Dudley Council provides an online archive of historic mapping and aerial photography. The facility allows you to select the address you wish to locate to display the current mapping at that location; you can then choose to view historic mapping and aerial imagery.
Once in the system you have access to a number of maps dating from 1307 to the present day.
Twin Window Mode
The 'Twin-Window' function automatically splits the single map window vertically into two, with each half displaying exactly the same geographic location as when in the single window mode, but with an alternative selection of ordnance survey (OS) map or aerial photograph in the second window. Each of the two windows can then be individually set up to display a full choice of background and foreground dataset overlays (just as in single-window mode), and both can be interrogated independently.
Overlays
The 'Overlays' are a specific selection of datasets which the User may choose to drape over the current background mapping / aerial imagery being viewed. These comprise of either the current OS (for direct comparison purposes), the Townships circa 1750, County Series and National Grid mapping index.
What Maps are Available
Pre-1950 (25") County Series Maps
So called due to each sheet being referenced to its parent county, the County Series maps were produced at a scale of 25 inches to the mile. Because the alignment of these sheets pre-dated the National Grid system (coverage for Dudley dates between 1882-1948), each one has subsequently been ortho-rectified to fit this before inclusion within GIS-MO. The re-alignment allows the User to overlay more recent OS mapping on these historic images to make a more accurate comparison.
Post-1950 (1:1250 and 1:2500) OS National Grid Maps
These post war metric maps are based upon the National Grid system. This has allowed for a higher degree of accuracy in the ortho-rectification on those maps dated 1950 to 1989. Those maps in subsequent datasets i.e. dated 1990 to 2002 were electronically supplied maps direct from Ordnance Survey which have required no scanning or rectification whatsoever. Because of this, these latter datasets are of an even higher image quality still.
Interpretive Maps
All maps are interpretations of the landscape. This series of six covering the development of the Borough through the period 1307 to 1985 were compiled using various original historic maps and many other associated documents by Dudley MBC's Historic Environment Team (Policy Unit).
Townships (circa 1750) Maps
This series of interpretive maps cover the 40 individual Townships which existed within the Borough circa 1750. They have been compiled using various original historic maps and many other associated documents by Dudley MBC's Historic Environment Team (Policy Unit).
Roper Maps (circa 1855)
The body that ruled Dudley back in the early 18th century were the Town Commissioners. Due to the high death rate in the town at the time, central government sent William Lee to investigate. His report on Dudley's Public Health was published in 1852 and it suggested that something badly needed to be done in order to improve the town's public health. The Westminster Government concluded that the management of the town was so poor that they needed to set up another authority. The following year, in 1853, the Town Commissioners were abolished and a Local Board of Health was set up to improve the situation. The Board of Health remained the town's ruling body until 1864 when the Corporation of Dudley was created.
