A plan of the city and suburbs of London as fortified by Order of Parliament in the years 1642 and 1643

This is a retrospective plan of London showing the defences for the civil war, established after an Act of Parliament in 1642. These built to protect the city from attacks by Charles I and his 15,000 Royalist troops. Here all 23 forts are shown, linked by eighteen miles of ramparts. The Royalists did not attempt to enter London as the King made a tactical withdrawal. Fort 6 was the first to be built, with a commanding prospect of Finsbury Fields.