| Description | The set of files in this series of the archive concern the making of 'peoples' parish maps'. Common Ground used the term 'peoples' parish maps' to refer to maps made by people of a particular parish (including individuals, community groups and institutions), in contrast to the 'artists' parish maps', which were the 18 parish maps made by profesional artists that were commissioned by Common Ground for an exhibition in 1987.
From the 1980s to the early 2000s, Common Ground collected a substantial amount of information relating to parish maps created across the UK. The charity also collected some examples of parish maps made in other countries around the world. The early to mid-1990s appears to have been the most significant period of collecting for Common Ground, as plans were set in motion for an exhibition of people's parish maps, which opened in 1996 ('from place to PLACE: an Exhibition of Peoples' Parish Maps'). Although Common Ground collected information on a considerable number of parish maps, it is probable that there are still many parish maps in existence that the charity is not aware of (which Common Ground refers to in several documents in the archive).
The majority of the material concerning peoples' parish maps collected by Common Ground appears to have been sent to the charity by the makers themselves, to ask for advice, provide information on progress, or in response to a call for information from Common Ground in the mid-1990s. Material in this series includes: correspondence, press clippings, reports, publications, promotional material, and copies of parish maps (photocopies, postcards, prints, slides). |