Old Ordnance Survey Maps of Cambridgeshire

This page summarises the local government organisation of Cambridgeshire since 1894.

In 1889 the area now known as Cambridgeshire was covered by four small counties, and from 1894 a network of urban and rural districts was formed:

  • Cambridgeshire, comprising Cambridge Municipal Borough, plus Caxton & Arrington (abolished 1934), Chesterton, Linton, Melbourn, Newmarket, and Swavesey Rural Districts. Swavesey RD was absorbed by Chesterton RD in 1931. Linton RD and Melbourn RD merged as South Cambridgeshire Rural District in 1934. Cambridge was created a City in 1951. (Note: Newmarket Urban District was in Suffolk.)
  • Isle of Ely, comprising Wisbech Municipal Borough, Chatteris Urban District, City of Ely Urban District, March Urban District, Whittlesea Urban District, plus Ely, North Witchford, Thorney, West Welney, Whittlesea, and Wisbech Rural Districts. West Welney was absorbed by Norfolk's Downham RD in 1895. Ely is an ancient City. The County Hall was in March.
  • Huntingdonshire, comprising Huntingdon & Godmanchester Municipal Borough, St Ives Municipal Borough, Old Fletton Urban District, Ramsey Urban District, St Neots Urban District, plus Huntingdon, Norman Cross, St Ives, and St Neots Rural Districts.
  • Soke of Peterborough, comprising the City of Peterborough Municipal Borough, plus Barnack and Peterborough Rural Districts. Peterborough became a city in the 16th century.

    In 1965 Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely were merged into one county, Cambridgeshire & Isle of Ely, while Huntingdonshire and the Soke of Peterborough were also merged, becoming one county, Huntingdon & Peterborough. Thorney Rural District was transferred from the Isle of Ely to Huntingdon & Peterborough.

    In 1974 Further reorganisation saw all four earlier counties amalgamated into one county, Cambridgeshire. This was administered through six District Councils: City of Cambridge, City of Peterborough, East Cambridgeshire, Fenland, Huntingdonshire, and South Cambridgeshire. In 1998 Peterbrough became a unitary authority, effectively restoring self-government to the Soke of Peterborough.

  • For a list of our Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely maps go to the main Cambridgeshire page, for Huntingdonshire go to the Huntingdonshire page, for Peterborough go to the Soke of Peterborough page.
  • Most maps in the Godfrey Edition are taken from the 25 inch to the mile map and reduced to about 15 inches to the mile. They cost just £ 3.00 each (Coloured editions £ 4.00). For a full list of English maps, return to the England page

  • You can order maps direct from our On-line Mapshop.
    Minor changes are not listed here, but please advise us of any significant errors or omissions.
    Alan Godfrey Maps, Prospect Business Park, Leadgate, Consett, DH8 7PW. Tel 01207 583388
    The Godfrey Edition / sales@alangodfreymaps.co.uk / 25 November 2017