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Double the money - An enormous map of London sold for nearly £100,000 yesterday, doubling the pre sale estimate.

Viewing the enormous 1746 map at Christie's in South Kensington.

The first detailed map of the post Great Fire city of London has been sold by Christie's - and the enormous work gives a fascinating insight into its layout on the cusp of its transformation into the greatest city in the world.

The 13ft-wide map took almost a decade to complete and is so large it had to be made up of 24 different sections.

It was the work of 18th century mapmaker John Rocque, and at the time was the most detailed map of London ever made.

He began the painstaking project in 1737 and didn't finish it until 1746. It was created to a scale of one mile to 26 inches and made using a ground-level survey with the help of a compass and a chain.

The map, titled 'A plan of the cities of London and Westminster and borough of Southwark' fetched £85,000 when sold at London auction house Christie's.