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The site http://www.old-maps.co.uk/ is very useful. However, as with all quality research there is no better alternative to sourcing the original document (if available), and even that should be taken with caution. As Peter points out dates are important and as a result maps can be misleading. There are numerous occasions of a feature which still remain being shown on an early map but ommitted on a later map. This (probably) doesn't mean it dissappeared and reappeared but was simply left off. Similarly it is possible that features could have been left off earlier maps even though they existed. More importantly with maps it is worth remembering that they were often updated in a sporadic way. For example the 1:2500 map I have showing the Yate Coalfield date 1881 states that it was "surveyed in 1879" . & "Rexincographed and printed in 1886" The print is clearly from 1886 but the survey data is 1879. It is not clear whether other information was added/changed between these dates. (this could only be determined by comparrison with an original print (from 1881?) On more modern maps it is common to find more comments regarding the revisions. Using one map I have as an example: Boundaries revised 1-5-1954 Whole sheet revised for major changes only in 1949 often there is a revision diagram showing a box with shaded areas in it with comments in this case: Revised before 1930 (for the unshaded area) Revised 1930-45 (shaded area) The result is that most of the map is effectively a pre 1930 map even though it may have been printed in 1955. A lot of features may be still on the map even though they no longer existed in 1955. A road not constructed until say 1945 (i.e. included as major revision in 1949) could be shown to run past a building demolished in 1935, which clearly it never did. To summarise - Don't believe everything you see on a map, especially if you are looking at a copy (scanned or otherwise) David Hardwick %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%