5. Maps

 

As we have seen, Edward Baines included maps, and it seems that right from the start, maps were intended to be an integral part of White´s directories. Edward Baines had included a Map of the Country Ten Miles Around Leeds in his first directory (of that city) as early as 1817. Indeed, most of the directories published from this date promised maps in some form or another; even Francis felt he had to include maps. As already noted, many of the early examples were offered either in a separate publication (Baines) or as a supplementary map (i.e. White), and very few seem to have survived: hence for collectors of Baines´, and also for White´s directories, a common expression found in catalogue descriptions is lacks map (as usual).

A facsimile of the Illustration volume of Yorkshire 

This was published by E J Morten of Manchester in 1969.

There was a similar volume for Lancashire.

The maps sold by Baines to accompany his works were primarily sold in wallets, so, to some extent, these should have survived best. Some early buyers will have had the maps rebound professionally and they are sometimes seen at antiquarian bookshops, sold separately to the directory as “atlas”. Other card wallets suffered with time and would often be split up by dealers and the maps sold separately[i]. Consequently, almost all Baines´ directory volumes will be purchased lacking the maps. William White originally offered maps as “included”, but these were also sold separately or were loose within the directory. Most White directories on sale at bookshops today are sold lacking the promised map. Only occasionally does one come across a volume with the map. In an (unrepresentative) sample of 120 Willliam White directories on sale through ABE Books (October 2025), only 17 offered maps[ii] and most of these were post 1870. Occasionally one finds a loose map with a Baines or a White imprint but this is far less common. William White´s directories of Devonshire has been seen with map bound in (1850), loose (1878) or in a pocket in the inside front cover (1890). Other county maps have been neatly pasted onto the inside front cover (Leicester with Rutland, 1877).

Obviously, the early (Baines) maps are easy to identify and match with the volumes they should accompany. The title and/or imprint make the source self-explanatory. Maps of The West Riding and Ainsty of the County of York, The East and North Ridings of the County of York, Kingston upon Hull with the Environs, Plan of Sheffield and a Plan of the Town of Leeds with the recent Improvements and York were sold separately to accompany the first Yorkshire directory (1822-23). The artists were Alfred Smith or Charles Fowler. All maps have an imprint Engraved for the History and Directory of Yorkshire (maps are listed and described in Appendix I).

The Lancashire directory included maps drawn by various artists possibly local (see Appendix II): eight smaller plans of Ashton under Line, Oldham and Lancaster surveyed by J Atkinson; Stockport and Preston both surveyed by R. Thornton; Bolton surveyed by George Piggot; Blackburn surveyed by James Gillies; and Rochdale surveyed by William Swire; two larger plans of Manchester and Liverpool, both surveyed by William Swire; two other maps and two tables.

Many of the maps from the above two series appear to have been specially commissioned by Edward Baines, i.e. they were new surveys, often carried out by local artists. The maps were usually engraved in London. The engravers Neele & Son of 352 Strand and Sidney Hall, Bury Street, Bloomsbury, (London) were well-known firms; J H Franks of, 3, Harrington Street, Liverpool, or as Franks & Johnson (plans of Preston and Lancaster) were relatively unknown.

Stockport surveyed by R Thornton for Edward Baines

The two county maps for Durham (dated 1827) and Northumberland (1828) were both by the very well-known map-maker John Cary. Both maps are very unusual, being the Cary maps as adapted for use by William Smith with copious notes on geology. The History, directory, and gazetteer, of the counties of Durham and Northumberland, was published in two volumes by Wm Parson and Wm White (1827 and 1828) and the maps were, again, in a separate folder: Durham and Northumberland was illustrated with maps and tables, on fine paper, 1s 6d each extra (see Appendix III). This was offered in two parts. Sold in wrappers, the set consisted of: Volume 1. Map of the County of Durham, Distance Tables of the Counties of Durham, Northumberland, Cumberland & Westmorland, General Distance Table of the Towns of England, Scotland, Ireland, France & The Netherlands, &c. Volume 2. Map of Northumberland. Population of all the Towns of the United Kingdom, &c[iii]. The Directory for Cumberland and Westmoreland was treated in the same way. A list of the maps and tables was given in the Preface to this work. It is interesting to note the style and form of the Distance Tables etc. These were originally folding and quite large and detailled: for example, the Table of the Reciprocal Distances of the Principal Towns of England and Wales found in the History and Directory of Lancashire, measures 41 x 51 cm. The distance table would be an early feature of all directories. Later directories had a small table fitting one page.

Distance Table in directory of Staffordshire.

