Topography: reference sources

This is a selective list of reference sources relating to topography which are available in the Humanities Reading Room. Electronic resources can be accessed in the Electronic Resources Rooms in both Humanities - Floor 1 and 2. The shelfmark of each item is given at the end of every citation. For reference sources relating to British history in general see 'British history reference sources'.

Introductory works
General bibliographies
County bibliographies and histories
Domesday Book
Gazetteers and books of travel
Maps and atlases

Place names
Directories
Buildings
London
Illustrations

Introductory works
J. Campbell-Kease, A companion to local history research. London: Alphabooks, 1989.
HLR942
S. Guy, English local studies handbook: a guide to resources for each county including libraries, record offices, societies, journals and museums. Exeter: University of Exeter Press, 1992.
HLR Enquiry Desk 942
J. Richardson, The local historian’s encyclopedia. 2nd ed. New Barnet: Historical Publications, 1993. [Originally published: 1986].
HLR941.003
W.B. Stephens, Sources for English local history. Rev. and expanded ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1981.
HLR Enquiry Desk 942
Repr.: Chichester: Phillimore, 1994.
HLR942
General bibliographies
J.P. Anderson, The book of British topography: a classified catalogue of the topographical works in the library of the British Museum relating to Great Britain and Ireland. London: Satchell, 1881.
HLR941

E.G. Cox, A reference guide to the literature of travel [to 1800]. Vol.3: Great Britain. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1949.
HLR910.4

A.L. Humphreys, A handbook to county bibliography, being a bibliography of bibliographies relating to the counties and towns of Great Britain and Ireland. London: Humphreys, 1917.
HLR941

County bibliographies and histories
C.R.J. Currie and C.P. Lewis (eds.), English county histories: a guide. Stroud: Alan Sutton, 1994.
HLR942

Victoria county history (VCH). (Correct title: Victoria history of the counties of England)
HLL942

County bibliographies & histories
HLR/HLL942+

Domesday Book
The earliest source of information for most areas of England is the Domesday survey of c.1086-7. The original is in the National Archives.

D. Bates, Bibliography of Domesday Book. Woodbridge: Boydell, 1986.
HLR333.322

Liber censualis vocatus Domesday Book. 2 vols. Indexes and Additamenta ex codic. antiquiss. London, 1783-1816.
HLL941 (RC13-16)

J. Morris (ed.), Domesday book : text and translation. Chichester: Phillimore, 1975-1992.
HLR333.322

Gazetteers and books of travel
Bartholomew gazetteer of places in Britain. Compiled by O. Mason. Rev. and reprinted ed. Edinburgh: J. Bartholomew, 1986.
HLR Enquiry Desk 914.1

Gazetteer of the British Isles. 9th ed. Edinburgh: J. Bartholomew, 1966. [Repr. of 1943 ed., with summary of 1961 census].
HLR Enquiry Desk 914.1

S.B. Cohen (ed.), The Columbia gazetteer of the world. [New ed.] 3 vols. New York: Columbia University Press, 1998.
HLR910.3

Nomenclature internationale des bureaux de poste. [Universal postal union gazetteer]. Berne: Union postale universelle, 1968.
HLR383.42

The Times index-gazetteer of the world. London: The Times, 1965.
HLL910.3

N. Carlisle, A topographical dictionary of England. 2 vols. London: Longman & Co., 1808.
HLR942

S. Lewis, A topographical dictionary of England. 7th ed. 4 vols. and Atlas. London: S Lewis & Co., 1848-1849.
HLR942

D. and S. Lysons, Magna Britannia. 6 vols. London: T. Cadell & W. Davies, 1806-1822.
HLL941

W. Camden, Britannia. 4th ed. Translated and edited by E. Gibson. 2 vols. London: W. Bowyer, 1772.
HLL941

J. Leland, The itinerary of John Leland. Edited by L.T. Smith. 5 vols. London: Centaur, 1964.
HLR942

Maps and atlases
The majority of maps and atlases are held by Map Collections and can be consulted in the Map Library. There are a few atlases in the Humanities Reading Room at HLL911-912.

