| Description | Note on arrangement: The catalogue structure aims to reflect the historical way in which the maps were held: the ordering of this section is based on the Index to Maps and Plans in the collection [DE/4/3/18]. This section aims to reflect the way the 'estate' maps were kept by the estate office, as distinct from the mining plans held by the mining office (found in sections DE/6/12/3, DE/6/13/3 and especially DE/6/15). Other maps with specific purposes including sales (DE/4/5/3 and DE/4/6), tithes (DE/4/14), enclosure (DE/4/17) and waterworks (DE/4/19) have been ordered with the related documents in an attempt for relationships between documents to be more easily ascertained. Building plans showing floor plans and elevations may be also found in DE/4/18 and plans relating to churches in DE/8.
Many maps were marked with a variety of different legacy numbering and reference schemes: these have been included in the descriptions as far as possible. During the Second World War many mining plans were stored in locked boxes in the Dudley Castle caverns as a precaution against air raids and espionage: these were returned to the office in 1946 [see DE/6/2/11].
Since being deposited, the majority of the maps and plans have been searchable using the scheme that gave them an A, B, C or Z prefix according to their size. An attempt was made to catalogue the collection during the 2000s and the allocated 'D/DE/9' numbers are also included here (note: reference numbers on the card index are often different to the number found on the map - please see cross-referencing index). There is an assortment of other numbers written on the items, reflecting various other arrangements and uses over their existence. These have been included where possible to enable cross-referencing with related material elsewhere within the collection. |