Despite the lack of extant directories complete with the relevant maps, we know that William White offered maps to accompany almost all his county titles, and also for some of his city directories. Of the county titles from 1837-38 (Yorkshire 2nd edition) to 1892 (Lincoln, the last of White´s county directories) there are a total of 34 separate editions. Of these, thirteen have In One Volume with a (large) map of the County explicitly mentioned on the title page. These all date between 1832 and 1863. The second edition of Leicestershire (1868) was offered With a Map of the Counties: the price of one Guinea was below the imprint. Some of the counties have different prices for subscribers and non-subscribers, but always with the map. Hence, the first edition for Nottinghamshire (1832) has Price of the Volume and Map, to Subscribers, 10s 6d in Boards or 12s in Calf Binding – To Non Subscribers, 3s extra. To supplement the income from county directories, maps were offered mounted or on rollers. This approach is prevalent in the city directories where maps were offered separately: for example, Sheffield (1845) offers A Plan of Sheffield with the Wards Coloured, may be had for 1s; and in the 1852 edition the volume was Illustrated by a new map of the District. … (Price to subscribers) … The Map is delivered in the Sheet, or may be had, Varnished and Mounted on Rollers, for 2s extra. 

Another source of information concerning White´s variety of maps is the short advertisement sections in his directories. One example is included in his Directory of Essex for 1862-3. On page 11 (advertising section), under the simple title William White, and his address he respectfully informs that …  He has a few copies of his History and Directory of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, in a large Octavo Volume, price 17s 6d., with a New Map. The last line reads: White´s maps of Essex, Suffolk, and Hampshire, 1s each, and Map of Yorkshire, 2s; will be sent, post free, on receipt of Stamps for the amount. In his directory for Bradford of 1887, he is not only offering new and recently published directories but also maps of Sheffield, Sheffield and Twenty Miles Round, Lincolnshire, Suffolk, North and East Ridings of Yorkshire, Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight at prices ranging from one to four shillings.

Advert for White´s Maps from 1878 Hampshire Directory.

Newspaper advertising was especially important for William White throughout the company´s lifetime. There are numerous adverts announcing forthcoming titles, the publication of recent county directories and, of course, the disclaimers concerning his family rival. The directories undergoing preparation or revision were often advertised up to a year in advance. The 1878-79 issue of Devon, for example, was announced (at least) as early as December 1877. The outline would nearly always mention the inclusion of a map.

One peculiarity is that White may not have advertised the maps in his Subscription Letter. There are no records of these announcements in any catalogues, and it must be assumed almost all are lost, and the surviving examples not thought useful to list separately. The author has one example announcing the forthcoming Second Edition of Devonshire (1878). Although detailing all the contents there is no mention of a map; however, this edition does contain an adapted John and Charles Walker map of Devonshire (loose, not bound in), with White´s imprint. In this example the subscriber would save 11 shillings over the later, published price (25/- and not 36/-), or roughly 30%.

Most of the county maps seen from White directories from 1840 have White´s imprint. Two of these maps are extremely attractive. For the first edition of his History of Lincoln, William White used a map originally engraved by James Stevenson[iv], of London for a historical work. The map was reprinted and subsequently published by a local publisher, John Saunders to accompany a set of (nearly 100) engravings by Mary Saunders, Lincoln in 1836[v]. Five years later, and with a new ornate title, Lincoln reduced from the actual surveys, and carefully Corrected to the year 1841, it also clearly has White´s imprint: Published with White´s History and Directory of Lincolnshire. Although the original map was bound into the volume of engravings, no copy of White´s Lincoln directory has been found with the map bound in, although three separate editions of this map are known (usually folded in covers) and dated to coincide with editions of the directory[vi].

Another particularly attractive map is that for Suffolk[vii]. The Third and Fourth Editions have been seen with a map.  The attractive title in various types of script: Map of Suffolk, Divided into Hundreds and Boroughs and Shewing all the Railways, Roads & Rivers, Canals &c&c. The main imprint in the title: Drawn and Engraved for the History, Gazetteer & Directory of Suffolk. Published by WM White, Sheffield, and dated 1874 or 1884. Neither directory mentions the map on the title page. The map[viii] may have been specially prepared for White´s first edition of 1844; the engraver was J H Franks who also engraved maps of Yorkshire and Lancashire, first for Baines and later for White. James Henry Franks (later trading as Franks and Johnson) engraved plans of Liverpool, Lancaster, Preston as well as maps covering the Ridings of Yorkshire and Lancashire for Baines´ early directories of those counties. The two partners were in prison for debt in 1833; and Franks died in 1857.[ix] The map in these later editions has an imprint under the border centrally of London, Simpkin, Marshall & Co. This company published (or sold) White´s directories in London from circa 1864 (Norfolk 3^rd edition).

From 1848 (Essex) until the 1880s, William White seems to have purchased a number of his county maps from the company of J & C Walker. The map of Essex in the first edition has been seen bound into a copy of the directory[x]. It is one of the series produced for The British Atlas by John & Charles Walker. John Walker was a founder of the Royal Geographical Society (1830) and worked in partnership with his brother from 1827. The two produced a vast range of maps and charts. When Edward Baines published his History of Lancaster it included a map of Lancashire from J & C Walker (1836). This White map of Essex differs from the atlas versions in the absence of the Walker imprint below the map; but it also lacks a White imprint, which is unusual. Other county maps have been seen, adapted from the British Atlas maps, but with a White imprint for 1850 (Devon), Leicestershire with Rutland (1877), Devon (1878), Norfolk (1883) and Nottinghamshire (1885).

