Diagram A

SZ

NZNYNXNW

NUNTNSNR

NONNNMNL

NKNHNGNFNDNCNBNANJ

TQ

SM TL TMSN SPSO

TFSKSJSHTASESDSC

SR SS SUST TR

SV TVSW

HP

SYSX

TG

HZHYHXHW

HUHT

400

300

200

100

700

900

600

500

800

1000

1200

1100

400 600100 300200 5000

0

Diagram C

35

70

31

33

34

36

37

38

6560 61 62 63 6964 66 67 68

35

30

31

32

33

39

34

36

37

38

39

4040TL

TL TL

TL

30

TL6332

Diagram B

5

1

3

4

6

7

8

50 1 2 3 94 6 7 8

5

0

1

2

3

9

4

6

7

8

9

0

south-westcorner

TL2

northing

s ▶

eastings ▶

TL63

1 The National Grid provides a unique reference system, which can be applied to all Ordnance Survey maps of Great Britain, at all scales.

2 Great Britain is covered by 100 kilometre grid squares, each grid square is identified by two letters, as shown in diagram A.

3 On Ordnance Survey maps these squares are further divided into smaller squares 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.

5 On an OS Landranger Map you can find 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.

4 Using this system you can identify a 10 kilometre grid 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

6 You can estimate distances between the 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…

Using the National Grid

7 The six-figure grid reference is very useful to locate a particular place on a map.

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.

9 All you do is estimate how many tenths away from the grid your point falls. For instance, the point in diagram D is three tenths east of grid 62 and seven tenths north of grid 31.

10 Once again, reading from the south-west corner, quote all the eastings first, then the northings. The 100-metre grid reference of the point in the diagram is shown like this: TL 623317.

11 Here is an extract from a 1:50 000 scale map. Use the National Grid reference system to find:

The Church at TL683365 The Windmill at TL726350 Mill Farm at TL701352

Map extract from OS Landranger Map Sheet 154.

Diagram D

35

70

31

33

34

36

37

38

6560 61 62 63 6964 66 67 68

35

30

31

32

33

39

34

36

37

38

39

4040TL

TL TL

TL

30

seventenths

threetenths

south-westcorner

TL6332

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The six-figure grid reference