Christmas Mapping

It's cold out there, back home after last night's work christmas do and watched the England cricket team scrape a draw by the skin of their teeth. I recently acquired some old Ordnance Survey maps, made in the late 19th/early 20th centuries, covering all sorts of places in Staffordshire. They really are fascinating.

(after consulting the copyright lawyers, most definitely Copyright Ordnance Survey, please don't sue me!!!!!!).

Gailey Reservoirs, from 1889 (no M6 there!):


Belvide Reservoir, 1892:


But most fascinating of all are these, from 1889 and 1901. Notice the names of landmarks such as "Stansley Wood", "Watery Lane" and "Ten Acre Pit", sound familiar?






It is difficult to imagine what Blithfield would have looked like before the reservoir was built. Especially imagining the mill pond where Blithe Bay is today.