The London County Council Bomb Damage Maps 1939-1945

Laurence Ward

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0500518254 ISBN 13: 9780500518250

Publisher: Thames and Hudson Ltd, 2015

The attack on London between 1939 and 1945 is one of the most significant events in the city's modern history, the impact of which can still be seen in its urban and social landscapes. As a key record of the attack, the London County Council Bomb Damage Maps represent destruction on a huge scale, recording buildings and streets reduced to smoke and rubble. The full set of maps is made up of 110 hand-coloured 1:2500 Ordnance Survey base sheets originally published in 1916 but updated by the LCC to 1940. Because they use the 1916 map, they give us a glimpse of a 'lost London', before post-war redevelopment schemes began to shape the modern city. The colouring applied to the maps records a scale of damage to London's built environment during the war - the most detailed and complete survey of destruction caused by the aerial bombardment. A clear and fascinating introduction by expert Laurence Ward sets the maps in the full historical context of the events that gave rise to them, supported by archival photographs and tables of often grim statistics.

Review:

The meticulously hand-coloured bomb damage maps of London - in pictures. --The Guardian

A handsome folio ... their [the maps'] utility has been hugely enhanced by presentation in this new format, spacious, scholarly and visually compelling. --Times Literary Supplement

This A-Z of atrocity - which includes 70 stunning photographs of the ruined City - has a terrible beauty. --Evening Standard, Books of the Year

Amazingly compelling. --Country & Town House

Though there is no florid prose or gripping anecdotes, these maps are not mute. This A-Z of destruction tells a powerful story.--The Times

'Beautifully designed, with all illustrations, be they the maps, old documents or the photographs are reproduced to the absolute highest standard ... a pleasure to handle and all of the pages lay perfectly flat,' --Reference Reviews

An amazing visual record of what happened to London in the war ... fascinating. --Timeout

The book is immaculately presented and is an essential part of any London-phile's coffee table book collection. --Mapping London

‘Astonishing.’ -- William Boyd’s book of the year, Times Literary Supplement

About the Author:

Laurence Ward is curator at the London Metropolitan Archives.