Many people today are interested in genealogy to understand not just where and when people lived, but also their lifestyles, surroundings and motivations. One important way to understand how one's ancestors fit into the landscape of the past is to place them in space and time by using historical mapping. Read more

The history of the Ordnance Survey’s mapping begins in 1791 when the government, fearful of the threat of an invasion by French revolutionary forces, instructed the then Board of Ordnance to make a detailed survey of the vulnerable southern regions of England... Read more

Keys and Legends (the two terms are interchangeable) shown on the various Ordnance Survey mapping series have changed as the features in the landscape have evolved. The most important features on a map reflected the spirit of the day. From the age of the horse drawn cart... Read more