Land boarder between England and Scotland

Dear Requester

Request for information - FOI12263

Thank you for your e-mail of 9th February 2012, requesting:

'Copies of any memoranda, letters, notes, briefs, opinions etc. on the location of the land border between England and Scotland'.

I regret to inform you that Ordnance Survey does not hold this information.

Under section 16 of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 'the duty to provide advice and assistance' it is worth noting that historical boundaries will have been defined by custom and practice, whereas formal defined administrative boundaries (shown from 1850 onwards on the first large scale surveys) should have been agreed by "meresmen" appointed by the parishes or authorities on either side of the boundary pointing out the alignment to the Ordnance Survey surveyor who then recorded the boundary in a mereing book.

Ordnance Survey no longer holds mereing books, theses are now held by The National Archives (TNA). TNA also hold information in relation to local government boundary changes in Scotland following the Ordnance Survey Act of 1841. This would be held in the OS30 class of records.

The two additional classes of information at TNA which may be of interest are:

. OS26 - Boundary Remark Books

. OS27 - Boundary Sketch Maps

You may also find additional information if the maps were lodged under the provision of an Act or Order (deposited maps) and this is held in OS39.

You may contact TNA, as follows:

The National Archives (TNA)
Kew
Richmond
Surrey
TW9 4DU
Telephone: 0208 876 3444

www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/contact

Please note, the national boundary is also the boundary between various counties, districts and parishes on both sides of the border, so alignment will have local and county issues as well, and you may wish to contact those either side of the boarder for further assistance.

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 above. 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.