The Charles Close Society for the study of Ordnance Survey Maps

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What maps does the Charles Close Society produce or sell?

A. None. The Ordnance Survey produces the maps that members of The Charles Close Society are interested in. The books and publications that the society produce usually only have very brief extracts from original Ordnance Survey maps so if you need an actual map then you will need to visit a map library or pick up an old one through map sellers.

Q. Where can I get a copy of a map of ?????

A. The Ordnance Survey has produced millions of maps in its 200 years of existance. It can be very difficult to find the exact map you are after so here are some pointers to where to look....

Q. Who is Ellis Martin ?

A. Ellis Martin was born in Plymouth England on 12th November 1881 and died 30th September 1977. He was the first and only resident professional artist for the Ordnance Survey from 9th May 1919 until 2nd November 1940. He produced many of the most popular and well known map covers for the Surveys maps. Click here to see a few examples. There are many more examples of his, and other artists map, covers in the book Map Cover Art by John Paddy Browne, published by The Ordnance Survey.

Q. Are there any comparable groups overseas so avidly and exactingly follow the history and development of other national mapping organisations? Or is this a peculiarly British phenomenon, as is the Ordnance Survey itself perhaps?

A. There are others. One in the US is The Road Map Collectors of America who collect/study US and other countries road maps.

Q. I saw a reference to an issue of the complete 1 inch to a mile 7th series maps to mark the bicentenary of the Ordnance Survey in 1991. Are any of these still available and, if so, how much do they cost?

A. The complete set of 1 inch maps was from the Ordnance Survey and was sold out but occasionally sets are offered privately for sale. Cost would be by agreement with the vendor.

Q. Can you please advise any source of the Trig Points as used in the Ordnance Survey maps? I recall a few years ago seeing a list of all the points and those still available for "adoption" by organisations. I would like to find this list again. 

A. The Ordnance Survey is best placed to answer to this - and indeed to any question about current maps - including trig points. 

Q. Does the Society include collectors of Bartholomew's maps and are there any related web sites?

A. There are Bartholomews map collectors in the Charles Close Society but generally Bartholomews maps are not very popular in comparison to Ordnance Survey maps. The National Library of Scotland map library has all the Bartholomews achive material and their web site http://www.nls.uk mentions that.