The London A-Z Street Map emerged from Phyllis Pearsall's frustration at losing her way in the capital whilst relying on an outdated street directory. The artist and writer, who lived from 1906 to 1996, created her innovative guide after becoming disorientated in 1935 whilst using the only available map, which dated back two decades.

Pearsall enlisted James Duncan, a draughtsman employed by her cartographer father, and established operations from a bedsit in Horseferry Road. She dedicated over a year to methodically exploring London's streets, traversing 3,000 miles and documenting 23,000 thoroughfares. When publishers declined to back her venture, she established the Geographers' Map Company, personally funding the initial 10,000 copies and famously delivering them to W H Smith by wheelbarrow in 1936. The guide proved immediately popular and established itself as Britain's leading street directory.

The company, which Pearsall transferred to an employee trust in 1966, was later renamed the Geographers' A-Z Map Company Ltd in 1972. She maintained an active role until her death at 89. By the fifth edition in 2004, the catalogue of streets had expanded to 70,000. High Street and Station Approach share the distinction of most frequent street names with 52 occurrences each, whilst Station Road, Park Road and The Drive follow closely behind. Victoria Road appears 37 times, surpassing Albert Road's 32 mentions.

The company's success led to similar guides for other British cities. Operations moved from Gray's Inn Road to Sevenoaks in 1962, before settling in Borough Green, Kent, in 1991.

Now of course, while the printed publication still exists, things have gone mostly digital. With the advent of Google Maps and sattelite navigation, many members of more modern generations are losing touch with the ability to use printed maps in book form for navigating cities.




1930s A-Z of London cover (click image to enlarge)





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