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Midlands & Shropshire
USING OS GRID REFS
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Using OS grid references |
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How do you use Ordnance Survey (OS) grid references? OS grid references are a brilliant idea, which enables you to pinpoint any spot in the country to within a few metres, provided you have the appropriate OS map. An OS grid reference is a six-digit number, such as 069867. If the OS were being a bit more mathematical they would write this as (06.9, 86.7) and it's actually quite helpful to think of the number in that way. So, as an example, here's how you would find the spot 069867, or (06.9, 86.7) on the map. - If we look at an OS map we can see that there are 'grid lines' running horizontally and vertically across it. Each grid line is referenced by a two-digit number printed in the margins at its ends. - To find the first part of the reference - 06.9 in our example - we look along the bottom margin of the map until we come to the vertical grid line numbered 06, and then we keep going until we've gone nine-tenths of the way towards grid line 07. We are have now found 06.9. - Next, we want to combine 06.9 with the second part of the reference, which was 86.7 in our example. To do this, from the point we've just found at the bottom of the map, we go vertically up the map until we meet the horizontal grid line numbered 86, and then we keep on going up until we're seven-tenths of the way towards grid line 87. We have now found the spot (06.9, 86.7) or 069867, that we were looking for. If you have an OS map of Birmingham, try this out and you will find that 069867 is smack in the middle of New Street Station.
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...West
