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London Topographical Society

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The London Topographical Society was founded in 1880 for the study and appreciation of London. Join us!

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Goodwin’s Court, Covent Garden
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Built ca.1690-1700, Goodwin’s Court is an historic passageway running between Bedfordbury and St Martin’s Lane. It features Grade II*-listed Georgian buildings, bow windows, and some of London’s last surviving gas lamps.
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#documentingamericana #documentingbritannia #goodwinscourt #theshopkeepers #sharingaworldofshops by @londontopsoc

📍Spencer House, London SW1

I’m still thinking about my visit to @spencer.house earlier this summer, one of London’s finest surviving eighteenth-century townhouses.

Members of the London Topographical Society @londontopsoc were very kindly hosted for a private tour, which I organised in my capacity as the Society’s Newsletter Editor.

Built for the 1st Earl and Lady Spencer shortly after their marriage, when they were just 21 and 18 years old, Spencer House was conceived as a statement of status and taste on what was then the western edge of London. Overlooking Green Park, it remains an outstanding example of Palladian architecture, with ground floor interiors by John Vardy and magnificent Neoclassical state rooms by James ‘Athenian’ Stuart on the first floor.

A remarkable house with an equally fascinating history, and one that has stayed with me long after the visit.

#spencerhouse #grade1listed #georgianarchitecture #historicinteriors #londonarchitecture by @londontopsoc

Yesterday, the London Topographical Society held its 2026 AGM at All Souls’ Church, Langham Place.

The AGM offers members the opportunity to come together, hear about the Society’s activities over the past year, and collect the annual publication. This year, members received ‘The A to Z of Georgian London and its Environs: John Rocque’s Maps, 1746-1747’. Those who were unable to attend will receive their copy by hand delivery or post.

Following the meeting, members enjoyed two fascinating talks. Geoffrey Tyack explored John Nash, his vision for Regent Street and the story of All Souls’ Church, while Dr John Montague shared insights into the life and work of John Rocque and the creation of his extraordinary map.

Thank you to everyone who joined us. It was a pleasure to catch up with familiar faces and to welcome new members to the Society.

If you have a passion for London’s history, maps and built environment, we’d be delighted to welcome you as a member. Visit the link in our bio to find out more.

#londonhistory #londontopographicalsociety by @londontopsoc

The May edition of the London Topographical Society’s Newsletter has just dropped. Keep an eye on your post or subscribe so you don’t miss out. We have articles from Mike Althorpe @thelondonambler, Vanessa Harding of @hist_towns and Andrew Davison at @historicengland, as well as news and reviews from contributors including @theoldbuilding and @charlesobrien100.

#londontopographicalsociety #londonhistory #historysociety #london by @londontopsoc

London Topographical Society members were treated to a tour of Middle Temple this week, expertly guided by Barnaby Bryan, Archivist and Head of Collections at the Inn.

We started our tour in Middle Temple Hall. Completed in 1573 it is one of the most impressive extant Elizabethan halls in the country. Its double-hammerbeam roof, heraldic glass, Reader’s shields and top table bearing witness to centuries of history. We then explored the Bench Apartments with their rich collection of art and silverware, and then the Library to take a look at the Molyneux Globes. We also stepped out into Middle Temple garden, which overlooks the Thames. Our tour was concluded with lunch in the splendid Hall. A huge thank you to Barnaby and @middletemple for hosting us!

The LTS runs exclusive building tours for its members, offering the opportunity to explore buildings rarely accessible to the public. Please check the link in bio @londontopsoc to visit the Society’s website for details on how to join us.

#londonhistory #middletemple #listedbuilding #buildingtour #londonarchitecture elizabethanarchitecture by @londontopsoc

The London Topographical Society’s Newsletter for November 2025 is now arriving with members. Newsletter No.101 is jam packed with riveting content for connoisseurs of London’s past.

Marking eighty years since the end of WWII, the lead article concerns the ordeal faced by the Middle Temple during the conflict and how it came to triumph over its adversity, written by Barnaby Bryan @barnabybryan, Archivist and Head of Collections for Middle Temple @middle_temple. David Sweetland of A London Inheritance blog @a_london_inheritance writes on an unexpected City church relic now residing in deepest Hampshire. In addition, this issue features a resources-oriented section offering information on a new mapping tool and archival repositories at the British Museum, alongside news and reviews including from @jeremymusson on LTS Chairman, Penelope Hunting’s, History of the Ironmongers @ironmongershallevents.

Members of the London Topographical Society receive two copies of the Newsletter each year, in May and November. In addition to the annual LTS publication and access to our AGM and biannual members’ visits to historic buildings. To subscribe see @londontopsoc and visit the link in our bio.

#londontopographicalsociety #londonhistory #londontopography #membership #publicationday by @londontopsoc

The London Topographical Society @londontopsoc were kindly hosted for a tour of the Custom House this summer. It was fascinating to see the inner workings of this behemoth landmark building before its redevelopment.

#londontopographicalsociety #customhouse #customhousetour #london #londonhistory #londonhistoricbuilding #londonarchitecture by @londontopsoc

Did you know that London was once a moated city?

It is widely known that the Romans built a wall around Londinium from around AD 200, remnants of which still survive in place today. The wall enclosed the area now known as the City of London, and was intended to keep it safe from potential threats.

Tensions at the beginning of the thirteenth century spurred the building of a ditch encompassing the city wall as a further defensive measure. Built between 1211 and 1213, the so-called ditch is clearly visible in Georg Braun and Frans Hogenberg’s map of London produced in 1572, (which was based on the Copperplate map drawn between 1553 and 1559, the earliest map of London we have).

