George Frederick Cruchley 1796-1880
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The Map Collector
The Map Collector, initiated by Peter Scott and Valerie G. Newby, was a journal on historical cartography published every quarter. The first issue appeared in 1997 and continued for nearly 20 years. After 74 issues the last copy appeared in Spring 1996. Mrs. Valerie G. Newby, is presently editor of the IMCoS Journal.www.imcos.org
By The Map Collector
Published on 1 November 1989
by David Smith
GEORGE FREDERICK CRUCHLEY learned his trade as an apprentice with the Arrowsmith firm and after setting up in business for himself in 1823 proudly advertised himself as 'From Arrowsmith's'. In due course he was to reissue some of Arrowsmith's maps. His first premises were at 349 Oxford Street, London, where the Post Office London Directory recorded him as an 'Engraver, Etc.' In 1825 he moved to 38 Ludgate Street as a ‘Mapseller & Publisher, Engraver & Printer', and in 1833 he transferred to 81 Fleet Street which was to remain his premises until his business was wound up in 1877. Cruchley died three and a half years later in 1880, aged 84, at his home in the Grand Parade, Brighton.
GEORGE FREDERICK CRUCHLEY learned his trade as an apprentice with the Arrowsmith firm and after setting up in business for himself in 1823 proudly advertised himself as 'From Arrowsmith's'. In due course he was to reissue some of Arrowsmith's maps. His first premises were at 349 Oxford Street, London, where the Post Office London Directory recorded him as an 'Engraver, Etc.' In 1825 he moved to 38 Ludgate Street as a ‘Mapseller & Publisher, Engraver & Printer', and in 1833 he transferred to 81 Fleet Street which was to remain his premises until his business was wound up in 1877. Cruchley died three and a half years later in 1880, aged 84, at his home in the Grand Parade, Brighton.
by David Smith
GEORGE FREDERICK CRUCHLEY learned his trade as an apprentice with the Arrowsmith firm and after setting up in business for himself in 1823 proudly advertised himself as 'From Arrowsmith's'. In due course he was to reissue some of Arrowsmith's maps. His first premises were at 349 Oxford Street, London, where the Post Office London Directory recorded him as an 'Engraver, Etc.' In 1825 he moved to 38 Ludgate Street as a ‘Mapseller & Publisher, Engraver & Printer', and in 1833 he transferred to 81 Fleet Street which was to remain his premises until his business was wound up in 1877. Cruchley died three and a half years later in 1880, aged 84, at his home in the Grand Parade, Brighton.
The best opportunity for Cruchley in his early business days lay in the production of maps of the London area for by the mid-1820s new surveys and new maps of the capital were urgently needed. Indeed, Cruchley produced some of the clearest and most attractive London plans as would be expected from a mapmaker who had trained under Aaron Arrowsmith. In 1823 Cruchley apparently published his 'Improved Environs of London, [1] and in 1824 his 'Environs of London Extending Thirty Miles from the Metropolis' appeared with roads and footpaths graded. This latter map was reissued until 1843. In 1826 the 'New Plan of London' was published at nearly 5-inches to the mile; it was to be republished a great many times with revisions, additions, and extensions until 1846. Over the years Cruchley was to produce a fine series of London plans at the 5-inch scale, one of which was exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851 illustrating the environs 'to the extent of six miles round St. Paul's'. This was the largest of the series and had first appeared in 1828. Cruchley also published a number of maps of its environs at the small scales of Y2 or 3f4 inch to the mile which are in some ways superior to the 1-inch Ordnance Survey sheets.[2]
John Findlay's view of the 'CRUTCHLEY' shop at 81, Fleet Street, London, where his business as a 'Mapseller Globemaker & Publisher' operated from 1833 until it was wound up in 1876. In the shop window, where Cruchley's numerous publications are prominently and attractively displayed, his map of the 'Seat of War' in Sardinia, published about 1859, is offered at a price of one shilling. Cruchley's premises occupy only about two-thirds of No. 81, Fleet Street, the remaining shop frontage of the property being occupied by H. Lazarus. (By courtesy of the Guildhall Library, London)
The popularity of Cruchley's London plans is attested by the frequency of new editions and the longevity of many maps. Cruchley was concerned in his early days to ensure that each new map or edition was revised and updated as far as was practicable. Thus, the new East and West India Docks were added to 'Cruchley's New Plan' in 1826 and the new 'New Plan' of about 1827 showed 'All The New And Intended Improve¬ments To The Present Time'. However, this eagerness to make his maps more competitive by being as up to date as possible sometimes backfired on Cruchley. His delineation, for example, of 'the projected improvement at Charing Cross and others not yet completed' on the 'New Plan of London in Miniature' (1830) showed a proposed layout of Trafalgar Square with a building labelled the Royal Academy where Nelson's Column stands. Special versions of Cruchley's large-scale London plans were also sometimes produced with improvement information, both suggested and sanctioned, superimposed on them. Various innovations were introduced to add variety to plans and increase their appeal; 'Cruchley's Twelve Miles Round London' (1839), for example, listed fairs, markets, and watermen's fares, and his 'Improved Environs of London' (c.1840?) incorporated circles showing the extent of the twopenny and threepenny post. Cruchley also published or sold other plans of London; John Waiter Froggett's maps, for instance, of the country 30 miles (1831) and 15 miles (c. 1842) around the capital appeared over Cruchley's publishing imprint, as did Charles Smith's map of the surrounding 12 miles (1830).
