The large-scale plans of the Ordnance Survey are quite unique. In a clear and attractive manner they have portrayed Britain's towns and villages in detail over the last 150 years. They show not just the streets but virtually every house; the complete track layouts of railways and tramways are given; factories and docks are all shown. These maps have become the most complete record of the places where our ancestors lived and worked.
In 1981 Alan Godfrey started to reprint some of large scale plans of Tyneside, and these proved so successful that he is now undertaking to reprint these maps, in a convenient and affordable form, for towns throughout England, Ireland and Scotland.
This map covers the Royal Burgh of Dunbar in 1893; here the harbour trade was changing, as fish caught locally were processed in the town and sent to market by train, whereas the main export by boat was now potatoes. The 'old town' by the harbour was still squallid and overcrowded but Dunbar's popularity as a holiday resort was growing; we see villas constructed on the outskirts of town for summer lets to the middle classes.
The map is accompanied by an historical essay by Chris Roberts, of the Local History Library based at Haddington, which hold the historical resources for East Lothian. To add flavour to the map, extracts from Burgh Register for Dunbar 1893 - in the form of voters and their occupations - are included; here is a goodly supply of the Angus', Bruces', Cunninghams' and Burgoins' who were our forefathers.
This map will be of interest to local historians, school, railway enthusiasts - and all who are interested in Dunbar and its history. For here in graphic detail is all the fascinating minutiae that is the true life-blood of history.
