All that Peter says about digitising maps is spot on.  The view from Worcestershire re the Landmark project is as follows:

- If Landmark are going to create a product that will be to the same standards as those we are trying to achieve in Worcestershire (i.e. a GIS shapefile for every parish with a searchable database and a version to cover the whole county) then this will be very useful, if somewhat disappointing in that we don't get to finish the project for the county.  Cost could be prohibitive.  

- If however the digitisation is only georeferenced images then this would be nice but not nearly as useful.  If these images are to be tiled, as Peter points out below, then it is very important to be able to identify the parish that the land belongs to.  

- If the digitisation is only to be images of tithes (not georeferenced) and apportionments then this will protect the originals but will not be much use digitally for research.  Worcestershire already has digital images of all Tithe maps and I believe Gloucestershire Records Office are already planning (or maybe have completed by now) to digitise their tithes and they have completed their inclosure maps.  Other Records Offices may also have done the same.  

Regarding the database for apportionments Landmark seem to be shying away from this a bit in the email below as they question whether to transcribe or not and whether this is even financially viable.  Worcestershire could provide figures for how much time has been put in to the Worcestershire tithes by us, volunteers and local groups.  The accuracy of the data is also incredibly important and quality needs to be carefully monitored.  Without a searchable database the project isn't really going to improve people's access to this information and this is what really makes the project useful.  

Regards,
Maggi.

Maggi Noke
Historic Environment Record Assistant
Worcestershire Historic Environment and Archaeology Service
Woodbury, 
University of Worcester,
St Johns,
Worcester
WR2 6AJ

Tel: 01905 855494
Email: [log in to unmask]

-----Original Message-----
From: Issues related to Historic Environment Records
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Iles, Peter
Sent: 28 October 2008 11:07
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Tithe maps & the HER Forum


I have something of a 'history' with Landmark as folk will probably know
- they still haven't fixed a problem with their Lancashire mapping first
notified to them in 1999 - so it is not an entirely unbiased opinion
but, here goes a quick rant on this piece of free market research:

(i)	The apportionment is a major part of the tithe map's value, and
if it is not made available digitally (in a simple, searchable database)
then a lot of the reason for digitising these maps is lost, particularly
when the map date is close to that of the OS 1:10,560 mapping as they
are in Lancs.

(ii)	The digitisation of the paper map needs to be done carefully, so
that all (and not just most) of the field boundaries, etc. are captured
- this will be a bigger problem with the tithe maps given their sizes
and production methods.  When capturing historic OS sheets I have found
that a minimum spec. of a 400ppi monochrome AND a 200ppi greyscale scan
is necessary for most maps.  Some commercial products are much lower
quality and tend to drop out thinner/fainter lines as well as making
complex areas into one big black blob.

(iii) In my opinion it is more useful to have the maps captured and
stored as individual maps and not as an assembled and tiled coverage
UNLESS it is made very easy to identify the extent of the original map
(use an index overlay with polygons, showing the tithe map outline and
giving metadata for each map?) A tiled map that gives a date for only
one of the original maps visible on that particular tile is simply not
acceptable.

(iv) Metadata for the maps is all important and current scanned products
are often very poor in this respect.  Data should include:
Which version of the tithe map and apportionment have been scanned and
who holds the original?  What date is written on the map and
apportionment?  Is this a 'start' date for the mapping process, or a
date when it was completed?  Have any alterations or additions been made
to the map or apportionment at a later date and if so by who and when?

(v)	Some groups and organisations have already captured tithe maps
and apportionments as part of research projects, parish histories, etc,
so the data may already be available

(vi)	Whilst a valuable resource to researchers and for larger
green-field planning applications, I can only see a limited use for
these in day-to-day development control work, and there are other things
I would spend money on before buying in these maps.  A Record Office or
service that has a lot of family history users may, however, feel
differently.


Rant over.


Peter D Iles
Specialist Advisor (Archaeology)
Lancashire County Council Environment Directorate
PO Box 9
Guild House
Cross Street
Preston
Lancashire
PR1 8RD
 
t. 01772 531550
f. 01772 533423
e. [log in to unmask]

-----Original Message-----
From: Issues related to Historic Environment Records
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of DAVIS, Nick
Sent: 27 October 2008 16:32
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: FW: Tithe maps & the HER Forum

Dear All

I have been asked to forward you the attached document by the Landmark
Information Group Limited in connection with their plans to digitise
tithe maps. The questionnaire as accompanied by the following message:  



"As you may recall Landmark has been in discussions with the National
Archives over creating a digital version of their Tithe maps &
Apportionment records. Earlier in the year you kindly posted a question
on the HER forum and, as we received a favourable response from the HER
officer, we progressed matters with NA.


We are now close to finalising an agreement with NA but they are unsure
as to whether we should transcribe the apportionments and georeference
the maps for them. Landmark has also to make a final decision on the
commercial viability of their proposals. With this in mind I have put
together a brief questionnaire and wondered if you would be able to post
this on the HER forum? I am happy to receive anonymous responses if
people prefer, but it would allow me to provide invaluable feedback to
NA.
 

Kind regards

Rick"



If you would like to reply to the questionnaire please respond to Rick
directly (contact details are to be found at the head of the attached
document). 

Best wishes

Nick Davis

Heritage Information Partnerships Officer
English Heritage

   

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