Inevitably, in time Cruchley realised the limitations of concentrating on the production of London plans and as the firm expanded he sought new map making opportunities, eventually branching out from map engraving, publishing and selling into printing and globe-making.
By the late 1820s, Cruchley was engraving plans for official reports on railway proposals; he produced the plan and section, for example, for James Walker's Report to the Committee of the proposed railway from Leeds to Selby (1829). Similarly, he began to develop private estate work and to forge strong links with the commercial world in order to tap the rapidly expanding demand from that sector: 'Maps, charts, plans of estates, &c. Accurately drawn, copied, reduced, or enlarged, and engraved in a superior manner. .. Merchants, Captains, and Dealers, supplied with Maps on advantageous terms'. Special formats were devised for use in market, office, and elsewhere: 'Maps mounted on linen, to fold in cases, for the convenience of trading - mounted on common rollers and varnished - or with springs, and fitted in mahogany cabinet cases, for public offices, libraries, &c. Maps & drawings framed, varnished, etc'. And by the early 1840s Cruchley was moving rapidly into more general cartographic publication with the production of world atlases and educational works.
This change of direction perhaps originated in Cruchley's acquisition of the plates of Christopher Greenwood's large-scale six-sheet map of Lancashire (1818) which were sold off, along with much else of Greenwood's stock in piecemeal fashion, in an attempt to save his failing business. Cruchley published a revised version of the map, re-engraved by J. H. Franks, in 1 S36. The ease of this process of acquiring old stock, revising it, and publishing it, usually as a supposedly new work under a new title and imprint, was apparently so attractive and profitable to Cruchley that he began assiduously to buy up or acquire for issue the stock of firms such as Bowles & Carver and J. & C. Walker.
Cruchley seized every possible opportunity of projecting a favourable image of himself and his publications, regularly engaging in the marketing 'puff' so typical of the map maker throughout the centuries. In particular, he sought to attract 'the attention of Principals of Colleges, Public Schools, Private Seminaries, Governesses, Teachers, &c.' in order to tap the growing educational market. These potential bulk purchasers were invited to inspect Cruchley's 'improved large Educational School Maps, Atlases, Globes, and Series of Progressive Maps ... the whole of which comprise an entire new, easy, and instructive method of teaching Geography.' These maps were obviously presented in the best possible light, being 'compiled from the best and most recent authorities extant, drawn on such a large scale and bold outline, purposely to assist the young Pupils in the study of Geography'; 'Drawn from the most authentic sources and latest authorities; combining accuracy of delineation ... with boldness and clearness of engraving'; and 'constructed from the best British and Foreign documents and authorities, engraved with the greatest care and attention.' Cruchley reinforced the desirability of his educational maps by stressing their popularity not only amongst 'numerous public and private Scholastic Establishments, Private Families, and Teachers' who provided 'extensive and unceasing demand', but also 'His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and the junior branches of the Royal Family' who were instructed with his publications due to 'their acknowledged superiority to any other scholastic Maps or Atlases hitherto published'. Cruchley could thus solicit 'the patronage of all who are engaged in the important work of Tuition, flattering himself that they will be found, on inspection, superior to any others hitherto offered to their notice, and at such a moderate price as will enable them to be extensively introduced to their Pupils.' (By courtesy of the Royal Geographical Society, London).
Cruchley's most significant acquisition was the plates of George and John Cary. [3] Henceforth, Cruchley steadily moved away from his early practice of producing reliable maps of quality (mainly of London and its environs) to a policy of issuing poor quality maps, usually of doubtful reliability, created from earlier plates using cheap lithographic transfer techniques. From the mid-century Cruchley's ever-expanding output became more and more general and less and less satisfactory. Thus, Cary's New and Correct English Atlas (1787) was adapted to become Cruchley's County Atlas of England & Wales (1863) and later Cruchley's New Pocket Companion, or, Handmaid to Bradshaw and All Other Railway Timetables for England and Wales (c. 1872); Cary's Traveller's Companion (first issued 1790, re¬engraved 1806 and 1822) became Cruchley's Railroad Compan¬ion to England & Wales (c. 1852); and Cary's New English Atlas (1809) was transformed into Cruchley's Railway and Telegraphic County Atlas of England and Wales (c.1858). Cruchley even had the temerity to boast that the maps in the latter atlas were: 'projected on the Largest Scale yet adopted for any similar purpose'; contained 'all the Latest Information, of general utility or interest'; and had been 'Carefully Revised from the recent Ordnance Surveys of England and Wales'. These maps from Cary's New English Atlas were also sold separately under a variety of titles; the geologically adapted maps were advertised as being available 'geologically coloured price 3/6 in sheet', but seem never to have appeared in this form.[4]
In truth, as his atlas titles suggest, Cruchley's only significant up-dating of Cary's maps was the addition of railways and telegraphs to Cary's out-dated landscape, thus satisfying the principal preoccupation of map purchasers of the day. Despite the unreliability of his railway delineation, Cruchley claimed that on these reissued maps: 'the Lines of all the Railways are drawn, showing the Company to which each line belongs'; 'the Names of all the Stations are engraved in clear and bold characters'; 'the Telegraphic Lines and Stations are especially marked on these Maps'; and 'the Continuation of each Railway into adjoining Counties is accurately delineated, Exhibiting At A Glance Facilities Of Intercommunication, and thus supplying an impor¬tant desideratum to Commercialists'. In this way Cary's out¬dated maps appeared with railway and telegraph information crudely superimposed on Cary's delicately engraved topography as 'Cruchley's Railway & Telegraphic' maps, 'Railway And Station' maps, and so on, 'showing all the Railways & Names of Stations, Also the Telegraph Lines & Stations, Improved from the Ordnance Surveys'. More often than not stations were inexactly located and lines not yet opened were shown as in operation. On occasion, even railways merely projected but never constructed actually appeared in existence on the map. Hence, railway and communication information on Cruchley's maps should always be distrusted despite the suggestion of a specialist map in the title.
