County Library and Information Service
Community History - Maps
Early Lancashire maps up to Eighteenth Century
Some of the earliest maps of Lancashire include the Bodleian Map drawn c. 1325-50 and Saxton's printed county maps produced from 1577 and which formed the basis for all succeeding maps for the next 200 years.
Speed's map of 1610 added further detail, and John Ogilby published a survey of roads in 1675; this was followed by Morden's map of 1695 which shows towns, villages, hills, hundreds, parks, lakes, meres, sand banks, roads, rivers and bridges.
There was substantial progress in map production in 1786 with the publication of William Yates' map of Lancashire, on a scale of 1" to 1 mile, which included features to compare with the printed Ordnance Survey maps of the following century.
Greenwood map of 1818 included details as in Yates' map above, and the Hennet map of 1828 shows practically all the detail of Greenwood map, at a scale of 10 miles to 7 and a half inches.
Ordnance Survey Maps
The Ordnance Survey, founded in 1791, was charged with the task of preparing detailed and accurate maps of the whole country. The first edition of the six inches to one mile scale (1:10,000) for Lancashire was published between 1843 and 1848, and there were many subsequent editions. It's scale, accuracy and wealth of detail was a great improvement on previous maps. (See 'Ordnance Survey Maps: a descriptive manual', by J.B. Harley).
Later, a series on a scale of 25" to the mile (1:2,500) was published, with first edition being published between 1853 and 1896, with several further editions and revisions. It is now published as 1:2,500 scale.
Maps with the following main scales are available in our libraries:
1 : 50,000
1 : 25,000
1 : 10,000
1 : 2,500
1 : 1,250
Other maps and plans
Estate Maps
These were produced by landed proprietors such as the Stanleys.
Town Plans
The range includes: Speed's map of 1610; those published as a separate volume to Baines' Directory 1824/5; street plans published by local councils in association with a town guide; street maps included in Yellow Pages telephone directories; commercially produced town maps. Ordnance Survey 10' to one mile and 5' to one mile.
Goad Plans
A survey of shopping and central business districts of main towns showing the use of individual properties; revised every year.
Tithe Maps
Produced following the Tithe Commutation Act of 1839 which prescribed the substitution of money tithes. Mainly held in the Lancashire Record Office.
Public and Private Utility Maps
Maps and plans were produced by the gas, water and electricity services, and by canal and railway companies.
Local Government Plans
Produced by local councils in connection with development schemes. The maps are usually an accompaniment to explanatory text.
For holdings of maps in our Lancashire libraries, please see the 'Guide to Lancashire Local Studies and Family History Collections'(Section13).