The three early Ordnance Survey (OS) Coldwell maps are reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland Map images website
The NLS site has a wonderful selection of historic OS English maps and encourages free use for personal and educational purposes. It also offers split screens to compare historic maps with modern OS versions or aerials.
1845 Ordnance Survey 6 inch to the mile map
The surveying for this map was completed in 1845 with publication in 1848. At the time, English maps were based on counties which resulted in some odd shaped productions in border areas. This sheet stops at Leighton Beck at the Lancashire Westmorland boundary.
The configuration of fields at Coldwell is much the same as today and the boundaries of the two fields that make up the Landscape Trust’s new land are clearly shown. This is the only map to mark the drumlin summit, which has a spot height of 107 feet.
Leighton Beck Furnace was built in 1713 and produced iron until 1806 when it was destroyed by an explosion. Apart from a slag heap there is little to see on the ground today but some buildings must have still existed in 1845. By contrast there is no record of the lime kiln at Coldwell Parrock or Coldwell Lime Works and its quarry.
Some names or spellings differ from today’s toponyms. The 1845 Creepock Hole Bridge is now Creep-i’-th’-call Bridge whilst Gatebarrow has become Gait Barrows.
1889 Ordnance Survey 25 inch to the mile map
The first 25 inch sheet shows much more detail and the map is partly coloured. Surveying was completed in 1889 with publication in 1891. Coldwell Lime Works and its quarry are marked and the access track which runs just south of the beck is today’s RSPB permissive bridle path. Creepock Hole Bridge is still named and there is a guide post at the eastern corner of Coldwell Parrock. The areas of the two fields of the new land at Coldwell are recorded.
1911 Ordnance Survey 6 inch to the mile map
This survey was revised in 1911 and published 1919. Coldwell Lime Works is now marked as disused and the modern names of Creep-I’-th’-call and Gait Barrows appear for the first time.
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Notes by Peter Standing November 2018