GEORGE FREDERICK CRUCHLEY learned his trade as an apprentice with the Arrowsmith firm and after setting up in business for himself in 1823 proudly advertised himself as 'From Arrowsmith's'. In due course he was to reissue some of Arrowsmith's maps. His first premises were at 349 Oxford Street, London, where the Post Office London Directory recorded him as an 'Engraver, Etc.' In 1825 he moved to 38 Ludgate Street as a ‘Mapseller & Publisher, Engraver & Printer', and in 1833 he transferred to 81 Fleet Street which was to remain his premises until his business was wound up in 1877. Cruchley died three and a half years later in 1880, aged 84, at his home in the Grand Parade, Brighton.
The best opportunity for Cruchley in his early business days lay in the production of maps of the London area for by the mid-1820s new surveys and new maps of the capital were urgently needed. Indeed, Cruchley produced some of the clearest and most attractive London plans as would be expected from a mapmaker who had trained under Aaron Arrowsmith. In 1823 Cruchley apparently published his 'Improved Environs of London, [1] and in 1824 his 'Environs of London Extending Thirty Miles from the Metropolis' appeared with roads and footpaths graded. This latter map was reissued until 1843. In 1826 the 'New Plan of London' was published at nearly 5-inches to the mile; it was to be republished a great many times with revisions, additions, and extensions until 1846. Over the years Cruchley was to produce a fine series of London plans at the 5-inch scale, one of which was exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851 illustrating the environs 'to the extent of six miles round St. Paul's'. This was the largest of the series and had first appeared in 1828. Cruchley also published a number of maps of its environs at the small scales of Y2 or 3f4 inch to the mile which are in some ways superior to the 1-inch Ordnance Survey sheets.[2]
John Findlay's view of the 'CRUTCHLEY' shop at 81, Fleet Street, London, where his business as a 'Mapseller Globemaker & Publisher' operated from 1833 until it was wound up in 1876. In the shop window, where Cruchley's numerous publications are prominently and attractively displayed, his map of the 'Seat of War' in Sardinia, published about 1859, is offered at a price of one shilling. Cruchley's premises occupy only about two-thirds of No. 81, Fleet Street, the remaining shop frontage of the property being occupied by H. Lazarus. (By courtesy of the Guildhall Library, London)
The popularity of Cruchley's London plans is attested by the frequency of new editions and the longevity of many maps. Cruchley was concerned in his early days to ensure that each new map or edition was revised and updated as far as was practicable. Thus, the new East and West India Docks were added to 'Cruchley's New Plan' in 1826 and the new 'New Plan' of about 1827 showed 'All The New And Intended Improve¬ments To The Present Time'. However, this eagerness to make his maps more competitive by being as up to date as possible sometimes backfired on Cruchley. His delineation, for example, of 'the projected improvement at Charing Cross and others not yet completed' on the 'New Plan of London in Miniature' (1830) showed a proposed layout of Trafalgar Square with a building labelled the Royal Academy where Nelson's Column stands. Special versions of Cruchley's large-scale London plans were also sometimes produced with improvement information, both suggested and sanctioned, superimposed on them. Various innovations were introduced to add variety to plans and increase their appeal; 'Cruchley's Twelve Miles Round London' (1839), for example, listed fairs, markets, and watermen's fares, and his 'Improved Environs of London' (c.1840?) incorporated circles showing the extent of the twopenny and threepenny post. Cruchley also published or sold other plans of London; John Waiter Froggett's maps, for instance, of the country 30 miles (1831) and 15 miles (c. 1842) around the capital appeared over Cruchley's publishing imprint, as did Charles Smith's map of the surrounding 12 miles (1830).
Inevitably, in time Cruchley realised the limitations of concentrating on the production of London plans and as the firm expanded he sought new map making opportunities, eventually branching out from map engraving, publishing and selling into printing and globe-making.
By the late 1820s, Cruchley was engraving plans for official reports on railway proposals; he produced the plan and section, for example, for James Walker's Report to the Committee of the proposed railway from Leeds to Selby (1829). Similarly, he began to develop private estate work and to forge strong links with the commercial world in order to tap the rapidly expanding demand from that sector: 'Maps, charts, plans of estates, &c. Accurately drawn, copied, reduced, or enlarged, and engraved in a superior manner. .. Merchants, Captains, and Dealers, supplied with Maps on advantageous terms'. Special formats were devised for use in market, office, and elsewhere: 'Maps mounted on linen, to fold in cases, for the convenience of trading - mounted on common rollers and varnished - or with springs, and fitted in mahogany cabinet cases, for public offices, libraries, &c. Maps & drawings framed, varnished, etc'. And by the early 1840s Cruchley was moving rapidly into more general cartographic publication with the production of world atlases and educational works.
This change of direction perhaps originated in Cruchley's acquisition of the plates of Christopher Greenwood's large-scale six-sheet map of Lancashire (1818) which were sold off, along with much else of Greenwood's stock in piecemeal fashion, in an attempt to save his failing business. Cruchley published a revised version of the map, re-engraved by J. H. Franks, in 1 S36. The ease of this process of acquiring old stock, revising it, and publishing it, usually as a supposedly new work under a new title and imprint, was apparently so attractive and profitable to Cruchley that he began assiduously to buy up or acquire for issue the stock of firms such as Bowles & Carver and J. & C. Walker.
