In 1738 John Rocque, an obscure French surveyor of English aristocrats' gardens, was selected to undertake a fresh survey of the British metropolis, the first for 56 years. Nine years later he completed it.
Rocque's map, magnificently drawn by the King's engraver of seals, measured approximately six-an-a-half feet by thirteen feet. A contemporary catalogue recommended attaching it to the cornice of the wainscot or converting it into a screen.
Inevitably the map became the standard map of the period. Today it is rare and expensive. Facsimiles of it published by the London Topographical Society and by Harry Margary for some some while have both been out of print. Now in this present volume Rocque's map is made available once again and in a format convenient for the modern user.
For the first time the 24 map-sheets have been supplemented by the 1747 index re-arranged into one alphabetical sequence. The resulting 'A to Z' is likely to prove of considerable interest to many general readers and an invaluable reference tool for historians, geographers and genealogists.
Contents:
The Making of John Rocque's Map
Acknowledgements and Publishers Note
Further Reading
Key Map
Atlas
Explanation of Index
Place Name Index
