It can be a nightmare trying to integrate or compare the evidence from the wide range of battlefield maps and plans that have been produced by numerous authors over the last century or more. They are at different scales, with very different background data and, even though the National Grid was introduced in the mid 20th century, almost never is it included on battlefield plans. With the advent of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) it is now possible to overlay and compare a wide range of data, but only if you have accurate control points.

The provision of accurate mapping both at a national and a local scale has been on of the Trust's priorities in developing this website. Unless otherwise specified, mapping provided on this website has been produced as vector data on computer using MapInfo GIS. Because of the high cost and copyright restrictions on the use and reproduction of Ordnance Survey digital map data we have normally used out of copyright mapping, which we have scanned and then registered the raster image in Mapinfo to provide a background map base against which vector mapping has been digitised.

ORDNANCE SURVEY EXPLORER MAPS

For each featured battlefields modern Ordnance Survey Explorer 1:25,000 scale map extracts have been scanned, under licence, from paper originals. These have then had battlefield deployment information superimposed and been edited in Photoshop to produce large format images for download from the Media Store on the relevant web pages.

NATIONAL MAPS

The national distribution maps presented on here have been compiled on a base map showing relief and major rivers. The relief and water course data has been created as vector mapping digitised from the 1:625,000 scale maps of the Monastic Britain (Ordnance Survey, 1950). Where historic counties are shown these are mapped to the 1:63360 scale New Popular Edition One Inch Map base, published in the 1940s, with historic alignments, where they differ from those of the 1940s, being derived from Kain & Oliver's mapping of historic boundaries.

• Kain, Roger J P, and Richard R Oliver. Historic Parishes of England and Wales: Electronic Map - Gazetteer - Metadata. Colchester: History Data Service, 2001

Battlefield data for the distribution maps is largely derived from:

• Rayner, Michael. English Battlefields. Stroud: Tempus, 2004.

TERRAIN & ACTION MAPS

For many featured battlefield a relief map has been compiled using contour data from the 1:63360 scale New Popular Edition One Inch Map base, published in the 1940s. The contour interval (50ft.) and accuracy of this data, because derived from 1930s or earlier survey, is far lower than that available from the modern 1:25,000 Ordnance Survey Explorer mapping. However for the purpose of providing a general context of physical topography at a small scale for the battles it is quite adequate.

The out of copyright (or soon to be out of copyright) 1:25,000 mapping, published in the early 1950s, gives closer (25ft.) contour intervals but is also based on an early survey and so has significant inaccuracies, though far less than the 1:63360 scale mapping because drawn at a larger scale. This out of copyright 1:25,000 scale mapping can be used for detailed battlefield analysis and, because more than 50 years old, can be republished without copyright restriction.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ORIGINAL RESEARCH

Modern mapping
The map bases listed above cannot be used for the analysis of the fine detail of the battlefield itself. The minimum scale for accurate mapping is the Ordnance Survey 1:10,000 scale  but ideally the Landline or Mastermap digital mapping from the Ordnance Survey should be used wherever possible. Where a project is being undertaken in collaboration wiht a local authority or a university it is usually possible for this mapping to be made available under their licence for the duration of the project. 

Relief mapping
For detailed analysis of relief one can use the modern contour data based on recent survey (10m. interval) from the 1:25,000 Explorer mapping, or for even more detail the higher resolution (5m. interval, except for moorland & moorland which is at 10m.) the Ordnance Survey Land-Form Profile digital contour data can be used. A new alternative is the NEXTmap Britain digital terrain model produced in 2002, available (at a substantial charge) from getmapping. This is invaluable because it enables production of contouring down to an interval of 10cm.

Historic Ordnance Survey Mapping
The best starting point for any study of the historic terrain of a battlefield is normally the 1st edition 6 inch (1:10,560 scale) Ordnance Survey maps, the first accurate national mapping available in England, surveyed and published in the mid to late 19th century.
To download copies of these maps for free CLICK HERE
For each of the battlefields featured on our web pages the central grid reference will be found on the 'home page' for the battlefield (use the all numeric reference given in brackets).

Record Offices & online indexes of documentary sources
Primary research on the historic maps and other written documentary sources for any battlefield needs to be undertaken in Record Offices across the country. Though many of the sources will be in the Record Office local to the battlefield, there are often important sources scattered in other collections across the country, from the National Archives and the British Library to other local record offices and private collections. A list of Record Offices and of the key resources that allow index searching online is provided on the Links page.