Sheet 17 of Stanford’s Library Map of London and Its Suburbs records Wandsworth, Putney and their surroundings in 1862, when much of this part of south-west London still retained open fields, commons and large estates despite growing railway connections.
Map Details
- Original title: Stanford’s Library Map of London and Its Suburbs
- Sheet: 17 of 24
- Publisher: Edward Stanford
- Published: London, 15 February 1862
- Scale: Six inches to one mile, approximately 1:10,560
- Area shown: Wandsworth, Putney and adjoining districts of south-west London
- Orientation: North at the top
- Original appearance: Printed linework with hand-coloured roads, water, boundaries and open ground
Wandsworth and Putney in 1862
Wandsworth appears around the River Wandle and its long-established industrial sites, while Putney and the western parts of the sheet remain more spacious. Open fields and scattered development show how far the later suburban landscape had yet to spread.
Waterworks, Railways and Open Ground
Water supply works, the Wandle and railway lines are prominent features, alongside commons and older roads. These transport and utility networks helped prepare the district for the rapid expansion that followed later in the nineteenth century.
Postal and Administrative Detail
The original map records the South Western postal district and parish boundaries that pre-date the modern borough system.
Modern Postcode Coverage
The area shown broadly corresponds with parts of:
- SW18 – Wandsworth
- SW15 – Putney
- SW17 – the eastern edge towards Tooting
- SW19 – the southern edge towards Wimbledon
Modern postcode boundaries do not precisely follow the historic divisions shown on the map.
