The maps and associated spatial information included in the Dorset Coast Digital Archive (DCDA) reflect the rich diversity and history of cartography on the Dorset Coast. The collection includes notable cartographic treasures such as Treswell’s map of Studland parish whilst mapping series, including the Tithe maps from the early nineteenth century and later Ordnance Survey cartography from the late nineteenth century, provide more comprehensive coverage of the coastal region.

The DCDA provides a glimpse of the Dorset Coast throughout history with a large number of maps dating back to the sixteenth century (including selected estate maps) being presented for the first time as an entire single image. Utilising the latest technology the DCDA enables the user to compare and contrast these previously disparate cartographic resources, creating a unique cartographic experience. It allows the user to ‘explore’ the Dorset Coast through time and space travelling as they do from the seventeenth century to the twentieth century, from Christchurch to Lyme Regis.

Individual maps were either produced for separate estates or parishes or as separate sheets of a series such as the Ordnance Survey One Inch to One Mile Series. Estate and tithe maps are often very large and increasingly fragile, so the DCDA has provided an opportunity to make them more accessible and to assure their safe conservation. The maps have been georectified (adjusted) in a way that enables them to be stitched together, allowing for the first time easy access to them. Whoever uses the maps needs to understand that maps have many attributes that affect the way we use them and especially affect their reliability

The Dorset Coastal Digital Archive Map Viewer provides access to all the images shown here as thumbnails. The Map Viewer also allows you to view the maps and aerial photographs of different dates alongside each other. In addition, individual images are also available within the Image Library.

The Geology Toolbox is a small tool to represent different geologies throughout the dorset coast. Click here to see the Geology Toolbox.