Between 1886 - 1903, Charles Booth conducted an inquiry into life and labour in London.
During this period the 12 Maps Descriptive of London Poverty (1898-9) were produced where
each street is colour-coded and given a letter-name classification to indicate the income and
social class of the residents.

WHICH AREAS ARE COVERED?

The areas covered by the 12 maps are of London from Hammersmith in the West to Greenwich
in the East and from Hampstead in the North to Clapham in the South.
The City of London was not included as there was not a significant number of people living there.
This means that the City remains uncoloured and unclassified.

WHICH COLOURS WERE USED?

Seven colours were used ranging from yellow at the top-end of the social scale to black at
the very lowest end.
The colours are as follows:

COLOUR	BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLASS
YELLOW	UPPER-MIDDLE AND UPPER CLASSES, WEALTHY.
RED	MIDDLE CLASS, WELL-TO-DO.
PINK	FAIRLY COMFORTABLE, GOOD ORDINARY EARNINGS.
PURPLE	MIXED, SOME COMFORTABLE, OTHERS POOR.
LIGHT BLUE	POOR. 18s - 21s A WEEK MODERATE FAMILY.
DARK BLUE	VERY POOR, CASUAL, CHRONIC WANT.
BLACK	LOWEST CLASS. VICIOUS SEMI-CRIMINAL.

Combinations of colours indicate that a street has a mixed proportion of each class.

Booth Classifications of the classes:

BOOTH CLASSIFICATION	DESCRIPTION OF CLASS
A	THE LOWEST CLASS WHICH CONSISTS OF OCCASIONAL LABOURERS, STREET SELLERS, LOAFERS, CRIMINALS & SEMI-CRIMINALS. THEIR LIFE IS OF EXTREME HARDSHIP AND THEIR ONLY LUXURY IS DRINK.
B	CASUAL EARNINGS, VERY POOR. THE LABOURERS DO NOT GET AS MUCH AS 3 DAYS WORK A WEEK NOR COULD THEY WORK TOGETHER ANY LONGER. CLASS B IS A DEPOSIT OF THOSE WHO FROM MENTAL, MORAL & PHYSICAL REASONS ARE INCAPABLE OF BETTER WORK.
C	INTERMITTENET EARNING. 18s TO 21s PER WEEK FOR A MODERATE FAMILY. LABOURERS, POORER ARTISANS AND STREET SELLERS, IRREGULARITY OF EMPLOYMENT I.E. PORTERS MAY HAVE 2-3 DAYS WORK A WEEK AND BUILDERS ONLY 8 OR 9 MONTHS IN A YEAR.
D	SMALL REGULAR EARNINGS. POOR REGULAR EARNINGS. FACTORY, DOCK, WAREHOUSE LABOURERS, CARMEN, MESSENGERS AND PORTERS. NONE CAN BE SAID TO RISE ABOVE POVERTY BUT AREN'T POOR EITHER. HAVE HAD A STRUGGLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND ARE DECENT, STEADY MEN, PAYING THEIR WAY AND BRINGING UP CHILDREN RESPECTABLY.
E	REGULAR STANDARD EARNINGS, 22s - 30s A WEEK FOR COMFORTABLE, REGULAR WORK. WIVES GENERALLY DO NOT WORK BUT THE CHILDREN DO. BOYS FOLLOW THEIR FATHERS AND GIRLS IN LOCAL TRADES OR OUT TO SERVICE.
F	HIGHER CLASS LABOUR AND BEST PAID ARTISANS, EARNINGS ABOVE 30s A WEEK. FOREMEN, CITY WAREHOUSEMEN AND FIRST HAND LIGHTERMEN PAID FOR RESPONSIBILITY AND MEN OF GOOD CHARACTER AND INTELLIGENCE.
G	LOWER MIDDLE CLASS. SHOPKEEPERS, SMALL EMPLOYERS AND CLERKS. A HARD WORKING SOBER, ENERGETIC CLASS.
H	UPPER MIDDLE CLASS, SERVANT KEEPING CLASS.

For further details about Charles Booth, his maps and other publications there is an official website
which can be visited by clicking here.

Also, to view digital images of the London Poverty Maps please click here.