According to John Stow, it was dug 200 foot broad and had always been ‘carefully cleansed and maintained’. However, by the late sixteenth century, the ditch was in a poor state. In 1597, Stow described it as ‘of late neglected and forced either to very narrow, and the same a filthy channel, or altogether stopped up for gardens planted and houses builded thereon.’ Intense development of the city during the seventeenth century to house its burgeoning population and associated industry gradually erased this historic feature along with the city wall.

#londonhistory #moat #ditch #citywall #london #moatedcity #braunandhogenberg #londontopography #londontopographicalsociety #londondevelopment #londonmap #map #londoncity by @londontopsoc

Some more images from our AGM, which took place last week on 1 July at St Pancras New Church. Our annual general meeting is always a lively event with many members attending to catch up with fellow London history enthusiasts and hear about the activities of the Society. This year we were honoured to have the Duke of Gloucester join us in his capacity as the Society’s new Patron. We also had the marvellous @black_brunswicker give a talk on our stunning venue (which offered us all a cool refuge in the 33 degree heat!).

Image 1: LTS members talking before the AGM
Image 2: HRH The Duke of Gloucester gives a speech
Image 3: HRH The Duke of Gloucester is greeted by Chairwoman, Dr Penelope Hunting
Image 4: HRH The Duke of Gloucester talking with Bridget Cherry OBE (Vice President)
Image 5: HRH The Duke of Gloucester walks through the main entrance into St Pancras New Church
Image 6: LTS Council Member, Dorian Gerhold, handing out the annual publication to members as the enter the church
Image 7: LTS Council Member, Colin Thom (Director of the Survey of London), presents HRH The Duke of Gloucester with the annual publication
Image 8: Roger Bowdler presents his talk following the AGM

Photos by the brilliant @andybakerphotography

#londontopographicalsociety #agm #annualgeneralmeeting #london #londonhistory #londonmap #stpancrasnewchurch #londonchurch by @londontopsoc

Members of the London Topographical Society recently enjoyed a visit to Custom House. Located on the northern bank of the Thames between the Tower of London and old Billingsgate Market, this important Grade I listed building was built in 1815. It stands close to the site of London’s former custom houses which have occupied this prominent position for the past seven hundred years, as a place where all cargoes passing through the Pool of London were declared and duties paid.

The present building had developed structural problems within two years of its completion and the central part of the building subsequently collapsed in 1824, with architect Robert Smirke brought in to oversee the rebuild. The East Wing of the building suffered significant bomb damage during WWII and was rebuilt in the 1960s. The building’s history is peppered with a multitude of other dramatic anecdotes which make this unique and historic structure all the more fascinating. It is due to be redeveloped as a hotel which will include spaces accessible to the public.

#londontopographicalsociety #london #londonarchitecture #customhouse #londonhistory #customs #architecturegram #architecturalhistory #buildinghistory by @londontopsoc

The London Topographical Society held its 124th Annual General Meeting at St Pancras New Church yesterday. Members of the Society stepped into the cool vestibule of the church from scorching temperatures outside to collect their annual LTS publication and join other members for a convivial tea and cake before the AGM.

We were honoured to be joined by our Patron, HRH The Duke of Gloucester, who succeeds the Duke of Edinburgh and George V (the Duke’s grandfather) as the Society’s Patron. He spoke to those assembled about the study of maps and topography being intertwined with a curiosity about how our world is put together.

This year’s Ann Saunders Prize was awarded to Anthony Davis for his essay ‘An Edwardian Utopia: Charles Paget Wade’s 1909 Map of Hampstead Garden Suburb and his work on the ‘Great Wall’’

Following the meeting, we were treated to an excellent talk by Roger Bowdler @black_brunswicker on the history of our venue, a building constructed between 1819 and 1822 by main contractor the carpenter Isaac Seabrook, who happens to be Roger’s great-great-great-grandfather.

We would like to thank all those who attended and made it a thoroughly enjoyable occasion! Members who were unable to join the event will receive their copy of the annual publication in the coming weeks.

Image 1: Detail of the ionic columns of the entrance portico to St Pancras New Church
Image 2: Member being handed their copy of the annual publication
Image 3: HRH The Duke of Gloucester being introduced to LTS office holders
Image 4: Members talking before the AGM
Image 5: HRH viewing the maps of the Historic Towns Trust on display with LTS Chairwoman, Penelope Hunting
Image 6: View of the church interior with members seated for the AGM
Image 7: Members of the LTS Council and HRH seated on the dais to conduct the AGM
Image 8: HRH giving a speech at the start of the AGM
Image 9: Simon Morris, Publications Secretary presenting HRH with an LTS publication
Image 10: Anthony Davis being presented with the Ann Saunders Essay Prize by Caroline Barron
Image 11: Roger Bowdler presenting his talk
Image 12: Steeple

#londontopographicalsociety #london #londonhistory #stpancrasnewchurch by @londontopsoc

The London Topographical Society has just released its annual publication, which this year is volume XXXIII of the London Topographical Society Record. Published roughly every five years, this issue of the Record includes essays on ‘The Rise and Fall of an Aristocratic Enclave in the City of London: Austin Friars, c.1530-1690’ by Dorian Gerhold, ‘The Lesser Maps of London’ by Lawrence Worms, ‘Robert Cecil’s Map of Hatfield, Hertfordshire and Middlesex of 1610: A Jacobean Snapshot of Greater London and its Roads’ by Peter Barber and ‘A Lambeth Dynasty of Surveyors and Architects’ by Andrew Saint.

Members will be able to collect their copies at the AGM and those who are unable to make it will have their publication delivered in due course. If you don’t already subscribe to the Society you can purchase the Record on our website (link in bio).

#londontopographicalsociety #london #londonhistory #history #evolutionoflondon #londonmaps #maps by @londontopsoc