There is a certain anomaly here. The Walker brothers were very close, although John was very much the senior partner[xi]. They both continued working until the ends of their lives, and died within a year of each other. Charles died in January 1872, aged 72, at the Keppel Street (Bloomsbury London) address where the complete family resided consisting of three brothers and four sisters. His older brother, John, died in April the following year aged 83. There is no record of any person taking the business over[xii]. It is possible that White purchased leftover stock and simply added his imprint below the map as and when required[xiii]. However, this stock, or his source, must have dried up in the 1880s.

Another source of maps was the company of John Cary. White had obtained printings of his maps, as adapted with geological information for William Smith (he produced the first geological survey of England), and sold these in his Durham and Northumberland “atlas” section (1825). At least two other directories are known to have used maps which were based on those of John Cary. The original map plates had been prepared as early as 1807 for Cary´s New English Atlas. There were frequent reprintings with updating of the map up until the end of the century, by which time they had been acquired by G F Cruchley. Cary had used a simple title in an oval frame until 1842. When Cruchley obtained them in the following decade he revised the titles. These would read Cruchley´s Railway and Telegraphic County Map of … in a variety of script styles. Variants of these maps, revised for White, are found in 1863 (Essex) and 1890 (Devon). A map from an, as yet, unidentified map of Hampshire Reduced from the Ordnance Survey appeared in 1885. The map used for the final edition of Lincoln (1892) was being used by G W Bacon when it appeared but was actually from a plate originally prepared in 1858 for The Weekly Dispatch. Bacon acquired these in 1869 for his Bacon´s County Atlas and made prolific use of the lithographic transfers into the twentieth century.

 

William White´s Directories:

Click the entry below to access relevant page.

1. Early Years - William White and Edward Baines
2. William White & Co.
3. Rivalry and Family Feud
4. Francis White
5. Maps
6. William White Co. - Later Years

Appendix I. Description of the maps in the Directory of Yorkshire (Baines)
Appendix II. Description of the maps in the Directory of Lancashire (Baines)
Appendix III. Description of the maps in the Directory of Durham and Northumberland (White & Parson, White 1)

Appendix IV. Lists of White directories - locations, date of issue, reference to maps.

White 2 - Cumberland & Westmorland 

White 3 - Nottinghamshire

White 4 - Staffordshire

White 5 - Norfolk

White 6 - Yorkshire (later editions)

White 7 - Lincoln

White 8 - Suffolk

White 9 - Leicestershire with Rutland

White 10 - Essex

White 11 - Devonshire

White 12 - Hampshire with Isle of Wight

White´s city directories

 

NOTES:

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[i] See, for example the sets on sale at Barry Larence Ruderman, San Diego, or The Map House, London (October 2025).

[ii] Care must be taken here, too. One dealer was selling a directory of Devon (1850) with the wrong map tipped in from another source.

[iii]  Michael S. Kemp, Bookseller, Sheerness, Kent, GB (October2025). The county maps are both by John Cary; Durham is dated 1827 (530 x 630 mm) and Northumberland is dated 1828 (650 x 525 mm). The Durham map is the Cary map as adapted for use by William Smith with copious notes on geology and an inset vignette of Durham Cathedral from the New Bridge. Northumberland also has geological additions and an inset view of cathedral ruins replacing the compass.

[iv] Apart from a map of Yorkshire for Rock & Co., this is his only listed work. See Lawrence Worms and Ashley Baynton-Williams; British Map Engravers, 2011, p. 635.

[v] Lincolnshire in 1836: Displayed in a Series of Nearly One Hundred Engravings, on Steel and Wood; with Accompanying Descriptions, Statistical and Other Important Information, Maps, &c. Lincoln: Published by John Saunders, Jun. MDCCCXXXVI [1836].

[vi] Carroll, R, A; Printed Maps of Lincolnshire 1576-1900; LRS; 1996.

[vii] I am grateful to Greg of G B Way booksellers for providing details of this map.

[viii] Measuring 46 x 36 cm (within the borders), Franks´ signature is below right.

[ix] Worms and Baynton-Williams; 2011; p.245.

[x] Although it could have been tipped in later, it is contemporary, i.e. dates to 1849. See website Old maps of Essex maintained by Peter Walker. This is probably the only county map website with a wide range of examples, besides that of Devonshire.

[xi] On Charles´ death he left effects to the amount of £16,000: his brother, John, to the amount of £30,000. See Worms and Baynton-Williams; 2011; pp. 690 and 694.

[xii] Worms and Baynton-Williams; 2011.

[xiii] The imprint is actually somewhat crude, and could have been added with a stamp later.