Using maps

Why do historians use maps?
Most people will have used a map at some point in their life – normally to find out how to get somewhere. After all, this is probably the main purpose of most maps. However, throughout history maps have been created for a whole host of other reasons. These include:

• to show who owned land
• to record what land was used for
• to show the location of natural resources
• to determine political boundaries
• to show transport links

It is this variety that makes them so useful to historians. By looking at a map from a particular date, historians can find out a lot of information about the way in which the land was used and, therefore, how people lived. Moreover, by comparing similar maps from different periods historians can discover how an area has changed and developed and suggest reasons for the change.

Extract from the 1st edition of the Ordnance Survey of Durham, 1857. (Image courtesy of Durham County Record Office, ref county grid 33.4)

Local maps and their uses
As well as all the national maps that historians can use, there are lots of locally produced maps available. These can provide a range of useful information that can be difficult to find elsewhere. Examples of local maps include enclosure maps, tithe maps, road, rail and canal maps, and farm maps. The map we’re going to use in our investigation is one that shows the coalfields of the North East. It was surveyed by a man called I T W Bell and was published in 1850. This map is interesting because not only does it show the location of all the coal mines in the North East at the time, but it shows how the transport network had started to develop to serve the industry.

If you’re ready to continue, you can choose to go to either the Ordnance Survey maps or the coalfield map.

Map of County Durham by John Carey, 1801. (Image courtesy of Durham University Library, XL 912.4281).

What are Ordnance Survey maps?
Ordnance Survey maps are perhaps the best known series of maps in the United Kingdom and have a world-wide reputation for quality. Although used by a whole range of people today, from walkers to motorists to pizza-delivery companies, the first Ordnance Survey maps were designed to be used by the Army. Between 1793 and 1815 Britain was at war with France and the government was worried that the French might try to invade. To help them plan their defence they ordered the Board of Ordnance to carry out a survey of the whole country, starting at the south coast. The first Ordnance Survey map covered the county of Kent and was published in 1801 and a map covering Essex appeared shortly after. Twenty years later a third of the country had been surveyed. The surveyors worked their way up the country and it was not until 1857 that the survey of Co. Durham was completed.

Maps, like many other sources of information, are quickly out of date and Ordnance Survey continually resurveys the country to make sure its maps are accurate. This is great news for historians who are able to use the maps to compare how places have changed over time.

What can we learn from Ordnance Survey maps?

Extract from the 2nd edition of the Ordnance Survey map for the County of Durham showing Crook and part of the surrounding area, 1897. (Image courtesy of Durham County Record Office, ref county grid 33.4.) Click on image to enlarge.

Extract from the 1st edition of the Ordnance Survey map for the County of Durham showing Crook and part of the surrounding area, 1857. (Image courtesy of Durham County Record Office, ref county grid 33.4.)Click on image to enlarge.

Take a close look at both extracts from the Ordnance Survey map of Durham. They show the development of Crook over a period of 40 years. Now try to answer the following questions.

1. Compare the two versions of the maps (you will probably need to look at the enlarged versions). Make at least three general statements about the differences between the two. You might want to mention things like housing, number of streets, etc.

2. Now look at the enlarged version of the 1st edition map. Make a list of the facilities (eg schools, churches, pubs etc) in Crook. Then look at the enlarged version of the 2nd edition map and make another list. Write a sentence or two explaining the differences.

3. Based on what you discovered from using the maps and the Census returns, suggest reasons why Crook has changed so much in forty years.

Once you have finished, see what else you can find out by looking at a coalfield map.

What can we learn from this coalfield map?

Extract from Bell’s map of the Great Northern coalfield showing the area around Willington. This map will need to be enlarged. This can be done by clicking on the image (warning – large file 6.4mb) or it can be accessed via this link (recommended). (Image courtesy of Durham University Library ref XL 553.2.)

Take a close look at the coalfield map before answering the following questions.You will need to use the enlarged version. This can either be downloaded by clicking on the image(warning – very large file 6.4mb) or you can look at it via this link (recommended).

1. Find Crook on the map and make a list of all the nearby collieries.

2. Now find the railways which serve Crook and trace their path. Do you notice any connection between the collieries and the railways?

3. Where do the rail lines end?

4. What does the information in this map tell you about:
(a) the development of mining in Crook and throughout this part of Co. Durham?
(b) the development of railways in the North East?

Once you have finished answering the questions try moving on to the next section – using trade directories.