not a surveyor in the modern sense, Maitland aimed at:

• Accuracy of description
• Consistency of organisation
• Cross-referencing of historical and physical detail

His method reflects Enlightenment ideals of order and classification.

5. Institutions and Civic Life

Government and Law

Maitland devotes extensive attention to:

• The Corporation of London
• Courts and legal jurisdictions
• Offices such as the Lord Mayor and aldermen

This institutional focus distinguishes his work from more anecdotal city histories.

Religion

Churches, religious houses, and ecclesiastical history receive careful treatment:

• Parish churches are described individually
• The impact of the Reformation is traced
• Dissolved monasteries are documented as historical sites

6. Use of Sources and Scholarship

Documentary Foundations

Maitland relied heavily on:

• Charters
• Legal records
• Earlier historians (notably Stow and Strype)

However, he did not merely reproduce these sources; he often:

• Corrected dates
• Challenged received narratives
• Offered reasoned judgements

This critical stance marks him as part of the maturing historical discipline of the eighteenth century.

7. Illustrations and Maps

The work included:

• Engraved maps
• Plans of the city
• Architectural and antiquarian plates

These visual elements:

• Supported the text
• Reinforced claims to accuracy
• Enhanced the work’s authority and prestige

They also contribute significantly to its modern historical value.

8. Intellectual and Cultural Context

Enlightenment Urban History

Maitland’s London reflects Enlightenment priorities:

• Rational organisation
• Documentary authority
• Civic progress

London is presented not merely as a place of commerce, but as:

• A constitutional city
• A historical organism
• A centre of national life

Response to Earlier Works

Maitland positioned his book as an improvement on:

• John Stow’s Survey of London
• John Strype’s expanded editions

Where Stow was personal and anecdotal, Maitland aimed to be systematic and corrective.

9. Reception and Influence

Contemporary Reception

The work was respected for its:

• Scale
• Seriousness
• Evident labour

However, its dense style meant it appealed more to scholars and professionals than to casual readers.

Long-Term Significance

Maitland’s History and Survey became:

• A standard reference for later historians
• A key source for understanding pre-industrial London
• An important bridge between antiquarianism and modern urban history

10. Modern Historical Value

Today, the work is valued for:

• Detailed descriptions of vanished streets and buildings
• Documentation of institutional structures
• Insight into eighteenth-century historical method

It is frequently consulted by:

• Urban historians
• Architectural historians
• Genealogists
• Scholars of London’s development

Conclusion

The History and Survey of London from its Foundation to the Present Time stands as one of the most ambitious attempts to comprehend London in its entirety before the transformations of the Industrial and Victorian eras. William Maitland combined historical narrative, institutional analysis, and topographical description to produce a work that reflects both the scholarly aspirations of the Enlightenment and the enduring complexity of London itself.

Though dense and methodical, the book remains a cornerstone of London historiography—less vivid than Stow, but more systematic and critical—offering an indispensable record of the city at a pivotal moment in its long history.

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