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Archiver > ABERDEEN > 2005-11 > 1132277255


From: "Bobbie and Brian Amyes" <>
Subject: Re: [ABERDEEN] Map Referencing
Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2005 14:27:35 +1300
References: <s37b464c.019@mail.fct-cf.gc.ca> <005a01c5eaea$0252e100$0301a8c0@LAPTOP> <002d01c5eaf8$25afe2c0$b7c858db@DGK1M81S> <006001c5eb05$5a844970$0301a8c0@LAPTOP>


Hi Ray, Gavin and other list members,
I think I have worked out how the system operates. I used the Ordinance
Survey maps on the Internet and checked it out using Applecross as a base
rather than using Aberdeenshire, then came back to New Deer etc.
Thank you for your help.
Bobbie

Bobbie Amyes wrote:

" I am ignorant about how the system works
Eg. Baldavie NJ627614
How does this differ from longitude and latitude?
Bobbie

> Hi Bobbie
>
> Gavin should really answer this but I'll give it a go.
>
> The Longitude & Latitude values should be familiar to all,
> based on the Equator and the Greenwich Meridian, so I'm
> not going to muddle that! I can try to explain the Grid
> References we occasionally quote, in the form NJ123456,
> but it ain't easy. Still, you asked, so here goes
> [hold on to your hats]:
>
> The Ordnance Survey Grid Reference [OSGR] is based
> on a kilometric grid originating about 130km off the south
> west coast of Cornwall. Great Britain is divided into 100km
> squares. Each square can be referred to in two ways:
> a] a pair of letters or
> b] the number of 100km squares from the origin.
> Thus Aberdeenshire is mostly in Square NJ, or 38. This
> square's SW corner [lower left hand corner] is 300km
> east of the origin and 800 km north of it.
>
> Within the 100 km square the OS divides the area further
> and further to the nearest 10km, 1km, 100m, 10m & 1m.
> This gives a total of six digits for both the easting and the
> northing. The OSGR in Aberdeenshire can therefore be
> 3abcde, 8fghjk or can be easier to follow as
> NJabc(de)fgh(jk). [Trust me]
>
> When we quote a grid reference we use the latter figure
> but only to the nearest 100 metres by leaving out the
> values in brackets, i.e. NJabcfgh. It is more normal
> to represent this generalised value as NJ123456.
>
> Let's look at a real value and interpret it: NJ854422.
>
> NJ identifies it as the square covering Aberdeenshire,
> Banfshire and Moray, plus and minus bits. At its SW
> corner is Loch Etchachan in Cairngorm [NJ000000].
> The successive digits [854422] have these values:
>
> 1st & 2nd: 85 = 85 km east from the SW corner.
> 3rd : 4 adds a further 0.4 km east.
> This brings us to Maryculter. [NJ854000]
>
> 4th & 5th: 42 = 42 km north from Maryculter.
> 6th : 2 adds a further 0.2 km north.
> This brings us to Balquhindachy in Methlick parish.
>
> Voilà, the six-digit OSGR for Balquhindachy is NJ854422.
>
> To save everyone having to look for the 100 km corners,
> the Ordnance Survey print the grid letters on every map
> and the grid lines for the 1km squares - or more if the
> map is very large scale. So, for Balquhindachy find the
> grid lines crossing just south west of the farm: NJ/85/42.
> Then measure or estimate the tenths from those lines;
> insert the easting (4) after 85, and put the northing (2)
> at the end, giving NJ854422.
>
> To find a place from the six-digit reference, just [?just]
> reverse the process. So, for NJ885468 find the square
> in NJ where the 88 east-west and 46 north-south grid
> lines cross. Measure 5-tenths east and 8-tenths north
> and you should find New Deer.
>
> It probably sounds complicated, so the simplest way
> is to take our six-digit reference and put it [including
> the NJ, or equivalent] into an internet mapping service.
> They will then display the place for you. They'll also
> give you the full 6/6 digit reference and the longitude
> and latitude, usually displayed below the map.
>
> So for Balquhindarchy we find NJ854422 is also
> 385400m east [X] and 842200m north [Y] and
> Lat(itude): 57:28:11N (57.4698);
> Lon(gitude): 2:14:42W (-2.2451)
> Multimap also gives the Post Code for the area. Wow!
>
> So, Baldavie, at NJ627614, is 62.7 km east and 61.4 km
> north of Loch Etchachan. From the GB origin it is
> 362700m east and 861400m north , and
> Lat(itude): 57:38:27N (57.641);
> Lon(gitude): 2:37:35W (-2.6264)
> Post code AB45 3xx
>
> Any questions? I'll take that as a "no" [or "oh?"].
>
> Good luck
>
> Ray Hennessy
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bobbie and Brian Amyes" <>
> To: "Ray Hennessy" <>; <>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2005 9:53 PM
> Subject: Re: [ABERDEEN] Map Referencing
>
>
>> Hi Ray and List members
>> I have been following with interest the discussion about farm houses,
>> locations, etc. My main research in Aberdeenshire has been chasing up the
>> Howies/Huies in Clatt and New Deer and the Milnes in Aberdeen, but doing
>> my bit for genealogy I have been transcribing the 1851 census for
>> Applecross, Ross and I like the idea of being able to find the places via
>> a reference and map. Many of the hamlets or solitary houses have
>> disappeared off the maps but with local knowledge, some of the places
>> could be indentified and a map reference number would pinpoint the
>> location. I could see that my work on the census could help people find
>> where their ancestors lived but I am ignorant about how the system works
>>
>> Eg. Baldavie NJ627614
>>
>> How does this differ from longitude and latitude?
>> Bobbie
>

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