The Underground Map is creating street histories for the areas of London and surrounding counties lying within the M25.
In a series of maps from the 1750s until the 1950s, you can see how London grew from a city which only reached as far as Park Lane into the post-war megapolis we know today.
The aim of the project is to find the location every street in London, whether past or present. You are able to see each street on a present day map and also spot its location on older maps.
There's a control which looks like a 'pile of paper' at the top right of the map above. You can use it to see how an area has changed on a series of historic maps.
Latest featured streets on The Underground Map
Harley Street, W1G
Harley Street has, for a couple of centuries, offered private specialists ranging from cardiovascular care and mental health services to dentistry and nose reshaping. Following Edward Harley’s marriage to Henrietta Cavendish, a wealthy Marylebone heiress, the couple planned to develop some of their land (the ‘Cavendish–Harley estate’) for residential use. They started to build in their new Cavendish Square and proposed heading north.
The Duke of Chandos had also been an owner in the Marylebone area in the early 18th century. This became part of the Cavendish-Harley estate through the marriage.
Around 1716, a street called Chandos Street was begun. Nearby, a street called Harley Street was also started.
Edward Harley died in 1719. The following year - 1720 - his widow was caught up in the South Sea Bubble* and the financial waters chilled for many builders.
In 1726, it was decided to swap the names – Harley Street became Chandos Street and Chandos Street was called Harley Street.
Harley Street (the former Chandos Street) remained a stump leading north off Ca...
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Addison Gardens, W14
Addison Gardens stands on part of the Holland estate. Joseph Addison (1672-1719), poet, essayist and politician, lived at Holland House after his marriage to Lady Holland in 1716, hence the name.
In June 1849, Lord Holland took out a mortgage on Holland House and its grounds. This was the first of several such transactions over the next few years, likely done partly to raise funds for constructing roads and sewers on his property as he had pledged. That same month, Goddard started building houses in Addison Gardens and at the north ends of Addison Road and Holland Villas Road.
Goddard was able to lay the foundations for twelve houses and build one up to the second story before running into financial troubles. He eventually found it best to move himself and his family to mainland Europe. His creditors were hesitant to push for declaring bankruptcy, since there didn’t appear to be enough money left to even pay for the order.
In 1880, Addison Gardens absorbed Addison Gardens South.
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Dunk Street, E1
Dunk Street ran parallel to Great Garden Street (now Greatorex Street) to the west and King Edward Street, which has also ceased to exist, to the east. Dunk Street stretched approximately 200 metres from Old Montague Street to Hanbury Street, situated about 300 metres east of Baker’s Row, which is now the southern section of Vallance Road.
In 1643, Edward Montague, William Montague, and Mawrice Tresham acquired property from William Smith and others in the future Mile End New Town and Spitalfields areas.
This property comprised around forty-two or forty-three acres, which included five enclosed fields, a nursery, and a garden plot. A portion of this land would later become the southern half of Mile End New Town. Edward Montague eventually came into possession of all this land by approximately 1680.
The name Pelham Street was derived from Edward Montague’s wife, Elizabeth Pelham, who held ownership prior to their marriage.
In 1691, Elizabeth Pelham obtained a private Act that allowed her to grant leases for the rebuilding of dilapidated properties on her estates i...
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Yalford Street, E1
Yalford Street was the name for New Street after 1874. By 1773 Richard Brinckley, a builder who had moved to the district from North Audley Street in Mayfair, was working on New Street (later Yalford Street) and the connecting White Hart Court. Carpenters Thomas Dodson and William Petty were involved in the project and fifteen houses were completed and for sale in 1774.
New Street became Yalford Street in 1874 and a short stump of a street survived the post-war rebuilding.
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The Underground Map is creating street histories for the areas of London and surrounding counties lying within the M25.
