Antique county map of Berkshire first published circa 1884, republished in 2017 and hand laid onto 100% linen cloth.
Towns & villages illustrated include Maidenhead, Windsor and Wokingham.

Letts attractive maps are coloured lithographs. Prior to the mid 1800's most maps were copper or steel engravings that had to have any colour applied by hand. The introduction of lithography enabled the printer to produce maps without the laborious process of hand colouring. His maps contain much information and show just how far railways had spread by 1884.
 
When this map was published:
TRAVELLING

In 1800 it was a very long and uncomfortable journey to London from most parts of the country but over the next 100 years it became much less so. The beginning of this process was the establishment of turnpike roads and the improvement in coach technology. Before turnpike roads were established travel even in summer was very difficult and often impossible in winter. Local parishes were responsible for the upkeep of roads and local people were expected to work on them for up to six days a year. Roads were neglected and travel times varied little from pre Roman times to the 18th century.

The term turnpike was of military derivation and refers to the practice of placing a pikestaff across the road which was turned aside upon the payment of a toll allowing travelers to pass through. The first turnpike was authorised by a local justice of the Peace in 1663 but not until 1706 were they established by Acts of Parliament. By the mid-18th century it was possible to travel to most provincial cities by turnpike roads but most roads in general were unsuitable for wheeled traffic, goods were in the main transported by packhorse or donkey and people traveled by horse or on foot.

In circa 1700 travelling was a long and arduous business. By horse or ox drawn cart three weeks or more would have been required to travel from somewhere like Truro to London if conditions were good, by horse up to 5 days. in winter much longer, if at all. It was much faster and cheaper to travel by sea to London from Truro but wind and weather had to be set fair. For most life revolved around the village with occasional journeys to the nearest market town for some. Travel times slowly reduced as the roads and carriage design improved and with the introduction of stage and mail coaches. By the late 18th century the mail coach made the journey from Bristol to London in 16 hours and by the early 19th century Truro could be reached in two or three days but this would have been a frantic journey of constant travel and changing of the horses.

Travel was expensive. In Jane Austens day the stage coach fare was around 3d a mile. This was not the only cost of course, overnight stays at the coaching inns and the tips for porters, chambermaids, guards and others would add considerably to the costs. Additionally there would have been a charge of 12d per stage (circa 1820) of approximately 30 or 40 miles for the coachman.

Last and not least was the danger from highwaymen and footpads. London was surrounded by heaths and commons. The road to Truro had to pass through Hounslow Heath and Maidenhead Thicket, both notorious for highwaymen. The introduction of armed guards on mail and stage coaches reduced the risks and the introduction of the turnpikes with the manned toll houses reduced the risks still further and by the 1820's attacks were rare.

Finally with the railway revolution travel became a realistic possibility even for the population in rural communities. Travel became much safer and times reduced to what we are familiar with today. The first passenger railway, the Stockholm to Darlington line opening in 1827, inaugurated the railway age and soon London would become within reach of the average man or women. At last it became possible for local good, including perishables, to be transported cheaply to the metropolis and for goods to travel the other way enabling a rise in Cornwall's prosperity. People could now work at a considerable distance from where they lived and thus the commuter was born. As they traveled further and more often the demand for accurate and up to date maps greatly increased.