Cheshire Archives reveal hundreds of 19th century maps and some amusing place names

20 August 2025

Some fascinating new discoveries have come to light as the county’s shared archives service continues its preparations for its move to two new state-of-the-art centres in Crewe and Chester next year.

Cheshire Archives looks after more than 5,000 Ordnance Survey maps and some of these go back more than 150 years! The archives team and its volunteers have already carefully catalogued more than 2,000 maps, which date back to 1871. All editions of the familiar 25 inch to a mile scale maps between 1871 and 1944 have been checked, producing some intriguing results.

Among the discoveries are some wonderfully quirky and long forgotten place names such as Bogginshill, Snape Farm, Gnat Hole, and Blackdog. Alongside these, the team has found curious annotations and historic business stamps, including those from John H Davies & Son, Architects and Surveyors, and The Salt Union – offering a glimpse into how these maps were once used in everyday life.

Previously, finding this kind of detail would have meant sifting through over a well-thumbed paper index. But thanks to the ongoing work of the archives service and its volunteers, this information will now be more easily available when a new digital platform launches next spring.

Councillor Michael Gorman, chair of Cheshire East Council’s economy and growth committee, said: “Maps are endlessly fascinating. They connect us to the past in a way few other records can. The work our archives team is doing will unlock a rich archive of local history for residents and researchers alike and both at our new centres and online. And who doesn’t enjoy a peculiar place name? You can’t help but wonder who lived in Bogginshill and what their lives were like.”

Councillor Jill Rhodes, Cheshire East Council’s heritage champion, said: “Our archives team is undertaking an enormous amount of work behind the scenes to prepare for the move to our fabulous new centres next year. It’s great to see that what they are doing now is already creating a positive impact for people who will be coming to our new centres and accessing the digital archive next year. I’m sure many appetites are already whetted!”

Councillor Louise Gittins, leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council said: “As a keen walker, exploring new areas always requires a good map. Whilst today we all rely on our phones and satnavs, looking at old maps takes us back to a landscape over 100 years ago. Maps are just one of the many priceless archives that hold the history of Cheshire and next year they will be more accessible in the two new Cheshire Archives centres.

The project to build archive centres in Crewe and Chester has been made possible thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Wolfson Foundation, an independent charity with a focus on research and education. 

More information on the project – including a link to the fly-through video – can be found at: Cheshire Archives Crewe