 |
| the precincts of central London |
Among the mountain of topographical books that I found in Hay last weekend the one that I bought was A Guide to the Structure of London (1972) by Maurice Ash. I was hooked by a glance at these amazing maps and the chapter titles:
1. In search of London's identity 2. The skin of an onion? 3. The geography of conflict 4. Journeys and sojourns 5. A strategy for identifying London 6. Town trails
 |
| types of housing tenure, 1966 |
Ash opens by asking the question of whether London exists, "There is just one question to be asked before one begins a book on the structure of London: Does London exist?"
Due to the diversity between Deptford High Street and Hampstead Heath and lack of common interest he wonders if "the entity of London is a fiction".
 |
| the central spaces of importance for conservation |
I would love to imagine Ash in conversation with Patrick Keiller's character Robinson in a grubby formica-tabled worker's cafe, or perhaps at Brent Cross Regional Shopping Centre. In Keiller's film, London, Robinson posits that "the true identity of London is its absence, as a city it no longer exists ... London was the first metropolis to disappear" (you can watch this part of the film here at 3.44)
 |
| plan for the South East, 1967 |
 |
| strategic plan for the South East, 1970 |
The book ends with six journeys through London that illustrate the thesis within the book: walking circuits in South London around Elephant and Castle, inner East London from Stepney Green, and inner West London from Earl's Court; and then wider sweeps by car north and south and the outer metropolitan areas.
I wonder what following the same journeys today would tell us about whether London actually exists or is merely a fiction?
maps reprinted by Ash from Research Paper SRI, September 1966
4 comments:
Dear John, Perhaps V. S. Pritchett might chip in from another table, 'the place is all Evidence' - that capital accent of the E being Pritchett's emulation of Dickens' pompous Mr. Podsnap. The qoutation comes from Prichett's, London Perceived, which begins with a similar question about London's existence. Writing in the early 1960s, he makes some observations which might not be regarded as politically correct today.
I like the maps you have shown. I have a collection of similar maps published as part of the 'Royal Commission on Local Government in Greater London, 1957-60'. There are 12 of them including map 4, 'Various Londons' that shows an administrative (planning) boundary stretching as far north as Royston, and south as far as Haslemere. I'm not sure about reproducing these online and I wonder what the restrictions are concerning the maps you have reproduced.
I recommend a walk around Elephant & Castle, particularly along Elephant Road and around the Walworth side. There were some phenomenal winds eddying around Strata Tower yesterday - very nearly blowing people over close to the neighbouring arches.
I think London estate agents can be notable spinners of fictions.
Great blog.
Thank you.
Hi, I'm not sure why the comment is shown coming from Waltham Forest Arts Club - that blog does not exist (ha ha) - this one does, or at least I think it does
http://julianbeere2011.blogspot.com/
Regards,
Julian Beere.
Hi Julian - many thanks for your comment. The maps in the Royal Commission sound great - particularly the 'Various Londons' you mention. It's interesting how the question of London rarely changes much.
Funnily enough one of the walks in Ash's book is around the Elephant - so I'll take your advice.
Very interesting, and beautiful maps too.
I think what stops London becoming a set of totally discrete areas, like Sydney for example, is that there's such variety within areas e.g. Islington, where on one side of Essex Road you get Clive Anderson and the Blairs etc. and on the other, working class estates.
Post a Comment