HISTORY of the ORDNANCE SURVEY.

THE BOARD OF ORDNANCE is one of the oldest institutions in the country, having been formed when the Royal Arsenal was established in the Tower of London. Though organised on military lines, it was a civilian body financed by a separate vote from Parliament.The Board's powers were defined as "Custodian of the Lands, Depots and Forts required for the Defence of the Realm, and the Supplier of Munitions and Equiptment to the Army and Navy."

There seems little doubt that Britain had fallen behind in MAP MAKING in the 18th.Century, and this deficiency was highlighted by complaints from the Army when attempting to crush the 1745 Rebellion in Scotland. The Board of Ordnance, having the staff and resources was instructed to carry out a "Trigonometrical Survey" of the country.

Early results were found not to be of sufficient accuracy for making useful maps-largely due to lack of a suitable theodolite-and it was not until 1787 that a "Great Base" of sufficient accuracy from which to commence triangulation was measured at Hounslow Heath.This paved the way for the publication of the FIRST ORDNANCE SURVEY MAP in 1801.

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