The Evidence of Richard Horwood's Maps for Residential Building in London 1799–1819

Abstract

This paper examines the ways in which Richard Horwood's maps of London can be used to examine the pattern of residential housebuilding in London between 1799 and 1819. It discusses the nature of the cartographic evidence and suggests lines of research on the relationship between population growth and movement, the supply of residential accommodation, and the social consequences of crowding. It compares the pattern of house building derived from the cartographic evidence with that from the census. The emphasis is on the potential and pitfalls of the maps for an analysis of this kind.