Map lovers this should be worth a watch. 9pm BBC4

8) Ta.

My map geek OH will love that. Set to record, ta.

TVM 😉

Always loved maps since boyhood, will watch thanks

Nice one, hope it is IPlayer’ed.

Ooh ta, hadn’t spotted this. Set to +

[/]map geek mode ON[/]
Cheers

Bookmarked

Is this based on the autobiography of the os? Just s word of warning, I am a massive massive map fan but the early story of the os is incredibly dull at least it is based on that book.

As Eddie, got two books I’ve never managed to finish about the os. Will give it a whirl anyway

Oooooh, nice PSA – thanks!

I love reading maps and charts, and being able to use the tools to use them – compasses, dividers, portland plotters, but I’d love to be able to use theodolites and sextants

Very good programme, worth looking for.

Arseflaps! Was on a work call, so missed this. To the iPlayer I go!

Does it mention the poor bloke who had to carry all those trig points to the tops of the hills?

epicyclo – Member
Does it mention the poor bloke who had to carry all those trig points to the tops of the hills?

Kind of.. They took all the components up, and mixed the concrete in situ..

As above, I’ve got the book on the birth /history of the OS and it’s a bit of a drag. I’ve not finished it.
Probably carries better on TV than in a book, mind. Will have a watch.

What an amazing task over a hundred+ years.

The ‘two years work’ for one of the original, hand drawn one mile to the inch maps…..amazing.

Teetosugars – Member
‘epicyclo – Member
Does it mention the poor bloke who had to carry all those trig points to the tops of the hills?’
Kind of.. They took all the components up, and mixed the concrete in situ..

Damn, you’ve just destroyed my mental image of a sturdy and nimble OS assistant who portaged those lumps up a Munro. 🙂

In some of the places I’ve seen them, you do have to wonder how they got that concrete and water there though…

I would imagine in our climate you could fill the shuttering with sand, aggregate and cement and wait for the rain.

It was fascinating, especially the revelation that the Soviet Union had accurate maps of all the military bits of Britain that the OS left blank for security reasons. I remember on Polaris in the North Yorkshire Moors passing Fylingdales and being surprised that it wasn’t marked on the map at all.

Does anybody know what was the Soviet anthem they played at 40:57?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b06b36q3/timeshift-series-15-2-a-very-british-map-the-ordnance-survey-story

Good programme but annoying that the vioce-over lady couldn’t pronounce Ordnance (she repeatedly said Ord-i-nance), a minor niggle, but it did grate.

Vangellis conquest of paradise wasn’t it?

(Totally misused as its nowt to do with Russia)

Good programme that. Enjoyed learning about the early days and certainly the time taken to draw them all out. Also enjoyed the bit where the military would proof before release..

As is I always buy an OS map of the area I’m about to visit (if I haven’t already got one) I’ve quite a few now and makes me feel like I’ve actually traveled places instead of faded memories.

Oh blimey, you’re right. I thought it was some grand Soviet battle anthem.

among my OS collection are quite a few from ex-RAF supplies with overfly zones marked out and obstructions in blue – radio masts, power lines.. quite illuminating the level of detail..

Thanks, downloaded to watch in France ! iPlayer is great 🙂