Personalised Old Map of Southwark

Step back in time and experience the rich tapestry of London’s Borough of Southwark with a truly unique, personalised historical map. Whether you’re a local with deep-rooted connections to this storied district or searching for a thoughtful gift for someone who cherishes their London heritage, this map will captivate and delight. These bespoke maps connect your personal story to the evolving cityscape, making them ideal for commemorating a special address, marking family history, or simply celebrating Southwark’s fascinating past.

Your map encompasses areas now famous for their historic and cultural significance, including Borough Market, the site of centuries-old trade and culinary tradition. Explore the grounds that now feature Southwark Cathedral, with its origins stretching back to the medieval era. Trace the land surrounding the Globe Theatre, celebrated for its Shakespearean heritage, or the area by Tower Bridge, which transformed London’s skyline. The map also spans the vibrant stretch of Bankside, long a hub of entertainment and riverside life, and the site of the Imperial War Museum, a landmark of national remembrance.

Personalisation is at the heart of this product. You can centre your map on any location within Southwark—be it your home, a favourite park, or a meaningful family spot. Highlight as many places as you like, from ancestral streets to that beloved pub by the river. Add a bespoke dedication to commemorate a milestone, and customise the map’s title and subtitle to reflect an inside joke, family name, or personal message. Each map is individually crafted, allowing for limitless creativity and meaning.

Your personalised map could focus on these areas in Borough of Southwark

• Bermondsey
• Borough
• Elephant and Castle
• Peckham
• Camberwell
• Dulwich (East Dulwich and Dulwich Village)
• Rotherhithe
• Walworth
• Nunhead
• Surrey Quays

Crafted to the highest standard, your map is printed using premium giclée techniques on archival-grade paper or artist’s cotton canvas, ensuring vivid clarity and long-lasting colour. Choose from a range of framing options, including elegant FSC-certified wooden frames with crystal-clear acrylite glazing, or opt for our "float framed" stretched canvas for a gallery-quality finish. Each map is produced to order, making it a lasting and luxurious addition to any home or office.

These maps are based on original Ordnance Survey sheets from the 1870s through to the 1960s. The Ordnance Survey’s legacy of precision and artistry is legendary, with their maps renowned for both meticulous detail and attractive design. The 6-inch and 25-inch series capture the intricate street patterns and riverside wharves of Victorian Southwark, while later editions reveal the district’s gradual transformation through the twentieth century. Each map offers a glimpse into the London of yesteryear, making your custom piece both a decorative treasure and a fascinating window into local history.

Please note you are purchasing a fully customised old map. Modern landmarks, such as your house, may not have been built yet! You can contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

Generally, larger maps look much better than smaller maps, because you can enjoy all of the smaller details. If you need a smaller map, I would suggest ‘zooming in’ so that the map covers a smaller area.

Because these maps are custom made to order, we can make you a map that looks great at at any size, from very small (8x10in/20x25cm) all the way to a few metres. If you are looking for a very large map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this map.

Every map can be personalised or customised, for example if you want to mark your house or street on the map. The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

This personalised map would make a wonderful housewarming, birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, Mother’s Day, wedding anniversary or work leaving gift for someone from Borough of Southwark, or someone who works there.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or on artist’s cotton canvas. Several frame choices are available for free, or custom framing is available for an additional fee. Please get in touch if you’re looking to order a very large map for a hotel or office, or if you’re looking for a size that isn’t available on my shop.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and customised products take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes 1 or 2 days.

Please note that very large framed orders usually take longer to make and deliver. 

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world. This means your order will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and ensures that it won't be damaged during delivery. You'll never pay customs or import duty, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps and art prints are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all orders within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks, mugs and tote bags) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

Next Day delivery is also available in some countries (US, UK, Singapore, UAE) but please try to order early in the day so that we can get it sent out on time.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps, art and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte (not shiny) cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced box wood frame, and then 'float' the piece within a wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing to get in the way.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read my size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your order for any reason, contact me for a no-quibble refund.

I am very confident you will like your restored map or art print. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and art prints and have over 4,000 real 5-star reviews.

I use a unique process to restore maps and artwork that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps and illustrations can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore them. As a result, I guarantee my maps and art prints are a cut above the rest - that's why I can offer a no-quibble refund.

Almost all of my maps and art prints look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.