Titled "A Topographical Plan of Manchester and Salford with the Adjacent Parts; shewing also the Different Allotments of Land proposed to be built on, As communicated to the Surveyor by the respective Proprietors," Charles Laurent’s 1793 plan captures the twin towns at the threshold of industrial ascendancy. Precise block-by-block delineation reveals a city already pressing beyond its traditional cores, while the planned allotments—especially across the northeastern reaches—announce the speculative energies that would soon transform Manchester’s landscape. The charting of the historic route from London to Manchester threads long-distance commerce directly into the urban fabric, situating local streets within a national network. With its measured geometry, decorative compass rose, and lucid explanation of symbols, the plan balances elegance and utility, making it one of the period’s most insightful city portraits.

Laurent’s streetwork reads like a catalogue of emerging power corridors: Deansgate and Market Street articulate the mercantile spine; King Street, Peter Street, and Oxford Road extend movement toward new suburbs; London Road ties coaching traffic to the town’s heart. Around them, Great Ancoats Street frames the northeast where development parcels stand clearly delineated, while Portland Street, Great Marlborough Street, High Street, and Upper Brook Street knit together compact districts. Lesser thoroughfares—Green Street, Little Peter Street, Worsley Street, Wright Street, Thornton Street, Union Street, and Manchester Road—trace the fine grain of daily life. Trails and waterways braid through these streets, defining crossings and boundaries, and the legend deciphers proposed building plots, established streets, and routes so the viewer can read growth as it was being planned.

An inset plan of Manchester circa 1650 offers a rare diachronic lens. Set beside the expansive 1793 fabric, the compact seventeenth‑century town—clustered around its market core—underscores how thoroughly the city had outrun its medieval footprint. Where the inset shows a tight nucleus of lanes and fields, the main plan records corridors now pushing along Oxford Road and out toward Ancoats, with new alignments like Great Marlborough Street and Upper Brook Street anchoring districts undreamt of a century earlier. This dialogue between inset and main plan elevates the piece from mere survey to urban narrative, letting the viewer measure not just distance but time—how streets such as Deansgate and High Street evolve from local paths into arterial conduits of a burgeoning industrial city.

Laurent’s achievement rests on a foundation of rigorous surveying. Adapting and refining William Greene’s large‑scale work undertaken between 1787 and 1794, he distilled a mass of measurement into a coherent topographical statement whose accuracy made it an indispensable reference. Its value was recognized immediately: in 1793 the plates were acquired in London by the publisher John Stockdale to illustrate John Aikin’s influential Description of the Country from Thirty to Forty Miles Round Manchester. In that context the plan linked scholarship, geography, and civic ambition, setting the local street grid—Peter Street to Portland Street, King Street to Market Street—within a broader regional story. The clearly plotted London–Manchester route further signals the map’s intent to connect Manchester’s pulse to national arteries.

Most compelling are the "Different Allotments of Land" that punctuate the northeastern sector around Great Ancoats Street, a cartographic snapshot of urbanization before it happened. By marking parcels "proposed to be built on" as communicated by proprietors, Laurent captured the mechanics of growth—where capital intended to flow, how streets would radiate, and where Manchester would absorb its surging population. Read alongside Salford’s contiguous grid across the water and the braided trails and waterways at the edge of town, the plan reveals a polycentric city taking shape. For anyone tracing the ascent of Deansgate, Market Street, or Oxford Road from local thoroughfares to civic stages, this map is a rare, candid blueprint of intention becoming terrain.

Streets and roads on this map

• Deansgate
• Great Ancoats Street
• Great Marlborough Street
• Green Street
• High Street
• King Street
• Little Peter Street
• London Road
• Manchester Road
• Market Street
• Oxford Road
• Peter Street
• Portland Street
• Thornton Street
• Union Street
• Upper Brook Street
• Worsley Street
• Wright Street

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Inset plan of the city, circa 1650.
• The route from London to Manchester.
• Various allotments of land for proposed developments.
• Trails and waterways surrounding the urban development.
• Decorative compass rose.
• An explanation or legend section detailing symbols used on the map.

Historical and design context

• Mapmaker/Publisher: Created by Charles Laurent in 1793; later acquired by John Stockdale in London.
• Background Info: This is a rare early plan of Manchester marking planned developments in the northeastern part of the city. Laurent's map is a modified version of earlier large-scale mapping done by William Greene between 1787 and 1794.
• Historical Context: The plates were bought by Stockdale in 1793 to illustrate Aikin's Description of the Country from Thirty to Forty Miles Round Manchester.
• Topics and Themes: The map depicts urban development, land allotments for building, and historic routes, specifically the route from London to Manchester alongside the development areas.
• Regions Displayed: Primarily focused on the city of Manchester and its neighboring area, Salford.
• Design/Style: Characterized by a detailed layout of streets and land parcels, with an inset plan of the city, circa 1650.
• Historical Significance: It provides insight into the urban planning and development of Manchester during a transformative period in the late 18th century.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This is a very large map that must be ordered at a large size, so that you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 90in (230cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x16in (40x40cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.

Many of our maps and art prints are chosen as thoughtful gifts for homes, offices, studies and meaningful places.

Choose a framed option for the easiest ready-to-hang gift, or choose an unframed print if the recipient may prefer to select their own frame.

We make orders locally in 23 countries around the world, so gifts can often be produced close to the recipient. This helps them arrive faster, travel more safely, and avoid customs or import duty surprises.

• We can deliver directly to the recipient
• Framed pieces arrive ready to hang
• Unframed prints are carefully packed in a strong protective tube
• Almost every order is made locally, for faster, safer gifting
• 90-day returns give the recipient time to decide

If you are not sure what to choose, please contact us. We can help you pick the right map, size, finish or delivery option.

Most orders are made locally and delivered in around 2–3 working days, depending on the product, size and destination.

We print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world, so your order is usually made close to you or your recipient. That means faster delivery, less time in transit, and no customs or import duty surprises.

Personalised and customised pieces usually take an extra 1–2 working days, because we prepare your design and send it to you for approval before printing.

Very large framed orders can take a little longer, as they need extra care in production and delivery.

Every order is carefully packaged: unframed prints are sent in a strong protective tube, while framed pieces are securely packed with protective materials around the frame.

If you need your order by a particular date, please contact us before ordering. We’ll check the best production route and delivery option for your location.

Express delivery is available at checkout for most countries. Next-day delivery is available in the UK, US, Singapore and the UAE.

Your order is covered by our 90-day returns policy and 5-year guarantee.

Read our full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps, art and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte (not shiny) cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced box wood frame, and then 'float' the piece within a wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing to get in the way.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read my size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your order for any reason, contact me and I'll get it fixed ASAP, free of charge. Please see my returns and refund policy for more information.

I am very confident you will like your restored map or art print. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and art prints and have over 5,000 real 5-star reviews. My work has been featured in interior design magazines, on the BBC, and on the walls of dozens of 5-star hotels.

I use a unique process to restore maps and artwork that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps and illustrations can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore them. As a result, I guarantee my maps and art prints are a cut above the rest. I stand by my products and will always make sure you're 100% happy with what you receive.

Almost all of my maps and art prints look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.