In their book, The Bassingham Story (2003), Bill & Connie Wilson and Helen Ash regularly reference the “1831 Boole map” which remains something of a Holy Grail for me where village maps are concerned. I am given to understand that it was drawn up on the occasion of a footpath diversion and, although it is of part of the village only, it would still be hugely important, given that this particular map lists buildings and their occupants. If you have any idea as to how and where I might see this map, could you please get in touch? I would be really grateful.
In the meanwhile, there are a number of other maps available which show the village and how it has changed over the years…
First up is this 1654 Enclosure map of the village and surrounding farmland. It’s obviously not an original from 1654; I strongly suspect it to be the copy re-drawn by Angela Hirst as mentioned on page 107 of The Bassingham Story. Kindly loaned to me by Tom Booker, it shows how the land was divided up by hedges and fencing under the various Enclosure Acts beginning in 1604. Originally two large printed-out photographs, I have scanned both and successfully ‘married them together’, which was no mean feat because the lower half of the map was a smaller image, meaning that I have had to scale it up to get the two photographs to fit together as best as I can. And it is enormous; I mean gigantic! The version presented here, however, seems to be much smaller, no doubt due to a limitation on file size imposed by WordPress. Sorry. 😥
UPDATE: I have managed to find a way for you to download the giant map in pdf form HERE.
And here’s the actual village section of that map scaled-up and with modern road names applied. I don’t know how accurate the properties are, and you have to remember that this was 1654 and probably the only building extant today that we can guarantee to appear on this map will be the church.
Next is this 1839 map which John Brogan had reproduced and is ©Your Forgotten Fields, shari.b@hotmail.co.uk Other copyright details on it are ©The Genealogist ©Crown Copyright, images reproduced courtesy of the National Archives, London England. Originally requested by John to show the extent of Eastfield Farm it gives a great view of the properties in the village at the time. You can enlarge this picture to get a good view of what’s where and here are a few landmarks to guide you… Green’s (122), Wesleyan Chapel (91), St Michael & All Angels (139), The Bugle Horn (86), the Care Home (original Rectory) (151). There is no School as yet, either Wesleyan or Board, as neither would be built until 1855.
Next up is the 1886 Ordnance Survey map…
Followed by this OS map from 1899 which really could hardly be any less detailed with only the mills at Larker’s Farm and Mill Farm identified, along with the Church, “Forge Cottage” Smithy and “The Bugle Horn“.
Next is the OS map for 1905 which was updated in 1904 and is far more detailed than the previous one…
Strangely the OS map published in 1906 shows that it was revised in 1904 but it is very different to its predecessor.
Then the 1936 OS map again points out that it was revised in 1904 and is pretty much identical to the map of 1906…
It was all change by the time of the 1950 OS map (revised in 1948) which shows several new buildings…
And finally here is a 2023 view from Google Maps ©. The village has grown quite substantially!
OS Maps reproduced from the National Library of Scotland and can be viewed at https://www.OldMapsonline.org
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