Cruchley seized every possible opportunity of projecting a favourable image of himself and his publications, regularly engaging in the marketing 'puff' so typical of the map maker throughout the centuries. In particular, he sought to attract 'the attention of Principals of Colleges, Public Schools, Private Seminaries, Governesses, Teachers, &c.' in order to tap the growing educational market. These potential bulk purchasers were invited to inspect Cruchley's 'improved large Educational School Maps, Atlases, Globes, and Series of Progressive Maps ... the whole of which comprise an entire new, easy, and instructive method of teaching Geography.' These maps were obviously presented in the best possible light, being 'compiled from the best and most recent authorities extant, drawn on such a large scale and bold outline, purposely to assist the young Pupils in the study of Geography'; 'Drawn from the most authentic sources and latest authorities; combining accuracy of delineation ... with boldness and clearness of engraving'; and 'constructed from the best British and Foreign documents and authorities, engraved with the greatest care and attention.' Cruchley reinforced the desirability of his educational maps by stressing their popularity not only amongst 'numerous public and private Scholastic Establishments, Private Families, and Teachers' who provided 'extensive and unceasing demand', but also 'His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and the junior branches of the Royal Family' who were instructed with his publications due to 'their acknowledged superiority to any other scholastic Maps or Atlases hitherto published'. Cruchley could thus solicit 'the patronage of all who are engaged in the important work of Tuition, flattering himself that they will be found, on inspection, superior to any others hitherto offered to their notice, and at such a moderate price as will enable them to be extensively introduced to their Pupils.' (By courtesy of the Royal Geographical Society, London).
Cruchley's most significant acquisition was the plates of George and John Cary. [3] Henceforth, Cruchley steadily moved away from his early practice of producing reliable maps of quality (mainly of London and its environs) to a policy of issuing poor quality maps, usually of doubtful reliability, created from earlier plates using cheap lithographic transfer techniques. From the mid-century Cruchley's ever-expanding output became more and more general and less and less satisfactory. Thus, Cary's New and Correct English Atlas (1787) was adapted to become Cruchley's County Atlas of England & Wales (1863) and later Cruchley's New Pocket Companion, or, Handmaid to Bradshaw and All Other Railway Timetables for England and Wales (c. 1872); Cary's Traveller's Companion (first issued 1790, re¬engraved 1806 and 1822) became Cruchley's Railroad Compan¬ion to England & Wales (c. 1852); and Cary's New English Atlas (1809) was transformed into Cruchley's Railway and Telegraphic County Atlas of England and Wales (c.1858). Cruchley even had the temerity to boast that the maps in the latter atlas were: 'projected on the Largest Scale yet adopted for any similar purpose'; contained 'all the Latest Information, of general utility or interest'; and had been 'Carefully Revised from the recent Ordnance Surveys of England and Wales'. These maps from Cary's New English Atlas were also sold separately under a variety of titles; the geologically adapted maps were advertised as being available 'geologically coloured price 3/6 in sheet', but seem never to have appeared in this form.[4]
In truth, as his atlas titles suggest, Cruchley's only significant up-dating of Cary's maps was the addition of railways and telegraphs to Cary's out-dated landscape, thus satisfying the principal preoccupation of map purchasers of the day. Despite the unreliability of his railway delineation, Cruchley claimed that on these reissued maps: 'the Lines of all the Railways are drawn, showing the Company to which each line belongs'; 'the Names of all the Stations are engraved in clear and bold characters'; 'the Telegraphic Lines and Stations are especially marked on these Maps'; and 'the Continuation of each Railway into adjoining Counties is accurately delineated, Exhibiting At A Glance Facilities Of Intercommunication, and thus supplying an impor¬tant desideratum to Commercialists'. In this way Cary's out¬dated maps appeared with railway and telegraph information crudely superimposed on Cary's delicately engraved topography as 'Cruchley's Railway & Telegraphic' maps, 'Railway And Station' maps, and so on, 'showing all the Railways & Names of Stations, Also the Telegraph Lines & Stations, Improved from the Ordnance Surveys'. More often than not stations were inexactly located and lines not yet opened were shown as in operation. On occasion, even railways merely projected but never constructed actually appeared in existence on the map. Hence, railway and communication information on Cruchley's maps should always be distrusted despite the suggestion of a specialist map in the title.
Cruchley recognised that the immense popular interest in railway development and the commercial implications of the spread of the rail network created opportunities for general maps of the system. In 1840 he produced a four-sheet 'Map of the Railways Showing the Various Stations', at 6 miles to the inch, which was hand coloured to distinguish completed rail¬ways, those in progress of construction, and those merely projected. Similarly, G. and J. Cary's sixty-five sheet 'Improved Map of England & Wales, with part of Scotland' (1832) was adapted to produce 'Cruchley's Complete Railway & Station Map of England & Wales, with part of Scotland', c.1852: 'a complete guide to the student of history, the lover of antiquarian research, the amateur pedestrian, or the commercialists'. The plates of this map were also used to create county and regional maps with 'additions' c.1856-7.
