Special Collections and Archives

 The Map Library comprises a variety of maps, atlases, street plans and other cartographic materials (c. 20,000 items). The local area is well covered by large-scale Ordnance Survey mapping, with older editions providing a useful resource for local history. Coverage for the rest of Britain is provided by 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 OS mapping.

Outside the British Isles, areas well represented include North America, Spain and Iceland. Atlases range from facsimiles of17th century editions to modern major general atlases and road atlases.

Maps should generally be requested in advance,  although a reference collection of atlases, street maps, Ordnance Survey and British Geological Survey maps is on open access and freely available during Library opening times.