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In 1848 the Ordnance Survey published the first 6-inches-to-the-mile maps of Lancashire. Among these maps were those covering the area around the parish of Eccles (about 4 miles west of Manchester). This project allows this set of maps (7 were needed to cover the parish) to be examined in detail "electronically". This has allowed various themes to be examined separately on the maps (for example the changing boundaries, the administrative divisions, the boundaries of the townships, the communities, the road pattern, and so on). In the computer format, we are able to zoom in and out on the maps to examine them at a great level of detail.
This Web demonstration of the project is designed to give only the 'look and feel' of what the CD version provides. The limitations that Web access imposes on feasible file sizes are severe. The sizes of files needed to store maps converted to electronic format are necessarily very large, and in the context of the Web, this means transmission times would be unreasonably slow. This Web version of the project therefore gives only a glimpse of what the CD version will do. Though zooming in to detailed views is demonstrated, it is only a tiny sample of what the CD version allows. Furthermore, only pieces of maps are provided (with relatively imprecise resolution). However, we hope we have provided enough so that you can assess whether the CD would be useful to you. If you have any questions, we will be happy to respond to an e-mail sent to the project authors.
Here is how the index map of the whole parish looks: |