'Cruchley's Twelve Miles Round London' (1839) was produced in the unusual format of a 12V. inch diameter circular map within a square frame. The triangular space between the curved edge of the map and the frame was used to list details of fairs, markets, and watermen's fares. This folding map, at a scale of one inch to two miles, was typical of the maps of the London area produced by Cruchley in number from the mid-1820s in order to exploit, on the one hand, the growing demand for such maps, and, on the other, the gap created in cartographic provision by the dearth of new surveys and maps at the time. However, in contrast to most of Cruchley's other maps of London's environs, this map appeared only in one edition of 1839. (By courtesy of the British Library, London).
Cary's maps could also be adapted to meet the needs of the growing market for touring and excursion maps by offering them folded in flimsy paper covers and later in attractively printed covers under a variety of titles such as 'Cruchley's Railway and Telegraphic County Map of. .. ' As always the titling and format was devised to suggest a new and original production. Thus, 'Road and Railway' maps, for example, appeared in the series of 'Cruchley's County Maps of England for Cyclists, Tourists etc'. His 'excellent County Maps, larger and superior to any other for Railway Travelling' were 'offered to the Public at Sixpence Each, the price at which the most inferior County Maps are sold'. These coloured maps, 'sold by all booksellers & railway stations', were notably successful, not least because of their large scales of anything up to 1 inch to 3 miles. Cruchley's excursion maps were destined to enjoy a further long life in the hands of Gall & Inglis who purchased them at auction in 1877 and continued to issue them well into the twentieth century.
Cruchley also switched the direction of his town plan production increasingly towards the new market represented by an ever-growing army of visitors taking excursions, particularly to the capital. As early as 1826 his 'New Plan of London' was issued 'in Miniature' in a slip case. Experimenting with alternative formats more suitable for tourists, Cruchley pub¬lished it in 1830 in book form with 'decided advantages over all other methods, by avoiding the unpleasant necessity of unfolding the whole in the street'. However, this apparently proved less popular than the traditional slip case. Similarly, the 'New Plan' of c. 1827, with its improvements, was issued in a slip case and later between covers, and some copies were also printed on silk by S. W. Silver & Co. (Cruchley also printed maps on handkerchiefs specially designed for the travelling snuff-taker!). The 'New Plan' also appeared in Cruchley's Picture of London (Second edn. 1834) which was to contain London plans throughout its many editions. Plans were produced to accom¬pany other London guides such as Cruchley's London in 1865 (1865) and Cruchley's New Guide to London (1862) which contained 'full information about Postal and other communica¬tions, Hotels, Dining Rooms, Public Conveyances, Statistics, Public Works, History and Antiquities, with full description of the Public and Private Buildings, Law Courts, Club Houses, Markets, Theatres, Museums, Literary and Scientific Institu¬tions, Churches, Chapels, Charitable Societies, and every object or place of interest in the Metropolis. Price 2s. 6d., in Illustrated Cover, or bound in Cloth, with a large Map of London, 3s. 6d.'
The acquisition of the plates of the Cary firm enabled Cruchley to transform Cary's New English Atlas of 1809 into his own Railway and Telegraphic County Atlas of England and Wales c.1858. Despite the fact that the only significant alteration to Cary's maps was the copious lithographic addition of often unreliable railway and communication information, Cruchley claimed that his maps possessed 'THE FOLLOWING DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS':
1 They are projected on the LARGEST SCALE yet adopted for any similar purpose.
2 They contain all the Latest Information, of general utility or interest.
3 They have been CAREFULLY REVISED from the recent Ordnance Surveys of England and Wales.
4 The Lines of all the Railways are drawn, showing the Company to which each line belongs.
5 The NAMES of all the Stations are engraved in clear and bold characters.
6 The Telegraphic Lines and Stations are especially marked on these Maps.
7 The CONTINUATION of each Railway into adjoining Counties is accurately delineated, EXHIBITING AT A GLANCE FACILITIES OF INTERCOMMUNICATION .. .' Cruchley lithographically issued Cary's large county maps from c.1846 in many other variant forms as individual folding maps as well as in the numerous editions of the Railway and Telegraphic atlas. (By courtesy of the British Library).
Every opportunity was taken to promote the publication of a new excursion map. Thus, the transfer of the Crystal Palace from Hyde Park to Sydenham promoted 'Cruchley's Excursion Map To The Crystal Palace' (c. 1852), which was a reissue of a map first derived from the Ordnance Survey sheets by G. and J. Cary; and the International Exhibition of 1862 generated 'The Illustrated Exhibition Map of London' (c. 1862). (This latter map was a reissue of John Shury's fine 'Plan of London from actual survey' which had been 'PRESENTED GRATIS TO THE READERS OF THE United Kingdom Newspaper, BY THEIR OBLIGED & HUMBLE SERVANTS The Proprietors' first in 1832, being subsequently re-presented in 1833 and 1834, then published by Orlando Hodgson in 1838, 1840, 1841 and 1851, before being acquired by Cruchley who re-arranged the London views surrounding the frame in order to add an engraving of the International Exhibition). More old Cary material was used when 'Cary's New Plan Of London And Its Vicinity' (1820) became firstly 'Cruchley's New Plan of London, Westminster & Southwark' (1856) and then 'Cruchley's New Postal District Map of London' (1857). Similarly, Cruchley apparently acquired the plate of the 'Balloon View of London' published by John Henry Banks in 1851. (Poetic justice was done when 'Cruchley's Environs of London Extending Thirty Miles from the Metropo¬lis' (1824) was used by Thomas Deacon to create the first pocket atlas (1831) of London by dividing it into twenty sections and covering all references to Cruehley with labels') Conversely, 'Railway' and 'Excursion' maps of the country around the capital were created for those escaping in the opposite direction into the countryside from the miseries and trials of the Victorian City.
