NLS - Ordnance Survey National Grid maps, 1940s-1960s

These could be of use to anyone researching the London area

[h=2] Ordnance Survey National Grid maps, 1940s-1960s [/h] The most detailed Ordnance Survey maps after the Second World War.

Weeks even Spendid coverage of Hendon in the early 60s. I will be having a detailed look at my old stomping ground in SE London to see the old wartime remains we used to know that have now long gone. Kemnal Manor in Chislehurst was one favourite. A derelict mansion, roofless and floorless with surrounding barbed wire and electrified fence and rusting Nissen huts. What more could an 8 year old ask for!

Chris wrote:

What interested me is I was able to trace the entire route of the old Grand Surrey Canal.

I take it you noticed that there is an older, larger scale map of London there also.

Ordnance Survey Five feet to the mile, London, 1893-1896 - 753 sheets

Series maps, 1795-1961

Chris wrote:

What interested me is I was able to trace the entire route of the old Grand Surrey Canal.

I was looking at today at the Surrey Canal at Deptford, which I assume is a different one one as this went to Surrey Dock (aka Sorry Ducks as broadcast on the BBC during the three day week!). The canal terminated into the docks, of which none were named Surrey as far as I know. It is now know to some as Surrey Quays but most still calls by the less pretentious name of docks.

I recall the dry canal from my daily commute into Charing Cross and there was a point in time when everything seemed to changed and it was filled in. Some of the old buildings survived by the canal side but as I remember if they are still there now.

Also prominent in that area is the Bricklayers Arms railway depot, again that seemed to go over time but somw of the track leading to it was there many years after it went.

One last thing on these maps is that I can't recall the original coverage but I got the impression it has extended south in some areas. Kenley had a good quality map as does West Malling. Shame Gatwick isn't there yet. The biggest problem with that series is when you zoom out it defaults the the smaller scale of the earlier map coverage so you have to manually change it back to the later maps.

The latest issue of CAIRT announced these maps covering parts of Scotland. Some interesting [laces appearing, I was just looking at the missing bunker(s) at Raigmore in Inverness on the maps.

This new book is mentioned (published October 2018). Sounds rather interesting, can see I might be tempted.

Scotland: Defending the Nation
Mapping the Military Landscape
by Christopher Fleet and Carolyn Anderson

It also includes the outlines for maps from 1968 to mid seventies but these cannot be viewed as they are still in copyright.