Mapping The Past

Oldmapsonline is an internet resource that allows the user to search library collections for period maps that may be viewed online. http://www.oldmapsonline.org Search options allow for a range of dates as well as a location search. Searching for Furness Vale returned a wide selection including "Cary's New Map of England And Wales, With Part Of Scotland" This was published in 1794 at a scale of 1:360,000.  The road between Disley and Whaley Bridge still followed the route of the old Roman Road. The turnpike through Furness Vale was not opened until 1804. The Peak Forest Canal is shown although it was still under construction when the map was surveyed. This is a small scale map and our village is not shown.  Some of the place names were spelt quite differently.