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Earliest available maps ???
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Message 1.Â
Posted by jm33gnr (U10809727) on Tuesday, 15th January 2008
Morning all
I'm thinking about trying to piece together how the area I live in has developed over the ages, but do any of you know around what priod/date are the earliest maps available ???
Many thanks
John -
Message 2
Posted by jm33gnr (U10809727) on Tuesday, 15th January 2008
Just realised how bad that message was...I'm looking for early maps detailing Hampshire and Surrey
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Message 3
Posted by Backtothedarkplace (U2955180) on Tuesday, 15th January 2008
The first really accurate ones are probably the early ordnance survey.
There will be others earlier, the Swift maps of the 1700's? sorry not sure of the date.
But these pretty much are more of a route planner rather than a map as we understand it. -
Message 4
Posted by Mick_mac (U2874010) on Tuesday, 15th January 2008
Try John Norden's late 16th/early17th maps of Hampshire.
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Message 5
Posted by jm33gnr (U10809727) on Tuesday, 15th January 2008
Thanks for the responses, they've helped a bit
I wonder if the British Library has anything pre 16th century that can be used...or even church records as the area I'm in was mentioned as being part of a church domain before becoming part of a Kings hunting estate -
Message 6
Posted by ungodfather (U2173708) on Tuesday, 15th January 2008
Go to the County Records Office- they'll have copies of whatever maps there are and a wealth of other documents, estate maps, etc. Your County Council (if you have one - Hants and the Sussexes do) can give you details. They're in Winchester, Chichester, and Lewes respectively.
Phone ahead for an appointment and tell them what your interests are. Someone will be happy to show you the system for finding and reading documents, and help you with some pointers. They're staffed by v friendly and knowledgeable people in my experience.
Enjoy! -
Message 7
Posted by Jim Reuss (U10298645) on Tuesday, 15th January 2008
There may be some helpful details in the Domesday Book that would help you create your own outlines if you were so inclined. While not in map form, you would be able to use the information to plot or sketch something of your own.
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Message 8
Posted by jm33gnr (U10809727) on Tuesday, 15th January 2008
Thanks for all the advice I just hope I can turn something up...
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Message 9
Posted by Dai Bath (U2444609) on Wednesday, 16th January 2008
Try John Norden's late 16th/early17th maps of Hampshire.Â
I used to have some of these, in frames on the wall
16thC.
They go for at least £400 now.
I can not remember for the moment why they were the first examples of that particular type of map.
If you take New Zealand as an example they had very poor mapping indeed until the 1950s and then it was all done by aerial survey, and new roads were driven through once they knew the new topology!
I'm not saying they had aeroplanes in the 16thC!
Arcbbishop Sigeric in the 13thC went to Rome using a map which is still to be seen; I can't quite remember who gave it to him to follow, but the paths to Rome were well worn way back into the dark ages. -
Message 10
Posted by Dai Bath (U2444609) on Wednesday, 16th January 2008
I'm thinking about trying to piece together how the area I live in has developed over the ages,Â
Walk it with OS (Ordnance survey) maps under you arm; you will then learn the meaning of all the map
terminology.
If you look up Ordnance survey wesbite your parents may also buy Historical maps, maps of Roman Britan and things like that for Educational purposes.
If you are a cyclist, then you have got an even better way of finding out!
Also go the county Archaeologist/Archivist who will give you loads of help; all you could possibly want. -
Message 11
Posted by shufflin' peasant (U1778121) on Thursday, 17th January 2008
For well surveyed maps Ordnance survey 2" to the mile approx. 1911, and 6" and 25" approx 1885.
Most parishes should have a tithe map, normally drawn at about 15" to the mile although this varies, dating from about 1840.
Before this you are probably looking at estate maps for the late C17th and C18th which will cover areas of land held by a particlar estate. Whereas you should be able to get access to the tithe and ordnance survey maps at the county record offices in Winchester and Woking the estate maps will be more scattered. If an estate was owned by an Oxbridge College, Winchester school, a fimily whose main properties were in another county, etc, then the maps mnay be in the other institution/county.
You should find that there are surveyors from the late sixteenth century like Saxton producing county maps, but these are often of a scale whereby only the very largest topographical features, roads, boundaries and buildings are included.
Hope this helps
Shuff -
Message 12
Posted by Dai Bath (U2444609) on Thursday, 17th January 2008
PTOLEMY drew the first maps, but not of Whistlepithlethwaite. He was more interested in the
Mediteranean. Search if you want more info :Ptolemy.
An IDEA of the area in which he lives is best provided by the county Archaeologist who has the whole collection of maps, at his disposal.
Just phone/email and ask for help. They love to give it! -
Message 13
Posted by jm33gnr (U10809727) on Thursday, 17th January 2008
I'll try and get the time to have a go at the weekend if my kids allow me to
Thanks again all
John -
Message 14
Posted by jm33gnr (U10809727) on Thursday, 17th January 2008
Hi Dai
Re: Terminology I'm quite good at reading maps..ex forces
Re: Parents..well I'm 33 lol but will check out the OS sites
Never thought of the county Archaeologists etc..thanks for the tip -
Message 15
Posted by Jak (U1158529) on Thursday, 17th January 2008
The first really detailed maps of the entire counties, the Ordnance Survey 6" to one mile series, didn't cover Hampshire until 1856-75 and Surrey till 1861-71. The Ordnance Survey 1" to a mile maps covered Hants and Surrey in 1810-19.
There were other (non-OS) "large-scale" maps of Hants published in 1759, 1791 and 1826, and Surrey in 1729, 1792 and 1823.
Good luck! -
Message 16
Posted by Dai Bath (U2444609) on Friday, 18th January 2008
The 16thC lithograph maps which now hang on walls were not at all detailed, and were really art work rather than with real information on them.
Speed was one cartographer.
If you want to search EARLY MAPS, then use the word 'cartography' which will be rather more rewarding even in your local area.
In fact the County Archaeologist department may have quite a lot on there by now for your purpose.
"Buckinghamshire cartography" or so may yield rewards. -
Message 17
Posted by Jak (U1158529) on Friday, 18th January 2008
If your areas of particular interest are on or near main roads it might be worthwhile to look at John Ogilby's "Britannia" of 1675 - usefully reprinted in 1971; I got my copy in a "remainder shop".
It's a series of strip-maps along the roads, to the scale of 1" to a mile, with a lot of incidental information. The southern counties of England are particularly well covered.
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