History:
– The Ordnance Survey originated after the Jacobite rising of 1745.
– Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, identified the need for a map of the Scottish Highlands.
– Lieutenant-Colonel David Watson proposed a military survey of the Highlands in 1747.
– William Roy, Paul Sandby, and John Manson were involved in the survey.
– The survey at a scale of 1 inch to 1,000 yards led to the creation of the Ordnance Survey.
Origins:
– The Ordnance Survey’s roots trace back to the need for accurate mapping after the Jacobite rising.
– King George II tasked Watson with a military survey of the Highlands.
– William Roy’s work on determining positions led to the Principal Triangulation of Great Britain.
– The Ordnance Survey was initiated in 1790 under Roy’s supervision.
– The first one-inch-to-the-mile map was published in 1801 for Kent.
Mapping Progress:
– By 1801, the first one-inch-to-the-mile map was published for Kent.
– William Mudge oversaw the mapping of about a third of England and Wales at the same scale.
– By 1840, the one-inch survey covered all of Wales and most of England.
– Major Thomas Colby walked extensively for reconnaissance work.
– The survey of Ireland was completed county by county in 1846.
Surveying Challenges:
– Major Thomas Colby walked 586 miles in 22 days for reconnaissance in 1819.
– Colby and his team moved to Ireland in 1824 for a valuation survey.
– Surveying in rural Ireland caused suspicions and tensions.
– The Ordnance Survey faced security concerns, leading to maps being withdrawn from sale.
– Mapping progress was interrupted due to other military priorities.
Mapping Products:
– Ordnance Survey’s revenue from paper maps is only 5% annually.
– The agency produces digital map data, online route planning, and mobile apps.
– Large-scale mapping includes 1:2,500 maps for urban areas and 1:10,000 maps.
– Small-scale mapping for leisure includes the Explorer, Landranger, and road map series.
– Ordnance Survey maps remain in copyright for 50 years after publication.
