WIREDGOV

Ordnance Survey has joined forces with Southampton City Council to celebrate over 160 years of history between the map makers and the city with an exhibition at the Maritime Museum.

Ordnance Survey In Southampton: Mapping Great Britain Since 1791 celebrates not only a long association between the national mapping agency and the city of Southampton, but also the Ordnance Survey's recent move to a new head office at Adanac Park, near the M271.

As well as a number of artifacts illustrating past surveying and cartographic techniques there is a mine of information on Ordnance Survey, past and present. Take the opportunity to discover more about the national mapping agencies three homes in the city since transferring from the Tower of London is 1842 and how the Southampton Blitz affected the organisation .

The exhibition showcases a timeline of Ordnance Survey's history starting in 1791 when the Board of Ordnance Survey was ordered, by the government, to survey England 's south coast to protect the country from a French Revolution sweeping across the English Channel .

Over the next 220 years the timeline portrays how the art of map making has changed with advances in technology. Visitors can also explore the transition from paper mapping to the digital age and the arrival of the intelligent, geospatial database, OS MasterMap.

The timeline concludes with a display highlighting how Ordnance Survey mapping data is used by individuals and businesses today in many products and services, including satellite navigation systems, online mapping, the emergency services, home deliveries and flood prevention.

Before visitors leave the exhibition there is an opportunity for everyone to test their knowledge on local Southampton landmarks. The competition to win a personalised OS Select map challenges visitors to recognize abstract photos of well known Southampton buildings.

Vanessa Lawrence CB, Director General and Chief Executive of Ordnance Survey, said: “I was delighted when Ordnance Survey was offered the wonderful opportunity to develop an exhibition for Southampton's Maritime Museum . This cements our long-standing relationship with the city and allows us to celebrate our rich history in Southampton . Having recently moved into our new head office at Adanac Park , we hope to enjoy many more years of being associated with this part of Hampshire.”

Councillor John Hannides, Southampton City Council's cabinet member for Leisure, Culture and Heritage said: “This is a wonderful exhibition that details the long relationship Ordnance Survey has with Southampton . The exhibition will feature intriguing historical facts about the national mapping agency that both residents and visitors to Southampton will find fascinating.”

The exhibition opens for preview by invitation only on Thursday 10 February 2011 and will then be open to all visitors until Sunday 5 June. For details of opening times and ticket prices, visit the Southampton Maritime Museum website http://www.southampton.gov.uk/s-leisure/artsheritage/museums-galleries/maritimemuseum.aspx.