'Cruchley's Twelve Miles Round London' (1839) was produced in the unusual format of a 12V. inch diameter circular map within a square frame. The triangular space between the curved edge of the map and the frame was used to list details of fairs, markets, and watermen's fares. This folding map, at a scale of one inch to two miles, was typical of the maps of the London area produced by Cruchley in number from the mid-1820s in order to exploit, on the one hand, the growing demand for such maps, and, on the other, the gap created in cartographic provision by the dearth of new surveys and maps at the time. However, in contrast to most of Cruchley's other maps of London's environs, this map appeared only in one edition of 1839. (By courtesy of the British Library, London).
Cary's maps could also be adapted to meet the needs of the growing market for touring and excursion maps by offering them folded in flimsy paper covers and later in attractively printed covers under a variety of titles such as 'Cruchley's Railway and Telegraphic County Map of. .. ' As always the titling and format was devised to suggest a new and original production. Thus, 'Road and Railway' maps, for example, appeared in the series of 'Cruchley's County Maps of England for Cyclists, Tourists etc'. His 'excellent County Maps, larger and superior to any other for Railway Travelling' were 'offered to the Public at Sixpence Each, the price at which the most inferior County Maps are sold'. These coloured maps, 'sold by all booksellers & railway stations', were notably successful, not least because of their large scales of anything up to 1 inch to 3 miles. Cruchley's excursion maps were destined to enjoy a further long life in the hands of Gall & Inglis who purchased them at auction in 1877 and continued to issue them well into the twentieth century.
Cruchley also switched the direction of his town plan production increasingly towards the new market represented by an ever-growing army of visitors taking excursions, particularly to the capital. As early as 1826 his 'New Plan of London' was issued 'in Miniature' in a slip case. Experimenting with alternative formats more suitable for tourists, Cruchley pub¬lished it in 1830 in book form with 'decided advantages over all other methods, by avoiding the unpleasant necessity of unfolding the whole in the street'. However, this apparently proved less popular than the traditional slip case. Similarly, the 'New Plan' of c. 1827, with its improvements, was issued in a slip case and later between covers, and some copies were also printed on silk by S. W. Silver & Co. (Cruchley also printed maps on handkerchiefs specially designed for the travelling snuff-taker!). The 'New Plan' also appeared in Cruchley's Picture of London (Second edn. 1834) which was to contain London plans throughout its many editions. Plans were produced to accom¬pany other London guides such as Cruchley's London in 1865 (1865) and Cruchley's New Guide to London (1862) which contained 'full information about Postal and other communica¬tions, Hotels, Dining Rooms, Public Conveyances, Statistics, Public Works, History and Antiquities, with full description of the Public and Private Buildings, Law Courts, Club Houses, Markets, Theatres, Museums, Literary and Scientific Institu¬tions, Churches, Chapels, Charitable Societies, and every object or place of interest in the Metropolis. Price 2s. 6d., in Illustrated Cover, or bound in Cloth, with a large Map of London, 3s. 6d.'
The acquisition of the plates of the Cary firm enabled Cruchley to transform Cary's New English Atlas of 1809 into his own Railway and Telegraphic County Atlas of England and Wales c.1858. Despite the fact that the only significant alteration to Cary's maps was the copious lithographic addition of often unreliable railway and communication information, Cruchley claimed that his maps possessed 'THE FOLLOWING DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS':
1 They are projected on the LARGEST SCALE yet adopted for any similar purpose.
2 They contain all the Latest Information, of general utility or interest.
3 They have been CAREFULLY REVISED from the recent Ordnance Surveys of England and Wales.
4 The Lines of all the Railways are drawn, showing the Company to which each line belongs.
5 The NAMES of all the Stations are engraved in clear and bold characters.
6 The Telegraphic Lines and Stations are especially marked on these Maps.
7 The CONTINUATION of each Railway into adjoining Counties is accurately delineated, EXHIBITING AT A GLANCE FACILITIES OF INTERCOMMUNICATION .. .' Cruchley lithographically issued Cary's large county maps from c.1846 in many other variant forms as individual folding maps as well as in the numerous editions of the Railway and Telegraphic atlas. (By courtesy of the British Library).
Every opportunity was taken to promote the publication of a new excursion map. Thus, the transfer of the Crystal Palace from Hyde Park to Sydenham promoted 'Cruchley's Excursion Map To The Crystal Palace' (c. 1852), which was a reissue of a map first derived from the Ordnance Survey sheets by G. and J. Cary; and the International Exhibition of 1862 generated 'The Illustrated Exhibition Map of London' (c. 1862). (This latter map was a reissue of John Shury's fine 'Plan of London from actual survey' which had been 'PRESENTED GRATIS TO THE READERS OF THE United Kingdom Newspaper, BY THEIR OBLIGED & HUMBLE SERVANTS The Proprietors' first in 1832, being subsequently re-presented in 1833 and 1834, then published by Orlando Hodgson in 1838, 1840, 1841 and 1851, before being acquired by Cruchley who re-arranged the London views surrounding the frame in order to add an engraving of the International Exhibition). More old Cary material was used when 'Cary's New Plan Of London And Its Vicinity' (1820) became firstly 'Cruchley's New Plan of London, Westminster & Southwark' (1856) and then 'Cruchley's New Postal District Map of London' (1857). Similarly, Cruchley apparently acquired the plate of the 'Balloon View of London' published by John Henry Banks in 1851. (Poetic justice was done when 'Cruchley's Environs of London Extending Thirty Miles from the Metropo¬lis' (1824) was used by Thomas Deacon to create the first pocket atlas (1831) of London by dividing it into twenty sections and covering all references to Cruehley with labels') Conversely, 'Railway' and 'Excursion' maps of the country around the capital were created for those escaping in the opposite direction into the countryside from the miseries and trials of the Victorian City.
