MapServe

Customer Stories

Using Historical Mapping to Resolve Boundary Disputes: How Geosight Enhances Accuracy with MapServe®

Andrew Coombes is a boundary surveyor and quality manager at Geosight, a surveying firm based in London with coverage extending to Exeter and across the UK. Geosight specialises in providing highly accurate dimension data for both built and natural environments, often working on complex property boundary disputes.

Surveyor

Before

Needed to resolve neighbour disputes regarding unclear or contested property boundaries
Relied on modern OS maps and title plans, which often didn’t align due to land changes over time
Found that legal boundaries were frequently misinterpreted due to shifts in hedges, fences, or roads
Lacked access to layered historical context that could clarify original boundary intentions

After

Gained deeper clarity on boundary evolution through access to historical OS mapping
Used past maps to compare physical features across decades and support interpretation of legal documents
Identified changes caused by nature or development—like overgrowth or road realignment—that impacted current boundaries
Strengthened legal boundary analysis by contrasting original land layouts with modern-day features
Improved client outcomes in disputes by pinpointing the likely original boundary intent

Process

Reviewed the current OS-based title plan registered with the Land Registry
Accessed older OS maps (e.g. from 1948) via MapServe® to understand historical land features
Cross-referenced maps with legal descriptions and physical survey data
Analysed how land use, vegetation, or construction had shifted boundaries over time
Delivered expert interpretation of where the legal boundary was likely meant to be

Conclusion

For Andrew and the team at Geosight, historical OS mapping from MapServe® is an essential tool for resolving complex boundary disputes. By comparing past and present maps, they can more accurately assess the true intent behind legal boundaries—especially when physical features no longer align. In a field where millimetres matter, this kind of layered mapping insight can make all the difference.

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