National Library of Scotland historical maps

Communities United Kingdom
1

There are now many more large-scale OS maps available on the NLS website. They are on the same terms (CC-BY) as the maps we are already using. The ‘new’ maps cover much of Great Britain, especially built-up areas. They include newer editions of maps we are already using.

I have added some of the maps to the list of layers in JOSM. They can also be added manually in iD (all tms with a zoom range of 1-20):

NLS - OS 1:1,250 National Grid Maps Ed. A SH - TL
https://geo.nls.uk/mapdata3/os/1250_A_3/{z}/{x}/{y}.png

NLS - OS 1:1,250 National Grid Maps Ed. A TL - TR
https://geo.nls.uk/mapdata2/os/1250_A_4/{z}/{x}/{y}.png

NLS - OS 1:1,250 National Grid Maps Ed. B SJ - TR
https://geo.nls.uk/maps/os/1250_B_1eng/{z}/{x}/{y}.png

NLS - OS 1:1,250 National Grid Maps Ed. C
https://geo.nls.uk/maps/os/1250_C/{z}/{x}/{y}.png

I have also updated the wiki National Library of Scotland - OpenStreetMap Wiki

You can find more layers on the NLS web site. Go to the Georeferenced Map viewer https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/ and find the map you want. Click on Overlay at the bottom of the page. Check that it says Re-use: CC-BY (NLS). Then click on the link for the map layer. This will open a how-to-use page (although there are some links which don’t work). Click on XYZ and a URL will appear in a box just below. Copy the URL and add it manually to JOSM or iD. Here is a list of all the new URLs not mentioned above.

1:1250 scale, all tms with a zoom range of 1-20
Scotland, edition A
https://mapseries-tilesets.s3.amazonaws.com/os/1250_1967/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
https://mapseries-tilesets.s3.amazonaws.com/os/1250_1968/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
https://mapseries-tilesets.s3.amazonaws.com/os/1250_1969/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
https://mapseries-tilesets.s3.amazonaws.com/os/1250_1970/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
https://mapseries-tilesets.s3.amazonaws.com/os/1250_1971/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
https://geo.nls.uk/mapdata3/os/1250_A_1972-4/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
England and Wales, edition A
https://geo.nls.uk/mapdata3/os/1250_A_1/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
https://geo.nls.uk/mapdata3/os/1250_A_2/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
https://geo.nls.uk/mapdata3/os/1250_A_1974/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
Great Britain, edition A
https://geo.nls.uk/mapdata2/os/1250_A_1975/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
Scotland, edition B
https://mapseries-tilesets.s3.amazonaws.com/os/1250_B/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
Great Britain, edition B
https://geo.nls.uk/mapdata2/os/1250_B_1973-5/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
Scotland, edition C
https://mapseries-tilesets.s3.amazonaws.com/os/1250_C/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
Great Britain, edition C
https://geo.nls.uk/mapdata2/os/1250_C_1973-5/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
1:2500 scale, all tms with a zoom range of 1-18
Scotland, edition A
https://geo.nls.uk/mapdata3/os/2500_1967/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
https://mapseries-tilesets.s3.amazonaws.com/os/2500_1968/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
https://mapseries-tilesets.s3.amazonaws.com/os/2500_1969/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
https://geo.nls.uk/mapdata2/os/2500_1970/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
https://geo.nls.uk/mapdata2/os/2500_1971/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
https://geo.nls.uk/mapdata3/os/2500_1972/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
https://geo.nls.uk/mapdata2/os/2500_1973/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
England and Wales double sheets, edition A
https://geo.nls.uk/mapdata2/os/2500_A_1D/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
https://geo.nls.uk/mapdata2/os/2500_A_2D/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
https://geo.nls.uk/maps/os/2500_A_3D/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
https://geo.nls.uk/mapdata2/os/2500_A_4D/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
https://geo.nls.uk/mapdata2/os/2500_A_5D/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
https://geo.nls.uk/mapdata2/os/2500_A_6D/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
https://geo.nls.uk/mapdata2/os/2500_A_7D/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
England and Wales single sheets, edition A
https://geo.nls.uk/maps/os/2500_A_1S/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
https://geo.nls.uk/mapdata2/os/2500_A_2S/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
https://geo.nls.uk/mapdata2/os/2500_A_3S/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
https://geo.nls.uk/mapdata2/os/2500_A_4S/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
https://mapseries-tilesets.s3.amazonaws.com/os/london_2500/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
Great Britain, edition A
https://geo.nls.uk/mapdata3/os/2500_1974/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
https://geo.nls.uk/mapdata3/os/2500_A_1975/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
Great Britain, edition B
https://geo.nls.uk/mapdata2/os/2500_B/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
https://geo.nls.uk/mapdata3/os/2500_B_1973-5/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
Great Britain, edition C
https://geo.nls.uk/mapdata2/os/2500_C/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
https://geo.nls.uk/mapdata3/os/2500_C_1973-5/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
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2

