User Guide 21 - Maps and Plans
Revised: June 2004

Tyne & Wear Archives Service holds a large selection of maps and plans. Maps and plans can be consulted to show the development over time of individual properties, streets, villages and towns, to find out about buildings and places that no longer exist, and to help understand administrative systems such as parishes or boroughs. This User Guide summarises the different types of maps and plans held, the areas and dates covered.

For maps and plans relating to coalfields and individual collieries, please see User Guides 19a and 19b - Coal Industry. For maps relating to wartime, please see User Guide 20 - World War I and User Guide 10 - World War II. For maps relating to the Rivers Tyne & Wear, see User Guide 6 - Maritime Trade and Navigation .

It is normally possible to arrange for copies to be made, but this depends on the physical condition of the original map.

How to use this guide

The guide is divided into sections:

1. Pre Ordnance Survey (maps dating from before 1860)
2. Ordnance survey
3. Town and County maps and plans
4. Administrative maps (including tithe and enclosure maps)
5. Estate maps and plans
6. Other collections

Within each section, maps are arranged according to current district (Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland and areas outside Tyne & Wear).

1. Pre-Ordnance Survey

These maps date from before 1860. Most were published by individual cartographers through publishing companies. See also Town and County maps and plans and Estate maps and plans.

Gateshead

Gateshead, 1830 (825)

Gateshead Borough, including Whickham, Swalwell, Heworth, Felling, Low Fell, Saltmeadows, 1780-1865 (DT/BEL)

Gateshead, engraved by Fittler for John Brand, 1783 (DX275/6)

Gateshead, 1794, 1819 (2446)

Gateshead, 1810 (DX717/8)

Low Fell, Saltmeadows, 1820-1841 (DT/SC/370-371)

(see also Newcastle)

Newcastle

Newcastle, 1661 (D/NCP/2/1)

Newcastle, 1723 James Corbridge (D/NCP/2/2-5)

Newcastle, 1736 Henry Bourne (D/NCP/2/2-5)

Newcastle, 1736-1830 (825)

Newcastle and Gateshead engraved by Fittler for John Brand, 1783 (DX275/6)

Newcastle, by Beilby, 1788 (D/NCP/2/8)

Newcastle, St Anthony's parish, 1826-1864 (1694/1/1-5)

Newcastle, 1830-1909 A.Reid (D/NCP/2/24-5)

T Oliver's maps of 1830 and 1844 (1677)

Quayside, by T Oliver, 1833 (112)

Quayside, 1836-1884 (1215)

Newcastle, based on Corbridge, by T Oliver, 1836 (1637)

Newcastle, showing collieries, 1858 (1453/1)

North Tyneside

Willington by John Bell, 1816 (DX493/1)

South Tyneside

Jarrow, 1813 (DT/BEL/2/355-356)

South Shields from the South West, 1770 (C/SS29/32)

South Shields, 1790 (DT/BEL/2/359)

Whitburn, 1714-1817 (DX882)

Whitburn, 1817 (DX5/1)

Sunderland

Houghton Moor, 1735 (2077)

Monkwearmouth, 1714-1817 (DX882)

Sunderland area, 1719-1936 (1167)

Sunderland Harbour, 1737 (DF/PEM1/54/1)

Sunderland, 1800 (DT/BEL/2/362-363)

Sunderland Street plans, 1851-1853 (853)

Washington, c1860 (DT/SC/393)

River Tyne and River Wear

River Tyne, Newcastle to the sea by H Moll, 1650 (DX275/4)

River Tyne, 1693-1880 (D/NCP/5/1-9)

(See User Guide 6 - Maritime Trade and Navigation)

Areas outside Tyne & Wear

Durham

Durham, printed maps, around 1830 (1553)

(See also Newcastle)

Northumberland

North East by Llondius, 1636 (DX275/2)

North East Coast from Alnmouth to Robin Hood's Bay, by L Wagheuer (DX275/1)

Northumberland by Blaeu, 1645 (DX275/3)

R Marsden's map of Northumberland, 1695 (235)

Northumberland, by John Janson, undated (1637)

(See also Newcastle)

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2. Ordnance Survey

The Ordnance Survey was the first comprehensive mapping project undertaken in England. All Ordnance Survey maps are under Crown Copyright for 50 years from the end of the year in which they were made. The maps we hold are in three different series: Northumberland Series, Durham Series and Tyneside Series.

There are different scales of Ordnance Survey maps:

6 inch (6 inches represent every mile), these show the outline of towns/villages. [There are no 6 inch maps in the Tyneside Series].

25 inch ( 25 inches represent every mile), these show individual buildings.

10 foot (10 feet represent every mile) for the Newcastle area only in 1st edition. A set of 10 foot maps has been marked up to show references for Newcastle Building Control plans, ref T186.

There are four different editions of maps currently covered by our plot sheets:

1st edition, surveyed in the 1860s

2nd edition, surveyed in the 1890s (we have Godfrey reduced scale copies of this edition available for sale)

3rd edition, surveyed in the 1910s

4th edition, surveyed in the 1940s

We have partial coverage for the Newcastle and North Tyneside Districts in the 50 inch Northumberland Series, surveyed in the 1950s.

