Descriptive words on OS maps

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This is a work in progress. Through the Geograph discussion forum we are collecting examples of as many descriptive words as possible used on Ordnance Survey maps at 1:25,000 (25K) and 1:50,000 (50K) scales - and we want examples of others.


Words on maps are of three types.

• Administrative names of local government areas.
• Distinctive names - proper names of places and of items on the ground.
• Descriptive names - generic words defining the character or use of a feature, for example Burial Ground. Some of these are at the site of antiquities not visible on the ground.

In this article we intend to list descriptive names, preferably by themselves, but if necessary as part of a distinctive name - for example "Palace" usually appears with its name such as "St James's Palace".

If possible we will give a link to a Geograph photograph of a feature, but until we have one we may give the grid reference at which there is an example.

Many of the words are the expansions shown in Ordnance Survey Abbreviations.

Tourist features have a symbol and blue wording on 25K, wording on blue background on 50K.

Historical and archaeological features have Gothic wording if non-Roman (before or after the Romans), Sans serif wording for Roman.

A

Wording	25K	50K	Example	Note
Abattoir	X	X	ST6879 : Entrance to the abattoir and Westerleigh Railhead
Abbey	X	X	TQ3079 : Westminster Abbey, London	Here with Abbey/cathedral symbol on 25K, World Heritage symbol on 50K
Abbey Grounds	X		SP0202 : No dogs in parts
Academy	X		NY3584 : Langholm Academy
Accommodation	X		SJ9382 : Moggie Lane, Poynton	"Accommodation Cottages" built for miners
Activity Centre	X	X	SD9036 : Coldwell Activity Centre
Adventure Activities	X		SD7912 : Burrs Activity Centre	Tourist site
Agricultural Centre	X	X	NJ7718 : Thainstone Agricultural Centre
Agricultural College	X	X	TL6707 : Writtle Agricultural College, Essex
Air Shaft		X	TR3243 : Ventilation shaft near Guston
Air terminal	X	X	NF6905 : Barra Airport Terminal Building	By the beach airfield on Barra
Airfield (disused)	X	X	NJ2665 : RAF Milltown	With name on 25K
Airfield		X	NO4998 : Gliding Competition at Aboyne Airfield
Airfield	X		TG2339 : Northrepps Airfield	Airstrip on 50K
Airport	X	X	SV9110 : St Mary's Airport
Airshaft	X		SK3380 : Bradway Tunnel Air Shaft
Airstrip	X	X	TQ1761 : Air strip, Rushett Farm	Air Strip on 25K
Aisled House	X	X	NF7320 : Aisled House	Non-Roman
Almshouses	X	X	TL9863 : Almshouses	Non-Roman
AMPHITHEATRE	X	X	ST3390 : Roman Amphitheatre, Caerleon	Tourist site, Roman
Animal sanctuary		X	TM3158 : All Saints, Hacheston: hatchment	Tourist site. "Farm Attraction" on 25K map
Anti-tank Blocks	X		SN4104 : World War 2 defences
Aquarium	X	X	SZ0890 : Bournemouth Oceanarium	Tourist feature
Aqueduct	X	X	SY0783 : Aqueduct, East Budleigh	Also see NN7358 : Footbridge over Tummel Bridge aqueduct where on 50K the word Aqueduct is in blue letters
Arboretum		X	SC2781 : The Arboretum at St.John's	Tourist site
Area of Shake Holes	X		SD9970 : Line of shake holes	There are other 'Area of' entries
Artillery Range	X	X	SR9295 : Abandoned Farm Buildings, Artillery Range, Flimston
Arts centre	X		HY2509 : Pier Arts Centre, Stromness	Tourist site
Ash	X		SU4575 : Towards "Ash"	A single tree on a parish boundary
Assault Course		X	at TL810851	"Go Ape" Thetford Forest
Astronomy Centre	X		NX4039 : Craiglemine Cottage	Craiglemine Cottage
Avalanche Shelter	X	X	NG9137 : The avalanche shelters on Lochcarron to Kyle of Lochalsh road

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