CC-BY is not an acceptable licence for use in OSM - I believe the existing maps are used under an additional agreement with NLS, and unless we can confirm that these newer layers are available under the same agreement, I don’t believe they are allowable for mapping.

3

You might be the first person to put two and two together, and realise that there may be an issue with the waiver for this source.

I have been giving some thought to my reply… But there may be aspects I have missed.

TL;DR (Key points)
Can anyone help with more information about the arrangements with the NLS?
The OSM blog post refers to databases and data as sources, it’s not clear how it applies to images as a source.
Is a waiver needed in this case?
Would an aerial-imagery-type waiver be more appropriate?
If I were to seek a CC-BY 4.0 waiver, do I have the community’s backing to describe myself as a representative of OSM?

I don’t know who made the original arrangements with the NLS, and I don’t know where any record of those communications might be. But it looks like those discussions pre-date the OSM blog post you highlighted (2017). So it is quite possible that a waiver has not been sought. A further complication is that the contacts with NLS appear to go back to before the release of the CC-BY 4.0 licence (2013). I believe at the time the NLS was using the CC-BY 3.0 licence (for which the OSMF has a different waiver), and I don’t know when the NLS changed to version 4.0.

Can anyone help with more information about the arrangements with the NLS? Especially about any agreement which may have been made.

My involvement came in 2022 after a new set of maps appeared on the NLS web site. This was the OS 1:1250 and 1:2500 plans for grid square TQ. That layer was subject to a restriction - no commercial use - so it couldn’t be used by OSM. But the restriction had an expiry date. My involvement was to confirm this situation with the curator of maps at the NLS, and ask him the expiry date. After the expiry date, I asked the curator to confirm that that the layer could now be used by OSM. To put the confirmation on the record, I posted a message to the talk-gb mailing list [Talk-GB] NLS historical OS plans for grid square TQ , with a quote of part of the curator’s reply. If I have understood correctly, we have the ‘explicit permission’ referred to in the OSM blog post - but the curator’s reply did not contain an ‘explicit waiver’.

My next involvement came in 2026, as described in my original post in this topic.

For those who may be less familiar with copyright issues, the OS maps in question are out of copyright. What we are discussing here is the conditions which the NLS attach to the use of their scans. This is the CC-BY 4.0 licence. The blog post Russ highlighted, points out that the licence includes a ban on the use of digital rights management (“technological measures”) on works which contain elements based on the source. The post points out that the ODbL under which OSM data is made available, does not include a ban on the use of DRM on produced works. The post says it is therefore OSM policy to obtain a waiver of the ban on DRM, from the supplier of CC-BY 4.0 content.

The OSM blog post refers to databases and data as sources. The post provides a template message and waiver form to be sent to the supplier of CC-BY 4.0 content. The process of using a raster image is rather different from using data, although we end up with information based on the image. The OSMF also has a waiver for tracing from aerial imagery. I would like views on whether using an image affects the need for a waiver, and on whether the aerial imagery waiver would be the appropriate one in this case. (I am not a lawyer).

If the CC-BY 4.0 waiver is to be used, the template message includes words describing the sender as a representative of OSM. I am not a board member of OSMUK, not even an ordinary member. But I would be willing to seek the waiver (if necessary) if I have the backing of the community to describe myself as a representative of OSM. Or I would be willing to seek an aerial-imagery-type waiver.

