Leigh's Panorama

In 1829 Samuel Leigh, a bookseller of 18 Strand, published The Panorama of the Thames from London to Richmond, exhibiting every object on both banks of the river, with a concise description of the most remarkable places and a General View of London. Leigh created the panorama over two summers making sketches as he journeyed on steamships up the river. The panorama, covering a 15-mile stretch of the river, consisted of 46 printed hand water-coloured sections, folded into a concertina and stored in a hard-back case. It was priced at £2 16s for the colour version and £1 8s for monochrome. The panorama was aimed at tourists as they steamed up the Thames, so that they could identify the houses and occupants as they went past.

The Mortlake section shows the Parish Church, a dozen large house such as The Limes, The Cedars and Leyden House; three public houses - White Hart, Queen's Head and The Ship; and industrial buildings including two breweries, malt houses, potteries and the former tapestry works. To view the Mortlake section of the Panorama, click here.