Cheshire Archives reveal hundreds of 19th century maps and some amusing place names

Some fascinating new discoveries have come to light as the county’s shared archives service continues its preparations for its move to two new state-of-the-art centres in Chester and Crewe next year.

Cheshire Archives looks after more than 5,000 Ordnance Survey maps and some of these go back more than 150 years.

The archives team and its volunteers have already carefully catalogued more than 2,000 maps, which date back to 1871. All editions of the familiar 25 inch to a mile scale maps between 1871 and 1944 have been checked, producing some intriguing results.

Among the discoveries are some wonderfully quirky and long forgotten place names such as Bogginshill, Snape Farm, Gnat Hole, and Blackdog. Alongside these, the team has found curious annotations and historic business stamps, including those from John H Davies & Son, Architects and Surveyors, and The Salt Union – offering a glimpse into how these maps were once used in everyday life.

Previously, finding this kind of detail would have meant sifting through over a well-thumbed paper index. But thanks to the ongoing work of the archives service and its volunteers, this information will now be more easily available when a new digital platform launches next spring.

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council said:

“As a keen walker, exploring new areas always requires a good map. Whilst today we all rely on our phones and satnavs, looking at old maps takes us back to a landscape over 100 years ago. Maps are just one of the many priceless archives that hold the history of Cheshire and next year they will be more accessible in the two new Cheshire Archives centres."

Councillor Michael Gorman, chair of Cheshire East Council’s economy and growth committee, said:

“Maps are endlessly fascinating. They connect us to the past in a way few other records can. The work our archives team is doing will unlock a rich archive of local history for residents and researchers alike and both at our new centres and online. And who doesn’t enjoy a peculiar place name? You can’t help but wonder who lived in Bogginshill and what their lives were like.”

The project to build archive centres in Chester and Crewe has been made possible thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Wolfson Foundation, an independent charity with a focus on research and education.

More information on the project:

Cheshire Archives and Local Studies is a shared service of Cheshire West and Chester Council and Cheshire East Council and provides archive services for Warrington and Halton councils. It looks after the county’s unique and irreplaceable written and pictorial history, which dates back more than 900 years.

Pictured - Katie Owen - Local Studies Adviser.