Tudor Allen, Local Studies and Archives Manager, writes: The collections of Camden Local Studies and Archives Centre are continually growing as we take in new historical material which becomes available. The vast majority of these accessions are donations but occasionally we purchase items. A special document recently came up for auction which we thought it important to try to acquire. This was a rare map of St Pancras which we did not already have - a hand-coloured Edmund Daw map of the parish dating from 1854. We had maps of the area by this cartographer for 1849 and 1860 but not this 1854 edition.
We expected the map to be well out of our price range so we put a bid in to the FNL. I am pleased to say the bid was successful and the FNL kindly agreed to provide 90 per cent of the cost. The total price was £1,087, but thanks to the FNL’s generosity it cost the Archives Centre only £144.
Some major changes are quickly apparent from a comparison of the 1849 and 1854 maps. By the time of the later map the Smallpox and Fever hospitals shown at King’s Cross in 1849 have gone, while King’s Cross Station and its goods yard and hotel, absent from the earlier map, are all clearly shown on that of 1854. But there will be other less obvious differences and the new map will be invaluable for researchers trying to pinpoint dates of changes within the parish.
Though the map is in good condition it would be damaged by regular handling. We will therefore be scanning it and printing a facsimile for use by researchers.
We are very grateful to the FNL, without whose help we would not have been able to acquire this splendid addition to our collections.
