Old Maps etc Online (General)

by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Friday, October 26, 2012, 18:30 (4406 days ago) @ bourtonrob

Hi Rob,
glad you like the links, there's an immense amount of free info available online, try searching using terms such as "Farmington family history" etc etc. Many village sites, not to mention private researchers, have their own sites containing such things as Census information, local history, etc; indeed thats how I stumbled across this FoDFH site. Also try searching this forum, many such sites are highlighted.
Yes the British History site is always worth referencing, I found this thanks to this forum, plus I strongly recommend and regularly use the aforementioned Genuki site too.

I also like and now collect maps, have done since schooldays.
This map website is a favourite of mine as it's easy to navigate across the pages (altho perhaps due to my pc I can't get the map to "enlarge" as it used to by clicking the righthand "bigger map" icon (I'd be gratefull please if anyone can try it themselves, is it just me ??)
http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/place_page.jsp;jsessionid=BFC0A6FD813ED281E8363...

It helps if you have an understanding of the Ordnance Survey maps system and even the reason they were introduced in the early C18th, but not essential by any means.

Thanks again to this forum I also like the Old Maps website, it is more difficult to drive (probably just me) but it is great as it holds many maps for many eras for any given area, it really is very informative and worth serious attention methinks.
www.old-maps.co.uk/maps.html

Ideally enter a modern postcode into the search box, easily found for "new" areas using a search engine (I find many place names are not recognised altho they are on the site's maps. Also some places eg Westbury On Severn, have to be entered "just so" wrt hyphens etc or the computer just says no..., your Bourton is a good example of this !).

Wait for modern map of your area to load, with the search item (postcode) dead centre. If you want to look at somewhere towards the edge of this map, drag it so the chosen area is centred, this can be important to get required map coverage to load.
On the righthand side a dropmenu will list the available maps for your area, in varying scales in chronological order.
Click on the desired map image - main map will be replaced by your chosen old one - be patient as it can take a while to load.
Often the most usefull map (most detail) will be one of the large scale maps eg 1:2500, early OS maps show individual buildings etc etc. I recommend you now select an overall screen zoom setting of abt 200%, such that the framed map image fills your screen yet remains readable. Furthermore, if you click the "spyglass" icon it will then zoom again but with no loss of clarity.

As long as you are able to persuade the site's search engine to load the right map for the area you're hoping to study (postcode is best way !), and you allow time for it to "think" and images to load, this is a truly excellent & most usefull website. However be warned the site can have it's lazy moments, it doesn't like my less-able laptop for example but is fine on my higher powered pc, but it's a free site so I'm not complaining at all !

Finally, there are some companies (including Old Maps) offering excellent downloads or printed paper reproductions of old maps across the whole UK, usually based on the old OS maps, some also to streetplan level. I won't advertise them here, if you're interested I'll happily email you company names or they can found on the usual online shopping/auction sites.

Glad you've found something of interest here, I also hope the Parish Record and Census info is in line with what you hoped for or even already knew - personally if I've got something wrong I'm delighted to be corrected, thanks.

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RE Your Point re the Northleach Bypass; I was driving the A40 before the bypass was built and used to stopoff for Friday evening meals at the roundabout? on the western edge of Northleach, probably the one you're thinking of.
Please can you tell me, there used to be a large openair museum there "Countryside Collection" or somesuch, exhibiting old farm wagons etc. However I cannot find it on tinternet, is it still there please ?
I know Bourton from many school trips etc, usually paired with Chedworth Roman Villa; nowadays I occasionally drive thro enroute twixt the Forest and my wife's hometown of Banbury, so usually around Christmas time and often in snow.

Re my earlier post please don't think I was "knocking" the Cotswolds, not at all, I just think wooded & hilly areas like the Forest are more interesting & pleasing on the eye compared to generally flatter rolling farmland, be it in Glorious Glostershire or Italian Tuscany for example.
atb Jeff