Rare Old County Map of England & Wales by Lewis, 1844: Major Roads & Railways

Step into the intricate world of Victorian cartography with Samuel Lewis’s “Map of England & Wales: Divided into counties,” a masterwork first published in 1844. This meticulously hand-colored map was created to accompany Lewis’s renowned Topographical Dictionary, a monumental reference work that sought to capture the ever-evolving landscape of 19th-century Britain. The map’s original purpose was both practical and scholarly: to illuminate the intricate patchwork of counties, administrative borders, and transportation routes that defined the nation at the dawn of the railway age. Its detailed legend and precise lines invite the viewer to explore the England and Wales of a bygone era, where every county boundary and waterway was drawn with care and intention.

Samuel Lewis, the esteemed publisher behind this map, was a visionary chronicler of British geography. His Topographical Dictionary and accompanying atlas set new standards for accuracy and comprehensiveness in an age of rapid social and industrial transformation. The map itself was engraved by the accomplished J. & C. Walker and drawn by R. Creighton, both celebrated for their technical skill and artistry. Lewis’s dedication to clarity and utility is evident in every aspect of the map, from the hand-colored county divisions to the careful depiction of roads, railways, and canals—each a vital artery in the economic and cultural life of Victorian Britain.

This map offers a fascinating glimpse into the physical and administrative landscape of England and Wales during a pivotal period in history. The counties are boldly delineated, with their borders highlighted in vivid color, while the national boundary between England and Wales is clearly marked. Major rivers such as the Thames, Severn, Mersey, and Trent meander across the map, serving as both natural boundaries and lifelines for commerce and travel. The Irish Sea, North Sea, and Bristol Channel frame the landmass, while the coastline is rendered with exquisite detail, capturing every bay, estuary, and peninsula.

The map is also a celebration of human settlement and achievement, charting the locations of England and Wales’s most storied cities and towns. From the bustling metropolis of London to the industrial powerhouses of Birmingham, Manchester, and Liverpool, each settlement is carefully positioned, reflecting its prominence in the national tapestry. Smaller but no less significant towns—York, Oxford, Cambridge, Exeter, Cardiff, Swansea, and many more—are also featured, their names echoing centuries of history, culture, and local identity. The inclusion of bridges, canals, and early railroads further highlights the era’s spirit of innovation and connectivity.

Beyond its geographical precision, this map stands as a testament to the artistry and ambition of 19th-century British cartography. Relief is depicted through delicate hachures, giving form to the mountains and uplands of Wales and the Pennines, while the prime meridian at Greenwich provides a modern anchor for navigation. As one of 57 maps in Lewis’s celebrated atlas, this piece encapsulates the intellectual curiosity and technical prowess of its creators. It is not merely a map, but a vibrant historical document—an invitation to journey through the landscapes, borders, and stories that shaped Victorian England and Wales.

Cities and towns on this map

• England:
• London
• Birmingham
• Manchester
• Liverpool
• Leeds
• Sheffield
• Bristol
• Newcastle (Newcastle upon Tyne)
• Nottingham
• Leicester
• Portsmouth
• Southampton
• Plymouth
• Derby
• Stoke (Stoke-on-Trent)
• Sunderland
• Wolverhampton
• Reading
• Brighton
• Hull (Kingston upon Hull)
• Coventry
• Bradford
• Middlesbrough
• Northampton
• Luton
• Milton Keynes
• Norwich
• York
• Oxford
• Cambridge
• Exeter
• Gloucester
• Carlisle
• Chester
• Lincoln
• Bath
• Canterbury
• Hereford
• Salisbury
• Winchester
• Shrewsbury
• Worcester
• Durham

• Lancaster

• Wales:

• Cardiff
• Swansea
• Newport
• Wrexham
• Bangor
• St Asaph
• St Davids
• Brecon
• Carmarthen
• Haverfordwest
• Aberystwyth

Notable Features & Landmarks

• County boundaries are clearly delineated with hand coloring.
• National border between England and Wales is marked.
• The Irish Sea, North Sea, and Bristol Channel are labelled.
• Major rivers such as the Thames, Severn, Mersey, Trent, and Humber are shown.
• Prime meridian at Greenwich is indicated.
• Hachures are used to depict areas of higher elevation, especially in regions such as Wales and the Pennines.
• Major roads and early railroads are marked.
• Canals are shown, reflecting their importance in 19th-century transport.
• Significant bridges are marked at key river crossings.
• A detailed explanation or legend is included, clarifying map symbols and features.
• Detailed depiction of the coastline, including bays, estuaries, and peninsulas.

Historical and design context

• Created in 1844 as part of Samuel Lewis’s Topographical Dictionary.
• Produced by Samuel Lewis & Co., London; engraved by J. & C. Walker and drawn by R. Creighton.
• Designed to illustrate navigation routes, distances, and significant geographical features.
• Covers the countries of England and Wales, divided into counties.
• Hand-colored and designed to be foldable for practical use.
• Prime meridian set at Greenwich, standardizing location references.
• Reflects mid-19th-century understanding of geography, infrastructure, and settlement patterns.
• Part of a larger atlas (57 maps), providing comprehensive coverage of England and Wales during a period of significant social and industrial change.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 70in (180cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

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.