We have 'Site Scope' on CD-ROM, featuring every 6 inch edition of both the Northumberland and Durham series.

We are constantly adding to our Ordnance Survey collections, but there are some gaps in our coverage. It may be worthwhile to contact the relevant Central Library, Local Studies section, as these hold Ordnance Survey maps covering their own area, or to contact the Durham or Northumberland Record Offices.

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3. Town & County Maps

Town maps were constantly in demand, especially in times or areas of rapid development, and cartographers were fast to publish maps to meet these demands. The speed with which these maps were produced meant that some maps were re-issued with major alterations added to the new edition, but without a complete survey having been taken.

Newcastle

Newcastle, including maps by T Oliver and A Reid, 1661-1976 (D/NCP/2/1-41)

Newcastle, Bird's Eye view,1889 (2308)

Gosforth, by A.Reid & Co,1904 -1941, (D/NCP/2/22-31)

Gateshead

Gateshead and Newcastle, 1788-1970 (D/NCP/2/8-38)

Areas outside Tyne & Wear

Durham

1818 -1827 (D/NCP/1/7-8)

Northumberland

1610-1965 (D/NCP/1/8-13)

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4. Administrative Maps

These include maps or plans drawn up for particular administrative purposes - tithe maps, enclosure maps and maps showing administrative boundaries for urban, rural or borough districts, civil parishes or parliamentary constituencies. Local authority collections often contain such maps.

Tithe maps show how parishes collected monies due to them. Landholders in each parish had to give one tenth of their produce, either as a monetary sum or in kind, to the Church of England, through their local parish. Tithe award maps, which tend to be very large, show numbered fields. The numbers correspond to numbered entries in the 'tithe apportionment', which may be bound to the tithe map, giving details about the owner of each parcel of land. These records can be used to identify patterns of land use, crops, fields, farms and estates.

Tithe maps were drawn up in triplicate, and one copy went to a central tithe office. Most of these copies are now held by the Public Record Office. Another copy was for the parish clerk, and the third went to the bishop of the diocese. Surviving plans from these tend to be held by the relevant diocesan record office, and so Tyne & Wear Archives Service holds very few tithe records.

Enclosure maps show the enclosure of individual fields, formed from what had been wasteland, woodland or uncultivated land, for use as arable land. Later, many landowners enclosed arable land to form pastures for sheep or cattle. From the mid-18th century, enclosure was by Act of Parliament.

Census of distribution plans show residents of individual properties or vacant properties at the time of the survey.

Gateshead

Gateshead census of distribution plan, 1970 (1342/1)

Gateshead Town fields enclosure, 1815 (DT/BEL/2/121)

Gateshead street map with boundaries, R.C.Churches, schools, 1920 (1241)

Whickham parish tithe plan, 1840 (DT/BEL/1/21-22)

Whickham parish tithe plan, 1842 (MF 903)

Whickham development plan, 1965 (T292/5)

Whickham Fell division (DT/BEL/1/18 (61-65))

Whickham Fell enclosure plans, 1821 (CP/WH/5-6)

Newcastle

Benwell, wards, parishes and polling districts, 1908-1955 (D/NCP)

Fenham, wards, parishes and polling districts, 1908-1955 (D/NCP)

Gosforth, parishes, schools, burial grounds,boundary extensions, 1963-4 (D/NCP)

Newcastle and Gosforth, boundary extensions, 1909 (354/2)

Newcastle administrative boundaries, 1834-1959 (D/NCP/3/1-37)

Newcastle census of distribution plan, 1970 (1342/2-3)

Newcastle city centre road proposals, 1939-1943 (T46)

Newcastle Corporation, by T Oliver,1900 (32)

Newcastle electoral boundaries, 1936, 1939, 1953 (T61)

Newcastle electricity supply, 1929 (396)

Newcastle extension enquiry, 1903 (UD/GO/47/18)

Newcastle Parliamentary Bills, Acts and Orders, 1828-1963 (D/NCP/4/1-249)

Newcastle streets, drainage, tramways, industry, 1839-1922 (T94)

Newcastle town plan, 1945 (T308)

Newcastle street improvements, 1840-1910 (D/NCP/7/1-41)

Newcastle street lighting and electricity supply, 1847-1908 (D/NCP/14/1-7)

Newcastle water, sewerage and land improvement, 1860-1908 (D/NCP/13/1-21; 3687 - unlisted)

Parliamentary plans for streets and tramways, water and rail, 1852-1961 (T157)

Tyneside district boundaries, 1894-1895 (T93/1)

North Tyneside

Longbenton, Parliamentary Polling Districts, 1898 (also showing Parish and Burial Board) (D/NCP)

Monkton tithe plan, 1938 (2136)

North Shields census of distribution plan, 1970 (1342/4)

Tynemouth census of distribution plan, 1970 (1342/7)

