Using the National Grid
9
9
8
8
7
6
northings ▶
7
6
TL
5
4
TL63
3
2
2
1
1
0
0
39
4
6
5
eastings ▶
Diagram C
TL
TL
40
39
38
38
37
37
36
36
35
34
TL63
NW NX NY NZ
500
SC SD SE TA
400
3
40
NR NS NT NU
600
Diagram B
3
NL NM NN NO
700
by grid lines representing 10 kilometre
spacing, each numbered from 0 to 9 from
the south-west corner, in an easterly
(left to right) and northerly (upwards)
direction, as shown in diagram B.
2
NF NG NH NJ NK
800
On Ordnance Survey maps these squares
3 are
further divided into smaller squares
1
NA NB NC ND
900
by two letters, as shown in diagram A.
0
HW HX HY HZ
1000
Great Britain is covered by 100 kilometre
2 grid
squares, each grid square is identified
south-west
corner
HT HU
1100
all Ordnance Survey maps of Great Britain,
at all scales.
5
HP
1200
National Grid provides a unique
1 The
reference system, which can be applied to
4
Diagram A
35
34
33
33
32
32
31
31
TL
TL
30
30
60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70
7
8
9
SH SJ SK TF TG
300
SM SN SO SP TL TM
200
SR SS ST SU TQ TR
100
0
SV SW SX SY SZ TV
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
this system you can identify a 10 kilometre grid
4 Using
square. For example, here is TL63. After the letters you
quote the eastings (6) first, then the northings (3).
If you have trouble remembering, say…
stairs
the
up
Along the hall, THEN
On an OS Landranger Map you can find
5 the
two grid letters TL on the legend, or
on the corner of the map, and the grid
has been further divided into 1 kilometre
intervals, as shown in diagram C.
You can estimate distances between the
6 grid
lines to give a more precise reference.
Turn the page and see how easy it is to use
a six-figure grid reference to pinpoint a
place on the map…
The six-figure grid reference
40
The six-figure grid reference is very useful to
7 locate
a particular place on a map.
39
Diagram D
TL
TL
38
8
By estimating the eastings and northings to
one tenth of the grid interval, you can specify
a full six-figure grid reference, accurate to
within 100 metres on the ground.
38
37
36
36
TL63
35
33
33
32
32 seven
31
31
south-west
corner
again, reading from the
10Once
south-west corner, quote all the eastings
tenths
three
tenths
Here is an extract from a 1:50 000 scale
11 map.
Use the National Grid reference
first, then the northings. The 100-metre
grid reference of the point in the diagram is
shown like this: TL 623317.
system to find:
The Church at TL683365
The Windmill at TL726350
Mill Farm at TL701352
Map extract from OS Landranger Map Sheet 154.
www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/contactus
35
34
TL
TL
30
30
60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70
the point in diagram D is three tenths east of
grid 62 and seven tenths north of grid 31.
General information
39
37
34
All you do is estimate how many tenths away
9 from
the grid your point falls. For instance,
40
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