A Portrait of Wimbledon Surrey

Rare panoramic view of Wimbledon just prior to its incorporation into Greater London.

The All-England Tennis Club, host of the prestigious Championships at Wimbledon, takes up only a small fraction of the top of this map of the London suburb. This is perhaps a commentary on the indelible association between the London suburb and the annual tennis tournament, and how there’s much more to Wimbledon that meets the eye.

Figures are seen riding horses, playing cricket and golfing in the extensive commons on the east side of the city. There’s much more to offer than recreation, however. Elsewhere on the map are individuals alluding to other components of life in Wimbledon, including education, industry and politics. Note the only black figure is relegated to the role of chimney sweep, a not-so-subtle reflection on the area’s demographics mid-century.