Date of inclusion on mapping

Our legal team have requested I relay the requirement that we obtain from the Ordnance Survey.
1. The date of the Ordnance Survey survey that placed xxxxxx on the Ordnance Survey Map with a copy in photograph or photocopy of the OS surveyor's notebook.

2. Could you please advise that we could obtain copy of each edition of the Ordnance Survey Maps at each survey and each re-print as well as we stated previously the date and copy of the first digital edition for the High Court hearing.

Thank you for your e-mail dated 27^th May 2011, we respond to each of your questions in turn.

1. xxxxxx first appeared on Ordnance Survey mapping sometime between 1910 and 1920.

We have been able to check this from the historic County Series mapping information, some of which is held within one of our internal programmes. The information which can be accessed via this programme has no specific dates, which is why we can only give an approximate date of when the survey took place, which is between 1910 and 1920.

I regret to inform you that Ordnance Survey does not hold surveyors note books (if such a thing ever existed) from this date, and is therefore unable to supply this information.

2. I regret to inform you that Ordnance Survey does not hold paper copies of historic mapping.  The majority of maps which were held by Ordnance Survey were distributed between various sites around the country following the closure of the Ordnance Survey’s Historic Map Archive in 2008 and prior to our recent move to new much smaller head office in 2010.

You may be able to view various historical maps free of charge at local libraries. A small charge may be made for a copy if required. Licensing terms and conditions apply to mapping still in copyright (mapping produced within the last 50 years).

Legal Deposit Libraries hold more extensive collections and offer reading and copying facilities for customers willing to visit and carry out their own searches. Please find the contact details for these 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

Otherwise the Oldmaps website has images of the overwhelming majority of past large scales mapping editions, please see link below:

http://www.old-maps.co.uk/index.html

In terms of digital data, Ordnance Survey does hold an annual ‘snapshot’ of our digital data and we would be able to provide this information for the area in question.

The first digital snapshot we hold is dated April 1995.

Please note your enquiry has been processed according to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000. As all the requested information has been provided or is not held, we have determined that in all the circumstances of this case the Public interest consideration (section 17 FOIA) is not applicable in this instance.

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: FOI11173/May 2011