Cruchley frequently also used London plans to delineate particular themes such as postal and railway information, often simply adapting existing maps. His five-inch maps, for example, were reduced to create a 'Railway & Commercial Map' (c.1865) at 3Y. inches to the mile. In contrast to his early maps, Cruchley's later maps were unoriginal and often simply updated versions of earlier plans. His chief concern was to keep costs to a minimum and often sections of earlier maps were extracted and frequently photographically reduced in order to superim¬pose postal, railway, or other information and to create apparently new maps such as the 'Reduced Ordnance Map of London' (c.1868).
Although Cruchley's town plan production concentrated very heavily on London, plans of other towns were also published. In particular, sections of 'Cruchley's Complete Railway & Station Map' (c. 1852) were sold dissected and folding in covers as maps of environs from the late 1850s under varying titles.
Outline maps were designed so that pupils could insert names and topographical features on to the base map provided. As J. H. Overton emphasised in the Practical Methods of Teaching Geography (1898). 'the pupil...again and again .. .inserts from memory the facts which he has learned in previous lessons', so developing 'an intimate and lasting knowledge'. Cruchley's General Atlas (1843) was produced 'for the use of Schools and Private Tuition' containing 'Thirty-One Superior Progressive Maps for Schools & Families'. The atlas was reissued a number of times, notably in 1846 and 1851. (By courtesy of the British Library).
Cruchley steadily branched out into the production of maps and atlases of areas further afield, although his publications were in no way original. As with his English maps he seemed content to forego quality and reliability in the interests of cheapness and marketability. True to form, his Outlines of the World (1843) was a republication of Arrowsmith's atlas first published in 1825.
[Click on image to enlarge]
His Atlas of Geography appeared about 1867, as did the Companion to Modern Geography and Cruchley's Shilling and Handy atlases of Geography. Again true to form, opportunities were grasped to publish maps of popular interest such as 'Cruchley's Map of the Seat of the War in Sardinia' (c. 1859).
Some of these general atlases were aimed partly at the educational market. Cruchley, like many other Victorian map makers, realised the enormous potential of this market and set about satisfying its specific needs in 1843 with his General Atlas 'for the use of Schools and Private Tuition'. The 'Thirty-One Superior' 'Progressive Maps for Schools & Families' in this atlas were each decorated with the feathers of the Prince of Wales. In addition to topographical maps. the General Atlas contained blank projections and outline maps designed for the insertion of names and topographical features. This educational atlas, published in collaboration with Whittaker and Co. of Ave Maria Lane, London, proved popular, being issued several times.
Other educational productions included 'Cruchley's Enlarged Globular Map of the World, compiled for the use of colleges and schools' (1849) and in the late 1860s Cruchley's Complete School Atlas of Geography, Cruchley's Educational Atlas of the World, and Cruchley's Modern Atlas for Young Beginners. Cruchley even bragged of his educational atlases and 'progressive series of maps' that they had 'been honoured by being selected for the Instruction of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. And the Junior Branches of the Royal Family'. However, if this were true. it raises severe doubts about the quality of education received by the nation's rulers'
George Frederick Cruchley seems to have embarked on his map publishing career with the best of intentions, aiming to produce maps of quality and reliability concentrating on the London area. However, he soon perceived the opportunities open to a publisher who could supply an expanding market which demanded neither quality nor reliability but only cheap¬ness. He realised that this new type of demand could be satisfied by the reissue of maps and atlases first published by others and, thus, set about buying up the plates of other map makers and making their maps newly available with minimal revision under his name. When Cruchlcy's stock of maps, plates, books, prints, and stationery was sold at auction at Hodgson's in 1877, the sale catalogue revealed the high proportion of his engraved plates
which had been acquired from others. As for his own produc¬tions, his policy of aiming at the cheap end of the market ensured that they were superficial works. Cruchley is, thus, of interest more for his methods than his output, although recently some of his maps have been offered to collectors at perhaps surpris¬ingly substantial prices.
References:
COPYRIGHT Winter 1989 The Map Collector, All rights reserved.
No portion of this article nor the accompanying illustrations can or may be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Although Cruchley's town plan production concentrated very heavily on London, plans of other towns were also published. In particular, sections of 'Cruchley's Complete Railway & Station Map' (c. 1852) were sold dissected and folding in covers as maps of environs from the late 1850s under varying titles.
Outline maps were designed so that pupils could insert names and topographical features on to the base map provided. As J. H. Overton emphasised in the Practical Methods of Teaching Geography (1898). 'the pupil...again and again .. .inserts from memory the facts which he has learned in previous lessons', so developing 'an intimate and lasting knowledge'. Cruchley's General Atlas (1843) was produced 'for the use of Schools and Private Tuition' containing 'Thirty-One Superior Progressive Maps for Schools & Families'. The atlas was reissued a number of times, notably in 1846 and 1851. (By courtesy of the British Library).
Cruchley steadily branched out into the production of maps and atlases of areas further afield, although his publications were in no way original. As with his English maps he seemed content to forego quality and reliability in the interests of cheapness and marketability. True to form, his Outlines of the World (1843) was a republication of Arrowsmith's atlas first published in 1825.
