CHISWICK, Hammersmith, North Feltham and East Bedfont as they were in the mid nineteenth century can be now revisited in astonishing detail thanks to the reprinting of old Ordnance survey plans for the areas.

Chiswick 1867' reproduces the first edition 1:2,500 plan, photographically reduced to approximately 14 inches to one mile, covering the village of Chiswick, Turnham Green, King Street in Hammersmith, and the northern half of Castelnau in Barnes, and including the West Middlesex Water Works reservoirs in Barnes, Chiswick House, and another notable survival, Fullers Brewery.

The scale of the map allows a great deal of detail to be shown: individual buildings from Chiswick House down to small terraced cottages; industries such as breweries, maltings, oil and lead mills, orchards, turnpike gates, even boundary stones and pillar boxes. The map also includes extracts from an old county directory and an introductory essay by Pamela Taylor.

Also newly released is North Feltham and East Bedfont 1934'. It shows the area in the process of transition into the modern suburb, with ribbon development along Staines Road and Bedfont Lane, and the new Great South West arterial road cutting across the NW of the map, while in between are gravel pits (working and disused, orchards and market gardens.)

The map allows a great deal of detail to be shown: individual buildings, glasshouses, the Minimax works on Staines Road, even telephone boxes and pillar boxes.

Write to Alan Godfrey Maps, Prospect Business Park, Leadgate, Consett, Co Durham DH8 7PW.