Free online access to six-inch OS maps

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Graigfawr
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

11 years ago

The National Library of Scotland have digitised their entire collection of English and Welsh OS six-inch maps of all editions in the county series, 1842 to 1952. They are very high resolution and are available for free online and can be printed:

http://maps.nls.uk/os/6inch-england-and-wales/counties.html

Hats off to NLS!

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KernowRob
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

Thanks for posting, will save me signing into digimap whenever I want maps! :thumbsup:

Morrisey
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

Top draw they are too!

Ty Gwyn
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

That is a good find Graigfawr,

Do you think they will the BGS ones next?

Tamarmole
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

Fantastic resource - good find,

Peter Burgess
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

That's very good! Free efficient access to good quality images! How long can it last?

Drillbilly.
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

£12 per digital copy. Ouch.

Trewillan
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

"Drillbilly." wrote:
£12 per digital copy. Ouch.

What's the problem, how much would a paper copy from the OS cost you?

Ty Gwyn
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

"Trewillan" wrote:

"Drillbilly." wrote:
£12 per digital copy. Ouch.

What's the problem, how much would a paper copy from the OS cost you?

The BGS paper copies were 85 pounds last i inquired,
Hence the query if these will be digitalised.

RJV
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#10

"Peter Burgess" wrote:
How long can it last?

There's been a shed load of maps on the NLS site for ages now so presumably indefinitely. Touch wood anyway.

"Drillbilly." wrote:
£12 per digital copy. Ouch.

Up until about a year ago there used to be a way of downloading them if you had the correct software. That seems to have been cured now unfortunately...

gNick
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#11

I suppose forming a mutual library of digital copies of maps by everone who has a copy sharing it with other members of AN has a legal issue?

Don't look so embarrassed, it's a family trait...

crl50
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#12

I've been using the other maps on NLS for some time but these 6 inch maps are an excellent resource & I don't mind the £12 a copy.

I had to supply a 6 inch OS map to obtain a morgage in the 80's because of were it was & even then I had to pay over £30 for a proper 6 inch OS map.

Chris

Roger the Cat
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#13

Really the best I've seen, although being a meanie I don't want to hand over real cash. The resolution is suberb and a screen grab or a print is quite sufficient for my personal use.

Drillbilly.
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#14

"Trewillan" wrote:

"Drillbilly." wrote:
£12 per digital copy. Ouch.

What's the problem, how much would a paper copy from the OS cost you?

It's not a paper copy with good quality paper, good quality ink, postage and packing. It's the fruit of about a £2k roll scanner. I am continually refining my archive and £12 a sheet for the scale I am looking at does not represent value for money.

RichardB
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#15

"RJV" wrote:

Up until about a year ago there used to be a way of downloading them if you had the correct software. That seems to have been cured now unfortunately...

It's actually slightly easier than it used to be and doesn't require special software.

christwigg
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#16

"RJV" wrote:
Up until about a year ago there used to be a way of downloading them if you had the correct software. That seems to have been cured now unfortunately...

Had a little fiddle about and for anyone with just a bit of knowledge its fairly simple to extract the full maps at full resolution.

Sadly for everyone I'm not publishing the method as that seems like a sure fire way of the hole being plugged fairly quickly.

RichardB
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#17

I made a guide in Word that also shows how to make them into a Google Earth overlay, which I'll be happy to email to anybody that wants it.

davel
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#18

I often use the People's Collection Wales maps as these allow you to flip through and compare the various editions of the 6-inch maps from the first edition (1868–92) to the fourth edition (1938–54).

http://www.peoplescollectionwales.co.uk/locate

Dave