4

I’m not familiar with the NLS discussions specifically, but I think pretty much everywhere OpenStreetMap (and OpenHistoricalMap) have usually relied on volunteers to reach out for permission or waivers individually. The purpose of @SimonPoole’s 2017 blog post was to empower community members to take the lead on discussions with licensors. It’s not like other mappers would complain if you manage to secure valid permission, though coordination is a good idea to avoid sending mixed messages.

Sometimes I do prefer to rope in someone more official, when the licensor requires a signed agreement or other special conditions, since I don’t want there to be questions down the line if I’m no longer around. But that’s pretty rare these days in my experience.

5

My take on this is that we don’t need the CC-BY waiver as our use is not via that licence. Or use is via a prior agreement. An email to Chris just to double check is all that’s required. @Adrian_2 please feel free to do this given you’ve already had contact with Chris.

(Basically what Russ said; check existing agreement applies to these new layers)

6

Following an exchange of emails, the National Library of Scotland (NLS) has given the confirmations that we sought.

Subject: [Maps] Historical maps and OpenStreetMap
Date: 10 April 2026 10:14
From: LibAnswers maps@natlibscot.libanswers.com

–# Reply to this email to respond #–

Christopher Fleet
Apr 10 2026, 10:14AM via System
Dear Adrian,
Many thanks for your reply, and for explaining these issues further. I wasn’t aware of the changes introduced by CC BY 4.0 licensing, prohibiting the use of Digital Rights management on works.
Your understanding of the arrangements between NLS and OSM is absolutely correct. There has never been any formal agreement, just an exchange of e-mails on the standard NLS licensing arrangements allowing OSM to re-use NLS layers as you wish. We would be quite happy to confirm on your two points:
(a) Attribution is the only requirement of re-using NLS layers released under CC-BY terms, and NLS is not wishing to prohibit the use of DRM on these layers.
(b) Attribution will be the only requirement of layers released in the future under CC-BY terms.
The NLS is not wishing to apply any other restrictions on the re-use of these layers, and are keen to grant to OSM the extra permissions you need to use these layers as you wish.
I hope that this helps, clarifies things, and is what you need to hear, but I’d be happy to discuss further.
With kind regards,
Chris
Chris Fleet
Map Curator | Access, Collections and Research

National Library of Scotland
33 Salisbury Place, Edinburgh EH9 1SL
Tel: 0131 623 4670
Website: maps.nls.uk

To clarify -
This permission applies to map layers owned by the NLS, and released under CC BY. These layers are indicated on the NLS website with CC BY (NLS).
The permission applies only to OSM.
I initially made contact with the maps department of the NLS, by email to the address given on the Contact Us page of the NLS website maps.nls.uk. My message was then put into a ticket management system. I began the email “Dear Chris Fleet” (although I didn’t know whether he was still Curator of Maps).

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India's history on OpenHistoricalMap
7

Just to be clear, are they placing this additional restriction on the use of the layers? It sounded like the two points in their response were more general statements.

OpenHistoricalMap has historically included some CC BY data (by interpreting the database as a collective work), but the attribution-only permission would be ideal. Hopefully there wouldn’t be additional complication in case any of data needs to be transferred from OSM to OHM in the future.

8

It sounded like that to me too - that they had given a broader permission than I was seeking. For greater certainty, I checked with them, and they confirmed permission for OpenHistoricalMap.

Subject: [Maps] Historical maps and OpenStreetMap
Date: 14 April 2026 17:10
From: LibAnswers maps@natlibscot.libanswers.com

–# Reply to this email to respond #–

Christopher Fleet
Apr 14 2026, 5:09PM via System
Dear Adrian,
Many thanks for your message, and that’s good to hear that this confirms what you need.
Yes, the NLS would be happy to confirm the same arrangements for OpenHistoricalMap too.
Kind regards,
Chris

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9

Thank you for confirming! I’ve added a note about that to our documentation about NLS, which is linked from some pages of resources for OHM mappers as well.