List of map series, editions and revisions

This is a Freedom if Information Act request in relation to a location covered by Lincolnshire (parts of Kesteven) Sheet CV1.2 - First Edition 1889, (surveyed 1888), not a request for copies of the Maps but for a list of the Maps (Series, Edition, Revision etc. produced by Ordnance Survey etc. over time (whether copyright is still extant or not).

Thank you for your letter dated 14^th February 2011. I am pleased to provide the following information with regard to your request.  Please note that Ordnance Survey does not hold all of the information you have requested, and this is detailed where applicable.

Ordnance Survey’s Historic Map Archive (HMA) closed in July 2008, and all of our mapping was archived with legal deposit libraries at that time. The only record of historical mapping (series/edition/revision) produced by Ordnance Survey would be the maps themselves, and because we no longer hold these we are unable to provide any listing of published maps as this information is not held.

However, I have been in touch with staff at Cambridge University Library (your nearest legal deposit library), who have been most helpful in providing assistance with reference to your request. They, along with the other legal deposit libraries, should have a copy of every Ordnance Survey map published. However, they are unable to categorically say that their holdings are complete.

If the area of mapping you are particularly interested in is not too large, then it would be possible for Cambridge University Library to compile a list of the Country Series mapping they hold at 1:2500 and 1:10,560 scales, detailing the published and last revision dates. It may also be possible for them to compile a list of the National Grid Mapping at these two scales which would approximately cover the period 1963-1982.

As it would not be possible for Cambridge University Library to compile a list of smaller scale mapping, you may like to consider contacting The Charles Close Society. The society, which was founded in 1980, brings together those with an interest in the maps and history of Ordnance Survey Great Britain and so may be able to help you with this. You can contact and find out more about the society at the following web link: www.charlesclosesociety.org.

I believe The Charles Close Society published in 2005 a book by Richard Oliver entitled ‘Ordnance Survey maps: a concise guide for historians’ which lists the revisions of the County Series maps of Lincolnshire with information derived from maps held by the British Library, this too may be helpful.

You may also wish to consider contacting the British Library or one of the other legal deposit libraries to arrange a visit to view the available maps, and make your own assessment as to what information would be the most useful; the British Library should have the most complete collection of Ordnance Survey historic maps. I detail the contact information for all legal deposit libraries below:

The British Library 
Web: http://portico.bl.uk/ 
Email: maps@bl.gov.uk 
Tel: 020 7412 7702 

Bodleian Library Oxford 
Web: http://www.ouls.ox.ac.uk/bodley/library/rooms/nbrr 
Email: maps@bodley.ox.ac.uk 
Tel: 01865 (2)77013

Cambridge University Library 
Web: http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/deptserv/maps/ 
Email: library@lib.cam.ac.uk. 
Tel: 01223 333000

National Library of Scotland 
Web: http://www.nls.uk/collections/maps/index.html 
Email: maps@nls.uk 
Tel: 0131 623 3970

Library of Trinity College Dublin 
Web: http://www.tcd.ie/Library/libraries/map.php 
Email: map.library@tcd.ie 
Tel: (+353 1) 896 2087/1544

National Library of Wales 
Web: http://www.llgc.org.uk/index.php?id=maps 
Email: holi@llgc.org.uk 
Tel: 01970 632933

In terms of more recent digital mapping, OS MasterMap is a continually updated and maintained database for the whole of Great Britain and so, Ordnance Survey provides an annual ‘snapshot’ to legal deposit libraries. An archive of digital mapping from 1998 can be viewed at these libraries and should you wish, a limited number of A4 sized colour print outs of any area can be made for private, non commercial use, for which the library may charge a small fee.

Ordnance Survey does hold some digital mapping, in the form of an annual snapshot dating back to 1995. From this information, we have determined that the last update made to the area covered by the post code you provided was released in July 2007 and updated from information captured in September 2006.

Please note that your enquiry has been processed according to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000. If you are unhappy with our response, you may raise an appeal to our Appeals Officer at:

FOI Appeals Officer
Customer Service Centre
Ordnance Survey
Adanac Drive
SOUTHAMPTON
SO16 0AS

Please include the reference number below. The Appeals Officer will ensure that the process has been followed correctly, questioning any decisions taken regarding the original response and recommending disclosure of additional information if appropriate.

Thank you for your enquiry.

Reference number: FOI11142/February 2011