Rare Old Map of Glamorgan, Wales by Creighton, 1844: Cardiff, Swansea, Merthyr, Gower, Taff Vale Railway
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Need delivery to different addresses? Contact us before ordering.The Collector’s Offer
Choose two eligible works and receive 20% off both. Choose three and the lowest-priced one is complimentary, a maximum saving of 33%.
Mix and match eligible standard maps and fine-art prints. No code is required; the offer is applied automatically at checkout.
Standard made-to-order configurations are included. Bespoke sizes, personalised designs and commissioned work are excluded.
Need delivery to different addresses? Contact us before ordering.
Restored from the original 1844 map and printed to museum-grade archival standards. Read the story behind this map
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Glamorganshire County is the original title of this 1844 presentation of Wales’s dynamic southern shire, drawn by R. Creighton, engraved with crystalline...
Continue readingGlamorganshire County is the original title of this 1844 presentation of Wales’s dynamic southern shire, drawn by R. Creighton, engraved with crystalline finesse by J. & C. Walker, and issued by Samuel Lewis & Co. within the celebrated topographical corpus that defined his age. Hand-colored outlines clarify county and sub-county jurisdictions, while elegant hachures model the land’s rise and fall with tactile immediacy. A delicate compass rose, its north pointing to the upper right, orients the viewer to coast and upland alike. Conceived to accompany Lewis’s meticulous entries on local history, economy, and governance, the map distills a wealth of information into a composition at once scholarly and beautiful—an authoritative snapshot of Glamorgan’s boundaries, settlements, waterways, and routes at the threshold of the railway era.
Bordered by Brecknockshire to the north, Carmarthenshire to the west, and Monmouthshire to the east, Glamorganshire unfurls from the Bristol Channel shore to the moor-fringed uplands. The map’s shaded hachures emphasize the classic South Wales pattern: steep, parallel valleys descending from coal-bearing heights toward a gentle maritime plain and the fertile Vale of Glamorgan. The Gower Peninsula sweeps west of Swansea in bold coastline, while the mouths of the Taff at Cardiff and the Tawe at Swansea anchor the urban coast. Rivers—Taff, Ely, Rhondda, Ogmore, Neath, and Tawe—are traced meticulously, their meanders, confluences, and crossings plotted with bridges noted. These watery corridors, together with low passes sketched by relief, explain the siting of roads, towns, and ports that dot the county from hilltop to headland.
Urban and industrial life is mapped with equal care. Cardiff, Swansea, and Merthyr Tydfil stand out as boldly lettered hubs, their prominence balanced by market towns and villages—Pontypridd in the Taff valley, Cowbridge in the rural Vale, Llantwit Major on the ancient coast, and Treforest amid the rising coal belt. Roads radiate in disciplined strands, connecting boroughs, ports, and upland works, while the nascent railways are crisply engraved: notably the Taff Vale Railway threading from Merthyr toward Cardiff, emblem of the new velocity of movement. Canals—among them the Glamorganshire and Swansea lines—run in purposeful courses beside their companion rivers, punctuated by bridges and junctions. Together, these routes sketch the infrastructure that powered mid‑Victorian Glamorgan, from upland pit and furnace to coastal quay and outward to the Bristol Channel.
Administrative intelligence underpins the sheet. County, borough, and parish limits are cleanly distinguished by the hand-colored outlines and varied line-weights, letting the viewer follow jurisdictional transitions at a glance. A reference key at the foot enumerates Poor Law Unions—Cardiff, Merthyr, Swansea, Neath and others—linking civil governance to the mapped landscape at a moment of national reform. Symbols quietly annotate churches, significant buildings, bridges, canals, and the graded hierarchy of roads, while the engravers’ disciplined lettering separates market towns from smaller settlements through scale and style. The compass rose aligned to the upper right supplies instant orientation, and the calibrated hachures not only dramatize relief but also clarify watershed divides and passable routes, marrying elegant design to practical, data-rich intent.
Behind the image stand three masters of Victorian cartography. R. Creighton’s draughtsmanship—shaped by years of work for Samuel Lewis—balances exact measurement with a humanist sense of place, yielding maps that read as narratives as much as inventories. The engraving by brothers J. & C. Walker brings that narrative to life: their line is fine, legible, and durable, honed on projects from county surveys to the SDUK and Admiralty charts. As publisher, Samuel Lewis integrated this plate into his sweeping topographical dictionaries, marrying descriptive essays with precise, uniform mapping to create a definitive geography of England and Wales. Glamorganshire County thus captures a county in transition—industrial arteries quickening, administrative frameworks settling—rendered with a clarity and grace that continue to reward sustained, inquisitive looking.
