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Historical mapping archive dispersal

Whilst we are very proud of our work over the past two centuries, our government remit is to maintain the current mapping of Great Britain and to create and sell various products based on this current mapping.

To be clear, current, large scale, detailed mapping reflects features on the ground at the time of last survey and current small-scale mapping mapping reflects the features in our large scale mapping database, from which it is sourced, at the time of the last cartographic revision. Historical mapping in our terms, therefore, represents mapping that no longer reflects the situation on the ground.

We held a large paper-based archive at our previous offices unitl 2008. We distributed it to other custodians based on our understanding of our remit, our intention to move to smaller premises and the special conditions in which archive maps and documents need to be preserved. 

We continue to sell a limited reproduction range of 1 inch to 1 mile maps (revised from the late 1800s and published in the early years of the 1900s) from our Leisure Map Shop as well as various historical products produced by our Licensed Partners.

The original historical maps now reside with local libraries around the country and you may be able to find the historical maps that you wish to view there.

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 contact details for these libraries below.

The British Library
maps@bl.uk | 020 7412 7702

Bodleian Library, Oxford
maps@bodley.ox.ac.uk | 01865 (2)77013

Cambridge University Library
library@lib.cam.ac.uk | 01223 333000

National Library of Scotland
maps@nls.uk | 0131 623 3970

Library of Trinity College Dublin
map.library@tcd.ie | (+353 1) 896 2087/1544

National Library of Wales
holi@llgc.org.uk | 01970 632933

If these sources do not hold the information you are looking for, the following company holds digital versions of many maps dating from 1840 to 1995. Mapping can be viewed and purchased on line and can be delivered using various media.

Landmark Information Group
mailbox@landmark-information.co.uk | 01392 441700

Mapping can be viewed and purchased on line and can be delivered using various media.

You may also find the Vision of Britain and British History Online websites of interest.

The following stockists are also able to supply historical mapping:

Name Location Phone Email
Blackwells Bristol 0117 926 2322 simon.hartwell@blackwell.co.uk
Blackwells Cambridge 01223 568417 ordsvy@blackwell.co.uk
Blackwells Cardiff 029 2034 0673 tso.cardiff@blackwell.co.uk
Blackwells Leeds 01132 460483 osleeds@blackwell.co.uk
Blackwells Liverpool 0151 709 6512 osliverpool@blackwell.co.uk
Blackwells Newcastle 0191 279 0945 osnewcastle@blackwell.co.uk
Blackwells Oxford 01865 333677 osoxford@blackwell.co.uk
Blackwells Sheffield 0114 268 7658 tso.sheffield@blackwell.co.uk
Centremaps Worcester 01886 834800 enquiries@centremaps.co.uk
EMapSite Hampshire 0118 973 6883 sales@emapsite.com
Hereford Map Centre Hereford 01432 266322 sales@themapcentre.com
Latitude Hertfordshire 01707 663090 enquiries@latitudemaps.co.uk
Maplines Isle Of Wight 01983 822000 sales@maplines.co.uk
Meridian Maps Leicester 0115 908 1302 maps@johnewright.com
National Maps Hertfordshire 01727 825768 enquiries@mapsnmc.co.uk
National Maps Kent 01634 238237 rainham@mapsnmc.co.uk
Stanfords Bristol 0117 929 9966 stanfordsbristol@googlemail.com
Stanfords London 0206 328957 Martin.greenaway@stanfords.co.uk
Stanfords Manchester 0845 880 3730 digital@stanfords.co.uk
The Francis Frith Collection Salisbury 01722 716 376 sales@francisfrith.co.uk
The Map Shop Upton Upon Severn 01684 593146 themapshop@btinternet.com
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For general enquiries, complaints, feedback or suggestions, email: customerservices@ordnancesurvey.co.uk or call us on 08456 05 05 05