The plan depicts Arlington House, on the site of what is now Buckingham Palace. Arlington House was the residence of Henry Bennet, Earl of Arlington, one of the “Cabal” Ministry, under Charles II. In 1665, the Earl imported from Holland the first pound of tea, at the cost of sixty shillings, therefore making Arlington House, in all probability, the first place in England where a cup of tea was brewed. Arlington House was demolished in 1703 and its site purchased by John Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham. Many other grand residences and important buildings are depicted in bird’s-eye view, including Burlington House, Berkeley House, Southampton House, London Bridge replete with houses, the Tower of London, and St Paul’s.

Also shown is St. James’s Park, originally a low and swampy meadow, belonging to the Hospital for Lepers, which was drained and enclosed, and converted by Henry VIII into a ‘nursery for deer’, charmingly depicted on the present plan.

Scale: approx. 11 inches to 1 staute mile.