Old
mapsBy Tony Rigby
We are all familiar with the Ordnance Survey’s (OS) famous Landranger maps and most of us have the edition covering this area. Now, for those interested in the topography of the past, a series of maps has been produced, based on OS Old Series which used surveys made between 1791 and 1874.
Each map has been printed to the same scale as current maps, covers the same area and carries the same number. It is therefore easy to put both maps side by side and contrast past and present. Indeed, the old maps are particularly fascinating as they show Britain just before momentous transition from its agrarian past and towards 20th century urbanisation.
The one for our area is, of course, No. 165 – ‘Aylesbury & Leighton Buzzard’ and may be obtained from Cassini Publishing Ltd (www.cassinimaps.com).