Cities and towns on this map
- Cardiff (modern population: approx. 362,000)
- Swansea (modern population: approx. 246,000)
- Merthyr Tydfil (modern population: approx. 60,000)
- Pontypridd (modern population: approx. 32,000)
- Cowbridge (modern population: approx. 4,000)
- Llantwit Major (modern population: approx. 12,000)
- Treforest (modern population: approx. 7,000)
Notable Features & Landmarks
- Clearly delineated administrative boundaries of Glamorganshire.
- Major cities and towns marked with labels.
- Rivers and their paths prominently illustrated.
- Roads and railroads shown, indicating transportation routes during the period.
- Canals depicted to represent waterways for transport.
- Hachured lines representing elevation changes in the terrain.
- Compass rose for navigation.
- Reference key for unions located at the bottom.
- Details on settlements, likely historical significance, indicated throughout.
Historical and design context
- Publication Year: 1844.
- Mapmaker/Publisher: Created by R. Creighton and engraved by J. & C. Walker, published by Samuel Lewis and Co.
- Context about the Mapmaker: Samuel Lewis was known for his detailed topographical dictionaries documenting local history and geography in England and Wales.
- Regions Shown: Glamorganshire County in Wales, bordered by Brecknockshire, Carmarthenshire, and Monmouthshire.
- Design/Style: Hand-colored outline with hachured relief; ornamented with a compass rose indicating north towards the upper right.
- Historical Significance: A key mid-19th-century document illustrating Glamorganshire’s geography and administrative structure; part of a topography-focused atlas.
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 map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.
This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.
The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) 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.
Glamorganshire County is the original title of this 1844 presentation of Wales’s dynamic southern shire, drawn by R. Creighton, engraved with crystalline finesse by J. & C. Walker, and issued by Samuel Lewis & Co. within the celebrated topographical corpus that defined his age. Hand-colored outlines clarify county and sub-county jurisdictions, while elegant hachures model the land’s rise and fall with tactile immediacy. A delicate compass rose, its north pointing to the upper right, orients the viewer to coast and upland alike. Conceived to accompany Lewis’s meticulous entries on local history, economy, and governance, the map distills a wealth of information into a composition at once scholarly and beautiful—an authoritative snapshot of Glamorgan’s boundaries, settlements, waterways, and routes at the threshold of the railway era.
Bordered by Brecknockshire to the north, Carmarthenshire to the west, and Monmouthshire to the east, Glamorganshire unfurls from the Bristol Channel shore to the moor-fringed uplands. The map’s shaded hachures emphasize the classic South Wales pattern: steep, parallel valleys descending from coal-bearing heights toward a gentle maritime plain and the fertile Vale of Glamorgan. The Gower Peninsula sweeps west of Swansea in bold coastline, while the mouths of the Taff at Cardiff and the Tawe at Swansea anchor the urban coast. Rivers—Taff, Ely, Rhondda, Ogmore, Neath, and Tawe—are traced meticulously, their meanders, confluences, and crossings plotted with bridges noted. These watery corridors, together with low passes sketched by relief, explain the siting of roads, towns, and ports that dot the county from hilltop to headland.
Urban and industrial life is mapped with equal care. Cardiff, Swansea, and Merthyr Tydfil stand out as boldly lettered hubs, their prominence balanced by market towns and villages—Pontypridd in the Taff valley, Cowbridge in the rural Vale, Llantwit Major on the ancient coast, and Treforest amid the rising coal belt. Roads radiate in disciplined strands, connecting boroughs, ports, and upland works, while the nascent railways are crisply engraved: notably the Taff Vale Railway threading from Merthyr toward Cardiff, emblem of the new velocity of movement. Canals—among them the Glamorganshire and Swansea lines—run in purposeful courses beside their companion rivers, punctuated by bridges and junctions. Together, these routes sketch the infrastructure that powered mid‑Victorian Glamorgan, from upland pit and furnace to coastal quay and outward to the Bristol Channel.
