poohbear 1,360 Posted May 15, 2014 Report Share Posted May 15, 2014 I was thinking the other day of my Grandfather building a greenhouse for my Dad in the early fifties...trolling through a maps site I had a look on the 1955 version of that area...Sure enough there was the greenhouse marked in solid black. But how did they know?...I know for a fact the old man wouldn't bother with planning on something like a greenhouse..it was built at the rear of the garage so couldn't be seen from the road...So how did they know?...A bloke walking the streets with a clipboard?...No satellites in those days. Anybody know? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fynger 841 Posted May 15, 2014 Report Share Posted May 15, 2014 Maybe they just wanted to know what the big red arrow pointed at ?? 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Limey 242 Posted May 15, 2014 Report Share Posted May 15, 2014 I suspect that a chap walking around with a clip board may be part of it, but they did have aerial photo capability in those days, and I suspect the OS would routinely have new photos taken of an area, then redraw maps with any changes. In areas that were changing fairly quickly, they would probably commission pictures more often. Large frame B&W photos from that era could be very detailed! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,521 Posted May 15, 2014 Report Share Posted May 15, 2014 I was going to suggest aerial photography which may partly the answer for your original example, but then I realised that a lot of stuff on Old Maps is pre-aircraft. This is Hungerhill Road allotments 1911 (not too long after the Wright brothers had made the first flight) and earlier versions also have a similar degree of detail. I can understand a man with a clipboard doing it for houses, but would he really have trudged his way so meticulously round an allotment area this size ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mercurydancer 1,104 Posted May 15, 2014 Report Share Posted May 15, 2014 Standard cartography. I cannot recognise if that is OS but the font on "Hungerhill Gardens" seems to suggest so. OS was and remains, the most accurate survey going. They were government funded but got resources from Church of England, Land Registry and all sorts. They had to make accurate maps to define land boundaries. One of the main influences was the Land Registration Act 1925. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
poohbear 1,360 Posted May 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2014 Think I'll bell the map folks and tell 'em that Grandads greenhouse is no more... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DJBrenton 738 Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 Odd how in the modern version the arrow's changed from red to yellow. Must be significant in some way. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
poohbear 1,360 Posted May 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 The next arrow will be aimed at your rear if ya don't lay off... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fynger 841 Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 What colour ?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bubblewrap 3,815 Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 I have some maps with Hungerhill gardens on them dated 1881/2 scale 1/500. Sheds & greenhouses are all there in full . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
katyjay 5,091 Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 Fynger, re#9, a blue arrow. Then we'll see a blue arse fly. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bilbraborn 1,594 Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 I reckon Robin Hood must be lurking around here somewhere. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,033 Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 Robin Hood? Just look for an arrow sticking out of the top of a wardrobe! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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