Rare Old Ordnance Survey Map, Sheet 143 - Truro, 1919-1926: Newquay, St Austell, Roche, Bodmin, River Fal, Carn Brea Hill, and Goss Moor

This Old Ordnance Survey Map, "Sheet 143 - Truro", dating from 1919-1926, is a remarkable piece of cartographic history, offering a fascinating snapshot of England's past. The map, part of Ordnance Survey's esteemed One-inch "Popular" edition, covers a distinctive rectangular swathe of the beautiful county of Cornwall, reaching 18 miles north to south, 27 miles west to east, and 32 miles across the diagonal. Nestled in the heart of the map is the charming village of St Stephen, a beacon amidst the Cornish landscape.

This area of Cornwall, painted in delicate detail on this map, is renowned for its picturesque towns, undulating hills, enchanting rivers, and intriguing landmarks. It offers a perfect blend of urban life, pastoral scenery, and rich historical heritage. Major towns of note on the map include the bustling city of Truro and the vibrant market town of Newquay, while the serene River Fal and the prominent Carn Brea Hill add to the area's natural appeal. This region's diverse landscape further embraces the stunning Goss Moor National Nature Reserve, making it a much sought-after destination among nature lovers and history enthusiasts alike.

The settlements on this map include:

1. Truro - The only city in Cornwall, famous for its gothic-revival cathedral and as a center of commerce for the region.
2. Newquay - A popular tourist destination known for its exceptional surf beaches and vibrant nightlife.
3. St Austell - Known for its historic china clay industry and the nearby Eden Project, an expansive series of biomes housing global plant species.
4. Bodmin - Famous for the Bodmin Moor and its rich history, including the Bodmin Jail, a historic former prison now serving as a museum.
5. Roche - A village famous for Roche Rock, a large granite outcrop with a chapel on top.
6. Bugle - Noted for its rich industrial heritage in the china clay mining industry.
7. St Dennis - Famous for its beautiful church and the nearby sky-tipping hills, remnants of china clay mining.
8. Fraddon - Known for Kingsley Village shopping centre, one of the area's main retail destinations.
9. Indian Queens - A small village with a rich history, named after a pub that was supposedly visited by Pocahontas.
10. St Stephen-in-Brannel - A historic mining parish known for its old church and community spirit.
11. St Columb Road - Known for its railway station which used to serve the Par to Newquay Atlantic Coast Line.
12. Grampound Road - A small village with a historic cricket field.
13. Foxhole - A village built to serve the china clay industry.
14. Penwithick - Known for its proximity to the Eden Project.
15. Tregrehan Mills - A small settlement with a beautiful mill.
16. Nanpean - Known for its historical association with the china clay industry.

Other notable landmarks on this map include:

1. River Fal - The third deepest natural harbor in the world, winding through the Cornish countryside.
2. Carn Brea Hill - A significant Neolithic and Iron Age archaeological site, topped by a monument and castle.
3. Goss Moor National Nature Reserve - An expansive wetland habitat, home to a rich variety of flora and fauna.
4. St Austell Bay - A picturesque body of water off the south coast.
5. China Clay Pits - These towering white mounds are a testament to the region's industrial past.
6. The Eden Project - An environmental complex that houses a vast collection of plants from different habitats around the world.
7. Truro Cathedral - An iconic gothic-revival cathedral nestled in the heart of Truro.
8. Roche Rock - A granite outcrop with a chapel perched on top, steeped in legend and folklore.
9. Pentewan Sands - A large, sandy beach popular among tourists.
10. Trewithen Gardens - A historic private estate renowned for its botanical garden.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at all sizes: 12x16in (30.5x41cm), 18x24in (45.5x61cm), 16x20in (40.5x51cm), 24x36in (61x91.5cm), 30x40in (76x101.5cm), 37x50in (94x127cm), 45x60in (114x152.5cm) and 52x70in (132x178cm), but it looks even better when printed large.

I can create beautiful, large prints of this map up to 100in (254cm). Please get in touch if you're looking for larger, customised or different framing options.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45.5x61cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

The labels on this map are very small at 12x16in (30.5x41cm). The map is still very attractive, but you may struggle to read the smallest letters. Please buy a larger map if it's important to be able to read the map easily.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my main collection of UK and Ireland maps.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and custom made maps take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes a day or two.

Please note that for larger framed orders (over 40in/100cm), and some other framed sizes, the delivery time will be closer to 7-10 days.

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps in 22 countries around the world. This means your map will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and reduces the chance of your map being damaged during delivery. There won't be any extra taxes or duties to pay, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all maps within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks or mugs) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

We can sometimes do next-day delivery if you order before 10am. But usually it's best to contact me first before you order.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps are also available as a framed canvas. The map is printed on matte (not shiny) canvas, stretched over a box frame, and then 'floated' within a simple wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing in front of your map.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map yourself, please read my map size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your unique map for any reason, contact me for a no-quibble refund.

I am very confident you will like your old map. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and have over 4,000 real 5-star reviews.

I use a unique process to restore my maps that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore the maps. As a result, I guarantee my maps are a cut above the rest - that's why I can offer a no-quibble refund.

Almost all of my maps look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.