Catalogue of printed maps, charts and plans to 1964. 1967. Ten year supplement, 1965-1974. 1978. Catalogue of cartographic materials in the British Library, 1975-1988. 1989.
HLR912.016

Catalogue of the manuscript maps, charts and plans, and of the topographical drawings in the British Museum. 3 vols. London, 1962. (A reprint of the ed. of 1844-1861).
HLR912.016

Place names
B.O.E. Ekwall, The concise Oxford dictionary of English place-names. 4th ed. Oxford: Clarendon, 1960.
HLR914.2

B.O.E. Ekwall, English river-names. Oxford: Clarendon, 1968. [Lithographic reprint of 1928 ed.]
HLR914.2

J. Field, English field-names: a dictionary. Newton Abbot: David & Charles, 1972.
HLR914.2

A.D. Mills, A dictionary of British place-names. [Rev. and expanded ed.] Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003.
HLR914.2

Directories
The main sources of directories, in addition to local libraries, are the British Library, Bodleian Library, Guildhall Library and the Institute of Historical Research. The Guildhall and London Metropolitan Archives hold some London directories.

P.J. Atkins, The directories of London, 1677-1977. London: Mansell, 1990.
HUR942.1 HUR Enquiry Desk 942.1

C.W.F. Goss, The London directories, 1677-1855. London: D. Archer, 1932.
HUR942.1 HUR Enquiry Desk 942.1

J.E. Norton, Guide to the national and provincial directories of England and Wales, excluding London, published before 1856. London: Royal Historical Society, 1984. (A corr. repr. of the ed. of 1950)
HUR942 HUR Enquiry Desk 942

G. Shaw and A. Tipper, British directories: a bibliography and guide to directories published in England and Wales (1850-1950) and Scotland (1773-1950). 2nd ed. London: Mansell, 1997.
HUR941 HUR Enquiry Desk 941

Kelly's or Post Office London directory can be traced in the British Library’s printed catalogue under the heading Directories [II.-Local] London and is listed as New annual directory for ... 1800 ... (shelfmark: P.P.2505.yb/6.). Not all volumes are held, and many volumes are only issued on microfilm (shelfmark: Mic.C. 410).

Buildings
D.J. Cathcart King, Castellarium Anglicanum: an index and bibliography of the castles in England, Wales and the Islands. 2 vols. Millwood, N.Y.; London: Kraus International, 1983.
HLR728.81

H.M. Colvin (ed.), History of the King's works. London: HMSO, 1963-1982.
HLR720

M. Holmes, The country house described: an index to the country houses of Great Britain and Ireland. Winchester: St Paul's Bibliographies in association with Victoria & Albert Museum, 1986.
HLR728.8

N.B.L. Pevsner (ed.), The buildings of England. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1951- .
HLR Enquiry Desk 720.942
Also available on CD-ROM.
The volumes covering England and those covering Ireland (720.9415), Scotland (720.9411) and Wales (720.9429) are also kept in the cupboard at the Humanities - Floor 1 Reference Enquiry Desk.

Royal Commission on Historical Monuments, Inventories: England. London: HMSO, 1910-
HLR942

London
H. Creaton (ed.), Bibliography of printed works on London history to 1939. London: Library Association, 1994.
HLR942.1

H. Creaton, London. Oxford: Clio, 1996. (World bibliographical series, vol. 189)
HLR942.1

J. Howgego, Printed maps of London circa 1553-1850. 2nd ed. Folkestone: Dawson, 1978.
HLR912.421

P. Marcan (comp.), Greater London local history directory and bibliography: a borough by borough guide to local history organisations, their activities and publications 1983-1987. High Wycombe: P. Marcan, 1988. (1988-1992). London: P. Marcan, 1993.
HLR942.1
P. Marcan (comp.), Greater London history and heritage handbook: the millenium guide to historical, heritage and environmental networks and publications. London: P. Marcan, 1999. [3rd ed. of previous].
HLQ942.1 HLR Enquiry Desk 942.1

The survey of London. London: For the Greater London Council, 1900- .
HLR942.1

B. Weinreb and C. Hibbert (eds), The London encyclopaedia. Rev. ed. London: Papermac, 1993.
HLR942.1 HLR Enquiry Desk 942

Illustrations
J.R. Abbey, Scenery of Great Britain and Ireland in aquatint and lithography 1770-1860 from the Library of J.R. Abbey. London: Curwen Press, 1952.
RAR769.49

B. Adams, London illustrated 1604-1851: a survey and index of topographical books and their plates. London: Library Association, 1983.
HLR769.49

M.W. Barley, A guide to British topographical collections. London: Council for British Archaeology, 1974.
HLR760.0941
Also available online.

J.G. Crace (ed.), A catalogue of maps, plans and views of London, Westminster & Southwark. Collected and arranged by Frederick Crace. London, 1878.
HLR912.421

J. Harris, A country house index: an index to over 2000 country houses illustrated in 107 books of country views published between 1715 and 1872 together with a list of British country house guides and country house art collection catalogues for the period 1726-1880. 2nd ed. London: Pinhorns, 1979.
HLR728.8