Historic Maps

A guide to the thousands of maps in our collections, primarily from the late 18th century when mapping became more common - updated May 2021. Maps are an amazing source of information, and in some cases works of art.  They can show how an area has evolved over time, and can help us to understand …

I love it when a plan comes together…

... with the original survey book alongside which it was created. Plans and survey books are easily separated.  They are superficially very different: a survey may look like a standard hardback of several pages, and the plan that goes with it may be a single sheet, rolled up or folded.  The difference in size and …

Advent Calendar – Day 15

Have you been up early this morning waiting to find out what is behind today's door? (only joking) Copy. Map of Belper and Heage by John Hatton, 1698 (Ref: D369/G/Maps/15). This item is part of the series of maps collected and deposited by the Derbyshire Archaeological Society (ref: D369). To the modern eye, this item …