This is a section of the second edition Ordnance Survey map showing Ashington and the surrounding area. The scale of the map is six inches to one mile, The map was published in the late 1890s. The second edition Ordnance Survey map was a revision of the first edition. The revision started in 1894 and was completed by 1897. The first edition Ordnance Survey map was the first survey of the county of Northumberland on such a large scale [one inch to one mile, six inches to one mile and twenty five inches to one mile]. The Ordnance Survey was set up in 1791 to produce large-scale maps of the southern coast of England. At this time the British government was worried about the threat of invasion by the French. It was therefore decided that a national mapping survey should be undertaken. The survey began in 1855 and was completed by 1864. In 1840 Ordnance Survey was asked to produce a six-inch to one mile map for all of the country.
