This delightful book reproduces much of bookseller Samuel Leigh’s rare, hand-colored, sixty-foot panorama of both banks of the River Thames between Westminster and Richmond, as well as his complete panorama of the City and Southbank as seen from the Old Adelphi buildings in the Strand.

Together, they offer fascinating views of central London and the riverside villages in 1829, toward the end of the Georgian period. The journey takes us past all the waterside communities and villages of the day, each of which is introduced by a short history and with its stately homes, churches, and other structures clearly identified. An eight-page gatefold reproduces the view of the City of London form the Adelphi district.

A gazetteer, also divided by village, provides additional information on the most interesting and important landmarks. This is a history of how one of the world’s great cities has been shaped by the river that runs through it.