Tyneside district boundaries, 1894-1895 (T93/1)

Wallsend electoral divisions, pre 1974 (T267)

Wideopen and Weetslade tithe map, undated (1234/7)

Wallsend census of distribution plan, 1970 (1342/8)

South Tyneside

Boldon tithe map, 1910-1913 (CP/BO/3/1-2)

South Shields, St Hilda's parish, plan of glebe rents, 1949 (MF 857)

South Shields boundaries, 1901 (T179)

South Shields drainage, 1921 (T255)

South Shields census of distribution plan, 1970 (1342/5)

Tyneside district boundaries, 1894-1895 (T93/1)

Whitburn tithe map,1839 and amendments 1922 (CP/WB/9,11)

Whitburn and Cleadon tithe map, 1839 (DX5/2)

Sunderland

Hetton le Hole, Great Eppleton and Little Eppleton, tithe plans, 1838 - 1924 (MF 910)

Houghton le Spring development plan, 1965 (T189)

Houghton le Spring, ward boundaries, 1937 (UD/HS/50)

Ryhope tithe plans (DT/BEL/1/88)

Sunderland and district from Ward's, 1890 (1502)

Sunderland census of distribution plan, 1970 (1342/6)

Areas outside Tyne & Wear

Durham

Durham, local government boundaries, 1938 (T10)

Durham printed maps, c1830 (1553)

Durham, wards, roads, rivers, parks, 1801 (DT/BEL/2/376)

Northumberland

Northumberland Development Plan, 1940s (T49)

Seaton Valley UDC, County districts 1918 (T66)

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5. Estate maps and plans

Gateshead

Barlow Township, showing field names and acreage, c 1840s (DF.HUG/150)

lackburn Fell enclosure plan, nd (DF.HUG/139)

Farnacre Lordship, parish of Whickham, showing waggonway and field names, 1715 (DF.HUG/138)

Gateshead, survey, 1689 (DF.HUG/103)

Maps of estates at Birtley Fell, Derwenthaugh, Dunston, Felling, Felling Shore, Heworth Shore, High Felling, High Team, Gateshead, Gateshead Park, Redheugh, Saltmeadows, Saltwell, Shipcote, Swalwell, Whickham, Wrekenton 1780 - 1865 (DT/BEL/1-2)

Thornerly, Manor of Winlaton: sketch of boreholes and pits, showing waggonway to River Tyne, 1766 (DF.HUG/148)

Ravensworth, Manor of Lamesley, showing field names and acreages, 1712 (DF.HUG/135)

Whickham Manor, sketch plan re coal, 1720 (DF.HUG/124)

Newcastle

Benwell Grove Estate, 1890s (DT/SC/378)

Blackett-Ord Estate, Fenham/Benwell, 1920 (DX99/1)

Heaton Junction Estate, 1889 (DT/SC/249)

Sandyford Estate, 1890s (DT/SC/390)

North Tyneside

Benton glebe plan (from 1867 deed), 1909 (DF/WF/41/164-165)

Forest Hall Estate, 1846-1920s (DF/WF/41)

Killingworth Moor, 1792 (DF/WF/41/176)

Longbenton Manor and Estate, 1858 (1870)

Tynemouth Manor, 1905 (MN/TY/4)

South Tyneside

Jarrow, salt panns, 1655-1662 (DF.HUG/91/1-2)

Jarrow Estate, 1808 (T10)

Westoe, estate belonging to Robert Green, 1768 (DX1013)

Whitburn Estate, 1714-1817 (DX882)

Sunderland

Bainbridge Holme, Sunderland, 1895 (DF/PEM1/26/1)

Bishopwearmouth, Diamond Hall Estate, 1858 (DT/BEL/2/360)

Deptford, Diamond Hall Estate, undated (DT/BEL/2/361)

Hawthorne Estate, Sunderland, 1905 (DF/PEM1/31/2)

Horden Estate, 1860 (DF/PEM1/54/2)

Houghton Moor, 1735 (2077)

Monkwearmouth estate plans, 1714-1817 (DX882)

Ryhope estate, 1798-1825 (DT/BEL)

Sunderland estate plans, 1835-1851 (DF/PEM1/3)

Areas outside Tyne & Wear

Edlingham and Whittingham, Northumberland, plan of land to be purchased by NER, 1883 (DF.HUG/143/2)

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6. Other Collections

Alderman William Bramble of Benwell, antiquarian

including maps and plans, 1880-1932 (1074/562-572)

Fryer family of Newcastle, including John Fryer, surveyor

plans relating to Gateshead, 1810-1822 (DX717)

Thomas Bell & Sons of Newcastle, surveyors

plans and working files of individual family members working for the firm and acquired from other surveyors in the course of their work, 1742-1917 (DT/BEL)

Geological maps

of Tyne & Wear, 1868-1892 (1828)

Railways

on Rivers Tyne, Wear and Tees, c 1840s (DF.HUG/170/2)

Wear Dock and Railways:

map showing connection with existing and proposed railways in County Durham, 1845 (DF.HUG/170/1)

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