Homes and fields over 200 years ago

In the 1810s, William Hyett and his colleagues composed an enormous series of surveys as the basis for some of the earliest maps published by the Ordnance Survey. These drawings include precise field boundaries (not found on printed OS maps until a much later date).

At least eleven sheets each of which includes a part of Northamptonshire have been digitised and are freely available online. View or download them with full resolution and then zoom in for maximum clarity.

The following drawings show the town or village listed and extend for considerable distances beyond. In some cases, the sheet also features areas outside Northamptonshire. Unless otherwise indicated in the list, the maps were drawn by William Hyett.

• Banbury (*)
• Bedford
• Bicester (**)
• Daventry (*)
• Kettering
• Northampton
• Oundle
• Towcester
• Welford (*)
• Wellingborough
• Whittlesey (***)

(*) = map drawn by Henry Stevens

(**) = map drawn by William Stanley

(***) = map drawn by T Yeakell