The Mapping of Chalfont St Giles.

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Maps are a fascinating source of information about a place. The better and the earlier a place is mapped the more we can understand its history. Chalfont St Giles is mapped as well as most places from 1820 when the initial Ordinance Survey was carried out, but as far as I can establish, prior to that time only two 18th century estate maps exist, both of the Vache estate. The only other early coverage of the parish is within Buckinghamshire county maps but they tend to give very little detail.

The earliest most detailed map of the whole parish is the Tithe map. (See the page on this site The Tithe award and map of 1840).This shows all the roads, buildings, and field boundaries as they existed at that time. The accompaning apportionment schedule lists the names of owners and coccupiers of each piece of land together with the land area and its assessment to rent charge. An original and two copies were always made.The version at the Centre for Bucks Studies at Aylesbury is one of the copies and is only of moderate quality.It was surveyed by

The Ordinance Survey first survey of Buckinghamshire was made in 1820 the result exists in the form of manuscript surveyors drawings at a scale of 2 inchs to the mile. This was eventually published in 18? as the 1 inch "Old Series".

Prior to the Ordinance Survey and tithe map we have to rely upon estate maps and county maps.

Only two estate maps appear to survive. Both are of the Vaches estate. One in the Centre for Bucks Studies is dated 1790? and was prepared for Admiral Palliser. This map is quite small but shows all field boundaries within the estate.

The other was prepared circa 1730 for the Rev. Hare. It again shows all field boundaries, areas and names within the estate but no detail ourside the estate except for the names of adjoining landowners. It is an isolated deposit at the London Metropolitan Archives and is in poor condition.

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