North-East Lincolnshire covers the area from just south of Louth to the banks of the Humber River north of Caistor. It can include villages and hamlets in the northern part of the Horncastle and Spilsby regions as well. This was an area with marshes and salt flats near the North Sea and the undulating Wold hills inland.
Historically, there doesn't appear to have been much use of coastal boats or barges for people to move about. Most travel was by wagon or on foot until the railways came in the 1840s. The canal system in Lincolnshire was mostly for moving corn annd coal to markets. Maps can give you the "lay of the land" and help you see how communities were connected by roads, rail and streams. Large scale maps cover a small area and may show detail of trails and prominent buildings. Small scale maps cover large areas, like an entire county. Here are some map sites that may help you with your search:
Good quality maps of the 1800s include the Ordnance Survey Maps available from Francis Frith. This publisher provides maps, books and photographs of historic nature.
You might like to start with the 1906 inch-to-the-mile map of North East Lincolnshire. This map shows most the countryside before the advent of modern highways and the massive building programs of Post-World-War One. Most of the railway systems were still in use, if not growing.
This map covers the parishes of Ashby cum Fenby, Aylesby, Barnoldby le Beck, Beelsby, Binbrook, Bradley, Brigsley, Brocklesby, Caboutne, Cleethorpes, Conisholme, Covenham St Bartholomew, Covenham St Mary, Cuxwold, East Ravendale, Fulstow, Grainthorpe, Gramsby, Great Coates, Great Limber, Grimsby, Hatcliffe, Healing, Holton le Clay, Humberston, Keelby, Kirmond le Mire, Laceby, Little Coates, Ludborough, Marsh Chapel, North Coates, North Ormesby, North Thoresby, Riby, Rothwell, Scartho, Stainton le Vale, Stallingborough, Swallow, Swinhope, Tetney, Thoresway, Thorganby, Utterby, Waithe, Waltham, Wold Newton, Yarburgh.
The Institute of Heraldic & Genealogical Studies produces a series of maps covering every county of England, Wales and Scotland giving the name of each parish, showing parochial boundaries, probate jurisdiction in colour and the dates of the commencement of registers. Size 17" x 14". Each is approx. £6.00.
My favorites are the large scale Ordnance Survey Maps from the 1840's, showing churches, manor houses, dirt trails, etc. Visit Old-Maps to see what they have. I find the website a little hard to use, but your milage may vary.
A good online map of the region can be found at Travel UK.
Another source for maps of the 1800s include the Ordnance Survey Maps available from Maps and Compass.
If this is not enough, try our Maps page for more options.
Last updated on 7-October-2011
Click here to send any questions and/or comments about this site to the Lincolnshire County Coordinator.
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