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Tony Morris on Maps and their origins, Ordnance Survey and cartographic crime

Monday, 30 September 2013

Babylonian mapThe first meeting of the new season of lectures for the Hebden Bridge Local History Society was launched by Tony Morris speaking about the history of maps and map-making as well as cartographic crime.

Early maps were on clay tablets and were from the beginning used for a variety of purposes, such as taxation, for military uses and to guide pilgrims to the great religious sites. From their early beginnings maps became more precise, as the cartographers used better technology and produced maps that could be seen as works of art. The ordnance survey was a major project to meet the need for more accurate maps which today still set the standard for useful information about the landscape.

As for cartographical crime, Tony had stories to tell of organised theft of valuable ancient maps cut from books in public libraries. A member of the audience brought this up to date by recounting how new sets of OS maps bought for public use in Todmorden and Hebden Bridge Libraries had been stolen from the shelves.

The next meeting of the society will hear about a history closer to home when Joan Laprell uncovers some of the stories of the Moderna blanket factory at Mytholmroyd. She can be heard at the Methodist Hall in Hebden Bridge on Wednesday October 9th at 7.30 pm. Details of this year's programme are available on our "What's on" section


Many thanks to Sheila Graham for this report

 

Local History website

Previously, on the HebWeb

Bridge Mill: History on our doorstep. Justine Wyatt, with the support of the mill's current owner David Fletcher, has uncovered more of the story of the building, and gave a fascinating talk to the Hebden Bridge Local History Society. Read more (3 April)

Working from home in 1825; Working from home is not a new concept, Malcolm Heywood told members of the Hebden Bridge Local History Society. William Greenwood's described his several different occupations. Read more (20 March)

The Grave of Robin Hood: mysterious goings-on in Calderdale. Kai Roberts told the local history society about Robin Hood in Calderdale and especially the monument known as Robin Hood’s Grave. Read more (11 March)

Todmorden Weavers and the Great War. Alan Fowler, former lecturer in Economic and Social History, told a meeting of the Hebden Bridge Local History Society that the local Weavers’ Association had 4000 members at its peak. Read more (19 Feb)

Our Railway Station in the 19th century. David Taylor told a meeting of the Local History Society about how the early railway developed in Hebden Bridge. Read more (28 Jan)

Untold Stories: A glimpse into the lives of local people - Tony Wright has for the past ten years been collecting personal life stories on film and audio tape. Read more (18 Jan)

City in the Hills - Corinne McDonald and Ann Kilbey told a meeting of the Local History Society of Dawson City, the building of the Walshaw Dean Reservoirs and the publication of a new book. Read more (16 Dec)

Lament for the Mills - Robert Cockcroft, poet and academic told of his childhood spent close to mills owned and operated by his grandfather, John Cockcroft and his father, Keith. Read more (2 Dec)

How much thought do you give to a war memorial? - Mike Edwards told a meeting of the Local History Society, war memorials can be found in many forms and in unusual places. Read more (17 Nov)

Clubhouses: self help and co-operation - A small row of houses in Old Town, called Clubhouses, encapsulates some of the history and spirit of the Calder Valley explains Julie Cockburn. (30 October 2012)

Small Town Saturday Night - The story of a love affair with rock 'n roll at its peak in the 1950s and 60s from speaker Trevor Simpson.

The world of Cornelius Ashworth, speaker Alan Petford, Local History talk of 10 October 2012

Hebden Bridge Local History Society

HebWeb What's On

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