Stanford’s Library Map of London – Sheet 2
A fine art reproduction digitalised from the original and exceeding museum quality standards. This map was originally published by Edward Stanford in 1872. Like the other sheets in the series, it originally formed part of a 24-sheet large-scale map depicting London and its surroundings during the late Victorian era. Now produced individual editions so you can enjoy a finished piece featuring the particular area of interest within Victorian London.
Overview
Sheet 2 depicts the northern districts of London in the early 1870s, covering areas such as Hampstead, Highgate, Kentish Town, Gospel Oak, and parts of Crouch End and Stroud Green. At this time, these neighbourhoods were transitioning from rural villages and heathland into suburban communities. You can see large tracts of open countryside punctuated by developing streets and the early railway infrastructure.
Cartographic Details
- Engraved line work with hand colouring characteristic of mid-19th-century cartography.
• Parks and open spaces, including Hampstead Heath, are shaded green, while major buildings and railways are highlighted for easy identification.
• The Hampstead Junction Railway and other early lines are clearly marked, showing the expanding rail network.
Administrative and Postal Features
- The red boundary lines outline parish or district borders, reflecting local administrative divisions before the establishment of modern London boroughs.
• The area corresponds largely to the northern sections of London’s NW (North Western) postal district, which was created during the mid-19th-century postal reforms.
Original Size
The complete Stanford’s Library Map measured about 9 × 12 feet (approximately 2.7 × 3.7 m) when all 24 sheets were assembled. Each individual sheet, including Sheet 1, was printed on paper roughly 18 × 24 inches (about 46 × 61 cm) which we supply as our Medium size but due to the quality of our scanning process we are also able to offer a larger edition at 24 x 29 inches (about 61 × 73.5 cm)
Modern Postcode Coverage
Today, the area shown on Sheet 2 lies within some of North London’s most recognisable districts. Modern Royal Mail postcode districts that overlap this sheet include:
• NW3 – Hampstead, Belsize Park
• NW5 – Kentish Town, Gospel Oak
• NW6 – West Hampstead (southern edge)
• N6 – Highgate
• N8 – Crouch End, Stroud Green
• N19 – Archway and surrounding areas
In summary, Sheet 2 captures North London in a transitional moment—still partly rural but already threaded with railways and developing residential streets, foreshadowing the suburban growth that would soon absorb these once-independent villages.