Administrative intelligence underpins the sheet. County, borough, and parish limits are cleanly distinguished by the hand-colored outlines and varied line-weights, letting the viewer follow jurisdictional transitions at a glance. A reference key at the foot enumerates Poor Law Unions—Cardiff, Merthyr, Swansea, Neath and others—linking civil governance to the mapped landscape at a moment of national reform. Symbols quietly annotate churches, significant buildings, bridges, canals, and the graded hierarchy of roads, while the engravers’ disciplined lettering separates market towns from smaller settlements through scale and style. The compass rose aligned to the upper right supplies instant orientation, and the calibrated hachures not only dramatize relief but also clarify watershed divides and passable routes, marrying elegant design to practical, data-rich intent.
Behind the image stand three masters of Victorian cartography. R. Creighton’s draughtsmanship—shaped by years of work for Samuel Lewis—balances exact measurement with a humanist sense of place, yielding maps that read as narratives as much as inventories. The engraving by brothers J. & C. Walker brings that narrative to life: their line is fine, legible, and durable, honed on projects from county surveys to the SDUK and Admiralty charts. As publisher, Samuel Lewis integrated this plate into his sweeping topographical dictionaries, marrying descriptive essays with precise, uniform mapping to create a definitive geography of England and Wales. Glamorganshire County thus captures a county in transition—industrial arteries quickening, administrative frameworks settling—rendered with a clarity and grace that continue to reward sustained, inquisitive looking.
Cities and towns on this map
- Cardiff (modern population: approx. 362,000)
- Swansea (modern population: approx. 246,000)
- Merthyr Tydfil (modern population: approx. 60,000)
- Pontypridd (modern population: approx. 32,000)
- Cowbridge (modern population: approx. 4,000)
- Llantwit Major (modern population: approx. 12,000)
- Treforest (modern population: approx. 7,000)
Notable Features & Landmarks
- Clearly delineated administrative boundaries of Glamorganshire.
- Major cities and towns marked with labels.
- Rivers and their paths prominently illustrated.
- Roads and railroads shown, indicating transportation routes during the period.
- Canals depicted to represent waterways for transport.
- Hachured lines representing elevation changes in the terrain.
- Compass rose for navigation.
- Reference key for unions located at the bottom.
- Details on settlements, likely historical significance, indicated throughout.
Historical and design context
- Publication Year: 1844.
- Mapmaker/Publisher: Created by R. Creighton and engraved by J. & C. Walker, published by Samuel Lewis and Co.
- Context about the Mapmaker: Samuel Lewis was known for his detailed topographical dictionaries documenting local history and geography in England and Wales.
- Regions Shown: Glamorganshire County in Wales, bordered by Brecknockshire, Carmarthenshire, and Monmouthshire.
- Design/Style: Hand-colored outline with hachured relief; ornamented with a compass rose indicating north towards the upper right.
- Historical Significance: A key mid-19th-century document illustrating Glamorganshire’s geography and administrative structure; part of a topography-focused atlas.
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 map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.
This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.
The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) 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 10-year guarantee.
Our standard frame is a gallery-style black ash hardwood frame, with a simple, modern look. It is approximately 20mm (0.8in) wide. You can also view some lovely customer photos of framed maps and art.
We use super-clear acrylic glazing, also known as Perspex or Acrylite, instead of traditional glass. It is lighter, safer, and has lower reflectivity, giving the artwork a clearer, cleaner appearance.
Six standard frame colours are available at no extra cost: black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white, and antique gold. Custom framing and mounting/matting is also available for customers looking for something more specific.
Most maps, art prints, and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced wooden box frame, and then float the piece within a wooden outer frame. The finished result is beautifully presented, with no glazing between you and the artwork.
All frames are supplied ready to hang, with either string or brackets fitted to the back. Very large frames will include heavy-duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
We can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag, and other materials.
If you would prefer to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read our size guide before ordering.
Every Unique Maps piece begins with an authentic cartographic source or an original design from our London studio.
For our historic maps, we source rare originals from libraries, archives, auction houses and private collections around the world. We carefully restore each map for print—repairing age-related damage, balancing colour and improving clarity while preserving its original detail, texture and character.
Once restored, the map is prepared for your chosen size and finish. Your piece is then printed and, where selected, framed close to its delivery destination.
Our map prints use acid-free 200gsm archival matte paper and fade-resistant pigment inks, creating a rich, non-glossy finish designed to last. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.
Canvas, cotton-rag and other specialist presentations are also available. Learn more about our materials and finishes.
Personalising your map
You can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. For personalised designs, we send a proof before printing and you can request changes before approval.
For more complex bespoke commissions, contact our design team.
Original or Aged
Choose Original for true-to-source colour, or Aged for a warmer, richer antique character created with our specialist ageing process. See examples of our 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.
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