[Click on image to enlarge]
His Atlas of Geography appeared about 1867, as did the Companion to Modern Geography and Cruchley's Shilling and Handy atlases of Geography. Again true to form, opportunities were grasped to publish maps of popular interest such as 'Cruchley's Map of the Seat of the War in Sardinia' (c. 1859).
Some of these general atlases were aimed partly at the educational market. Cruchley, like many other Victorian map makers, realised the enormous potential of this market and set about satisfying its specific needs in 1843 with his General Atlas 'for the use of Schools and Private Tuition'. The 'Thirty-One Superior' 'Progressive Maps for Schools & Families' in this atlas were each decorated with the feathers of the Prince of Wales. In addition to topographical maps. the General Atlas contained blank projections and outline maps designed for the insertion of names and topographical features. This educational atlas, published in collaboration with Whittaker and Co. of Ave Maria Lane, London, proved popular, being issued several times.
Other educational productions included 'Cruchley's Enlarged Globular Map of the World, compiled for the use of colleges and schools' (1849) and in the late 1860s Cruchley's Complete School Atlas of Geography, Cruchley's Educational Atlas of the World, and Cruchley's Modern Atlas for Young Beginners. Cruchley even bragged of his educational atlases and 'progressive series of maps' that they had 'been honoured by being selected for the Instruction of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. And the Junior Branches of the Royal Family'. However, if this were true. it raises severe doubts about the quality of education received by the nation's rulers'
George Frederick Cruchley seems to have embarked on his map publishing career with the best of intentions, aiming to produce maps of quality and reliability concentrating on the London area. However, he soon perceived the opportunities open to a publisher who could supply an expanding market which demanded neither quality nor reliability but only cheap¬ness. He realised that this new type of demand could be satisfied by the reissue of maps and atlases first published by others and, thus, set about buying up the plates of other map makers and making their maps newly available with minimal revision under his name. When Cruchlcy's stock of maps, plates, books, prints, and stationery was sold at auction at Hodgson's in 1877, the sale catalogue revealed the high proportion of his engraved plates
which had been acquired from others. As for his own produc¬tions, his policy of aiming at the cheap end of the market ensured that they were superficial works. Cruchley is, thus, of interest more for his methods than his output, although recently some of his maps have been offered to collectors at perhaps surpris¬ingly substantial prices.
References:
- This edition of the map is noted by Sir H. G. Fordham in John Cary. Engraver, Map, Chart and Print-Seller and Globe-Maker 1754 to 1835 (1925; reprinted 1976). However, I. Darlington and J. Howgego, Printed Maps of London circa 1553-1850 (1964) No. 373 lists only a later issue of this map with altered imprint of c.1840.
- For a complete cartobibliography of Cruchley's maps and plans of London, see: I. Darlington and J. Howgego op.cit. Nos. 299, 304, 307, 320, 327, 333, 347,370,373,382 and R. Hyde. Printed Maps of Victorian London 1851-1900 (1975) Nos. 26, 66, 76, 77, 99, 103, 121, 235, D. & H. 279, D. & H. 299, D. & H. 307, D. & H. 320, D. & H. 333, D. & H. 343, D. & H. 347, D. & H. 382.
- The date of Cruchley's acquisition of Cary's plates is given as 1844 and I. Darlington and J. Howgego, op.cit.; 1846 by P. D. A. Harvey and H. Thorpe, The Printed Maps of Warwickshire 1576-1900 (1959) and T. Nicholson, Wheels on the Road (1983); and as c.1850 by T. Chubb, The Printed Maps in the Atlases of Great Britain and Ireland (1927), Royal-Scottish Geographical Society, The Early Maps of Scotland to 1850 (3rd edition, 1973), and D. Kingsley, Printed Maps of Sussex 1575-1900 (1982). For further information concerning Cary's business history see the article on the Cary family in this series. As a result of information generated by that article, it is now possible to shed new light on the possible date of transfer of the Cary firm to Cruckley. Wall maps of Africa, America and Europe are known bearing the date 1846. 'A New Map of AMERICA, EXHIBITING ITS Natural and Political Divisions Delineated FROM THE MOST RECENT AUTHORITIES', for example, has the imprint 'LONDON': Printed for JOHN CARY, N886 St James's Street Jan. 1st. 1846'. These maps were not recorded by Fordham and were, thus, probably new productions rather than re-dated earlier works. This suggests that the Cary firm was still activity producing a few maps as late as 1846 and, therefore, that the sale to Cruchley must have taken place between 1846 and c.1850. However, there is, of course, always the possibility that these wall maps had never been issued by the Cary firm and were sold without change to the imprint but with a date added or an existing date altered by Cruchley after acquiring the Cary stock. Certainly Cruchley's opportunistic business practices might well justify such a convoluted interpretation but there is no evidence to support it. Thanks are due to Francis Herbert of the Royal Geographical Society for bringing these wall maps to my attention.
- For cartobibliographical details of Cruchley's issue of Cary's maps see D. Smith, Antique Maps of the British Isles (1982) Nos. 24 ix-xi, 26 v, 28 ii, 30 vii. 5 D. Jolly, Antique Maps, Sea Charts, City Views, Celestial Charts and Battle Plans (1986), (1987) and (1989).
COPYRIGHT Winter 1989 The Map Collector, All rights reserved.
No portion of this article nor the accompanying illustrations can or may be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.