On Tuesday I ordered a couple of reprints of old Ordnance Survey maps from Karen Swift. At a speed reminiscent of the postal service around the time the original maps were produced - when, so we are led to believe, letters arrived at their destination almost before they'd been posted - just 21 hours later they had arrived.
One of the maps is of West Bromwich North in 1885, the one which Captain Ahab has drawn from in his recent posts on the lost canals of that area. Here's an example, with a sample of the map.
I'm grateful to Captain Ahab for drawing my attention to these. They have a wealth of fascinating detail, and bring to life the days when the canals were used for the purpose for which they were built. There are tramways directly connecting collieries and canals; disused mine shafts where the coal has already been worked out; iron works all over the place with wonderful names - was the Cyclops Works set up by a one-eyed entrepreneur? - and the modern railways striking through it all in comparitively straight lines.
Yes, I posted about these maps only two days ago, but I still can't get over how interesting they are.
5 comments:
the 'Godfrey Edition' maps are great - I've got the two that make the grand arc of old Brentford & the Thames framed in my hallway.
Worth mentioning - although stocked by various specialists (including Stamfords on Long Acre, London, I'm pretty sure) they're also often available in local libraries - that's where I found mine.
Simon, don't you think they'll want them back?
arf! I'm pretty sure they still have '1.95' in pencil on the back cover...
Halfie
I have just realised that you posted about these maps yesterday and here am I commenting today. I promise that it wasnt a case of copy cat writing - I dafted this item after we spoke but it was forward dated for release - honest!
Andy
Ah, I see what you mean now, Andy. (Your latest post hadn't popped up in my sidebar list when I read your comment above.) Not to worry: I'm only jumping on your bandwagon!
Post a Comment