The Earliest Image of London

This medal contains the earliest known representation of London and demonstrates the presence of ‘foreigners’ in London from the earliest times. The features, though standardised, resemble reality with the city shown walled in the Roman way on the north bank of the Thames.

The medal commemorates London’s surrender to Constantius I Chlorus, whose forces had just defeated the usurper Allectus in 296. Constantius, who had been born in the Danube area, is portrayed as an Emperor (and ‘restorer of eternal light’) on horseback, spear in one hand, globe in the other. Before him kneels the personification of London, which he had saved from being sacked. Fragments of the Roman wall of London survive to this day - you can see them in the City close to the Museum of London

A French captive in a Royal City

This picture shows the Duke of Orleans, a poet, captive in the tower. The London surrounding him is that of Edward IV (1442 - 1483) who commissioned a copy of his poems. The Duke of Orleans, the father of the future Louis XII of France, spent decades in the Tower after his capture at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.

The picture of London surrounding the captive is propoganda for the wealth and power of the city. The Tower and London Bridge emphasise that the city is well-defended; the numerous church spires, that it is pious. The arcaded customs’ house, with ships outside, that it is prosperous and the green of Tower Hill hints that it is spacious. The banners with the royal standard above the White Tower imply that it is under royal control: but in that respect, the reality was rather different - the Wars of the Roses dominated all of Edward IV's reign.

Happier French visitors

Later French visitors had a much happier experience. British culture became an object of European admiration from about 1740 and as its capital, London became a target for foreign visitors. This is one of the earliest foreign maps to cater for them. Visitors are encouraged to visit Ranelagh, the ‘Theatre Pantomique’ near the New River Head in Islington and the cabinet of natural history of ‘Chevalier Sloane’ in Chelsea – the predecessor of today’s Natural History Museum.

There are many mistranslations, however, revealing that Le Rouge , a leading French map publisher, was not all that familiar with London, or with English, himself.

The City As a Cosmopolitan Centre

Even if an increasing number of wealthy businessmen now lived amidst the pleasures of the West End, the City remained the main business quarter . It continued to be centred on the rebuilt Royal Exchange and in the nearby coffee houses like Lloyd’s where maritime insurance deals were struck.

The Royal Exchange was a cosmopolitan place, with each ‘nation’, or regional group of traders, having its specified position on the floor of the building.

The mixture of professions and countries on this plan reads: East Country, Irish, Scots, Jewellers, Armenian, Dutch, French, Italian, Portugal, Spanish, Oporto, Barbados, Jamaica, Virginia, Carolina, New England, Italian, Clothiers, Turkey, Norway, Silkmen and Silkthrowers, Hamburgh, Druggists and Grocers, Ship Brokers, Dyers and Bay Factors.

Jewish Immigrants come to the East End

This map of the Jewish East End is perhaps the closest in intention to the Guardian's modern map. From 1881 up to 7000 poor Jews a year, escaping Tsarist persecution in Russia and Poland, found refuge in the East End. Their strange appearance, customs, Yiddish language and readiness to take on jobs at subsistence wages aroused hostility.

This map was based on School Board visitors’ statistics, accompanies a book that sought to present a balanced picture. By featuring the few streets that were 95% Jewish, however, when the overall Jewish presence in Stepney was only 18%, the map probably fuelled the racism that led to the passing of the 1905 Aliens Act aimed at reducing Jewish immigration to a trickle.

London: A Life In Maps continues at the British Library until 24th March. Admission is free and you don't need a British Library card to visit any of the exhibition spaces in the building.