Facsimile reprints of the first edition (19th century) of the one inch Victorian Ordnance Survey maps, covering England and Wales in 97 sheets, each measuring about 34" x 24" when unfolded, show a fascinating record of what it was like in Victorian times. You will be able to see how your village or town has changed, find the names of farms, woods, spinney and parks long forgotten, help to show you how the countryside looked over 100 years ago. All are excellent aids for the family and local historian.
One of the earliest tasks of the Ordnance Survey of Great Britain was toprepare a reliable map of England and Wales at a scale of one inch to one mile. These maps, known as the First Edition or Old Series, were finely engraved on copper, printed in black and published between 1805 and 1873. They represented the first major achievement of the national survey of Britain. They were revised from time to time, the most important change being the addition of the railway network. These facsimile maps of the later printings combine the advantage of presenting the essential information in the original edition with the inclusion of the cumulative revision, especially on railway material. As well as being a landmark in the history of cartography, by faithfully recording the close detail of the 19th Century landscape, the surveyors have created major historical documents.
The England and Wales reprints by David and Charles are edited by Dr J. Harley of the department of Geography, University of Exeter, who has provided a bibliographical note for each sheet, designed to assist in the dating and interpretation of the maps and to provide the historical background for their use. A key map is available on request (and is also in our printed catalogue).
