What you can find in the Library

Some gazetteers give quite detailed descriptions of places, or the sheet numbers of relevant Ordnance Survey maps.

Many of the gazetteers in our collection cover England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales at various points in time.

Key resources

Cassell's gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1894-98)

The National gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1861)

The gazetteer of England : England's cities, towns, villages and hamlets (1972)

The Parliamentary gazetteer of England and Wales [microform] (1840-1843)

Johnston's gazetteer of Scotland (1973)

General alphabetical index to the townlands and towns, parishes, and baronies of Ireland, based on the Census of Ireland for 1851

Gazetteer of Northern Ireland, listing all the names that appear on the sheets of the 1-inch map (third series) and giving the position of each name in terms of the Irish grid. (1969)

How to search, find and access items

Search the catalogue

Some British and Irish Gazetteers are available for reference in our Special Collections Reading Room. Others may be requested through the catalogue and are delivered to the reading rooms to view.

1. Search the catalogue for the country and gazetteer.
   • For example:
     • England gazetteer
     • Ireland gazetteer
     • Great Britain gazetteer
     • Scotland gazetteer
2. Select the catalogue record you want
3. Click Request
4. Click Select
5. Log in with your Library account and submit the request.

How to order copies of maps

Once you have identified maps of interest, you can order copies of material that is out of copyright using our Copies Direct service.

If the item you wish to order is a single map:

1. Click on Order a Copy at the top of the catalogue record
2. Select Whole item and complete the order.

If the item you wish to order is a map within an atlas:

1. Click on Order a Copy at the top of the catalogue record
2. Select Part(s) of item and specify the page or plate required in the Sheet/Plate number field and complete the order.

Get help with your research

Our specialist staff can help you with your research, to locate resources and use our microform and scanning equipment but they cannot undertake extensive or ongoing genealogical, historical or other research on your behalf.

Find out more in our Information and research services policy.

Ask a Librarian