Star.pngStar grey.pngStar grey.pngStar grey.pngStar grey.png

OS Mapping

From Roader's Digest: The SABRE Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Cameraicon.png Pictures related to OS Mapping
View gallery (30)

The Ordnance Survey came into existence because of the Government of 1791 recognised a need to map the south coast in preparation for a French Invasion following the French Revolution. However, it was not until 1801 that the first map was published - of Kent! Read more on The OS Website.

List of Maps

A list of the changes to Ordnance Survey of Great Britain mapping from 1801 to present.

Year From Year To Map Name Scale Notes
1801 18?? One Inch 1st Edition 1:63,360 This series pre-dates Classification
1903 1931 One Inch 3rd Edition 1:63,360 This series pre-dates Classification
1911 1911 2 Miles to inch 1:123,720 This series pre-dates Classification, Example seen from 1911
1919 1940 One Inch Popular Edition 1:63,360 Never included road numbers, but from 1934 A roads were shown in red
1923 1936 Ministry of Transport Road Map 1:123,720 The first maps to show Classification. Based on reduced 3rd Edition mapping from the early 20th century with classified roads as an overlay.
1931 1940 One Inch 5th Edition 1:63,360 Included road numbers from the start, but was never completed (sheets 1-92 were not published, nor were the sheets of South Wales and east Kent)
1932 1964 Ten-Mile Road Map of Great Britain 1:625,000 Based on other mapping with classified roads shown as an overlay.
1944 1961 One Inch 6th Edition 1:63,360 Marketed as the New Popular Edition
1952 1976 One Inch 7th Series 1:63,360 This was the last version of the one inch mapping. Net backed maps were phased out in circa 1963 and a more modern cover introduced in 1968.
1952 c1996 One Inch Touring Maps 1:63,360 These One Inch maps lasted much longer than the main series. Like the main series, net backed maps were phased out circa 1963 and a more modern cover introduced in 1965. Also unlike the main series, these had pictures on them, replaced by photographs in 1984 & replaced by the touring series in c1996
1964 2009 Route Planning Map 1:625,000 Replacement for the Ten Mile Road Map series
1974 1979 1:50000 Series 1:50,000 This was the first version of 1:50000 mapping though maps 176 & 177 have always been in second series style.
1979 present Landranger Series 1:50,000 This is the current spec of Ordnance Survey mapping Pictures were added to the covers in 1984 and first Series 1:50000 style was phased out in 1990 with the update of Map 26.
1974 2003 Pathfinder 1:25,000 This was the main spec 1:25000 series of Ordnance Survey mapping. Replaced with the Explorer Series.
1974 2002 Outdoor Leisure Series 1:25,000 This was merged into the Explorer series
1994 present Explorer 1:25,000 This is the current spec of 1:25000 Ordnance Survey mapping
1945 1977 Quarter Inch Map 1:250,000 17 Sheets for GB coverage. This was the precursor of the Travelmaster maps
1977 2001 Travelmaster 1:250,000 This was a larger scale maps for long distance journeys. rebranded in 2002 to OS Road Map.
2002 present Road Map 1:250,000 This is the re-branded Travelmaster series. Now numbered 8 maps. There was a hiatus in printing between 2010 and 2016, as it was electronically released as OpenData.
2002 2010 Route Map 1:625,000 This is the former map 1 of the Travelmaster series, and can trace its lineage back to the Ten-Mile Road Map of Great Britain.
c1996 Present Touring Map/Tour 1:250,000 This is the replacement of the old one-inch touring maps.
2010 present Miniscale N/A OpenData only mapping, designed to show large areas in simple form, and of a similar idea to the earlier Route Planning Map.
2017 2017 Great Britain 1:550,000 Paper map replacement for the 1:625,000 series that started with the Route Planning Map. Only one edition produced by mid-2020.

Map Symbols

Main Article: OS Map Symbols





OS Mapping
Related Pictures
View gallery (30)
- Coppermine - 18312.jpgM4J29 2007.jpgB2136 Eastbourne map.pngStrensham2.jpgJ10 Redesign.png
Road Mapping
Ordnance SurveyMoT Maps • Ten Mile Road Map • Route Planning Map • One Inch(Popular Edition) • 1934 London PT • Landranger • Half Inch • Quarter Inch • Routemaster • Travelmaster • Road Map • Travel Map • Pathfinder • Explorer  • Outdoor Leisure • Tourist • Ten Mile • City Link • City, Town and Neighbourhood • Miniscale • OS Great Britain
Ordnance Survey Northern IrelandRoad Map • One Inch • Discoverer
Ordnance Survey IrelandDiscovery • Half Inch
Other MappingA-Z • AA • Bartholomew • Book of the Road • Google • Michelin • Philips • Others


SABRE - The Society for All British and Irish Road Enthusiasts
Discuss - Digest - Discover - Help