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Map Features
The quality and usefulness of our street maps is derived from the following features, most of which give 'added value' when directly compared with the products of our competitors:-
1. All our maps are based on Ordnance Survey mapping, supplemented by extensive and exhaustive personal survey work by the publisher.
2. As a matter of course, and wherever practicable, we aim to show and name all streets, public buildings (indicated by plan shapes rather than symbols), topographical features, footpaths, turning heads, etc.
3. Updating is carried out, on average, every two years (generally achieved until 2007-08 when the very reluctant decision was taken to cease publication of new titles/editions).
4. Map scales are generally either 8 inches to 1 mile (1:7500) or around 6 inches to 1 mile (1:10,000), although some of the larger towns and villages are published at a smaller scale to allow coverage within a conveniently-sized sheet.
5. Unlike any other similar range of maps on the market which generally confine their indexes to lists of streets, R P A Smith Street Plans feature full listings which include:-
* Antiquities/Places of Interest (including tourist information)
* Leisure/Recreational Facilities including parks and libraries
* Schools, Colleges and Universities
* Places of Worship - from cathedrals to gospel halls
* Health and Welfare Facilities - from hospitals to Job Centres
* Other Information including locations of emergency services, railway stations, council offices and industrial estates.
Regrettably, our 2008 decision to cease publication means that Scotland will lose its only comprehensive mapping of towns and villages - and very up-to-date street mapping (even showing roads, streets and features in advance of construction) will become a thing of the past, once our street plans disappear from retail outlets over the next few years.
Traditionally, our maps have been produced in a simple but distinctive black-and-white format, but an increasing number, particularly those relating to towns of particular tourist interest, are being produced in colour. Double-sided maps mostly feature a cover sketch, all of which are reproduced from original hand drawings by the publisher.
The format of each individual map is indicated on the 'Map List' web page.
While the RPA Smith Street Plans show considerable detail, the format is simple and they are still easy to understand and use. In 1995, one of our titles was selected for display in the UK Mapping Exhibition at the International Cartographic Association's Barcelona conference.
Press Reviews
Unsolicited press reviews have included the following:-
* 'I have always admired the six inch to a mile plans drawn by R P A Smith for their clarity and accuracy' The Observer
* 'Ronald P A Smith's meticulous series of Scottish maps is too good to be confined north of the border' Refer (Library Association Journal)
The 'Map Coverage' web page gives a general idea of the extent of past, present and future Street Plan coverage of Scottish cities, towns and villages, while the 'Map List' page lists all the map titles in alphabetical order. Please click on the relevant blue button to gain access to these pages.
The smaller and/or associated communities on each map are also included on the 'Map List' page. For these places, the relevant Street Plan title can easily be located by referring to the nearest large or important town, but you may have to try more than one possibility.
