Abbreviations and symbols - Charles Goad Fire Insurance Plans of Scottish Towns, 1880s-1940s
On these Goad maps, we have gathered below the more common abbreviations, an explanation of building colours, heights, numbers, and other symbols, as well as the depiction of skylights, walls and windows.
Abbreviations
A.S.B | Asbestos |
BAST. | Basement |
C. | Concrete |
CORR. | Corrugated Iron |
D. | Dwelling |
D.I.D. | Double Iron Doors |
DRA. | Drapery |
DWGS. | Dwellings |
ELECT. | Electrician |
(E.M.) | Electric Motors |
(ENG) | Steam Engine |
FURNE | Furnicture |
GAR | Garage |
(G.E.) | Gas Engine |
H.W. | Hardware |
I.COLS. | Iron Columns or Steel Stanchioned |
JWLY. | Jewellery |
M.W. | Manchester Warehouse |
M.CLD | Metal Clad |
MANUFRS W. | Manufacturers Warehouse |
m.l. | Match (or Wood) Lined |
O. | Slate (roof) |
(O.E.) | Oil Engine |
OFF. | Offices |
PACK W. | Packing Warehouse |
P. | Patent (Felt roof etc.) |
P.H. | Public House |
REST. | Restaurant |
S. | Shop |
SHIP W. | Shipping Warehouse |
S.I.D. | Single Iron Doors |
S.I.S. | Single Iron Shutters |
T. | Tile (roof) |
TAI. | Tailors |
TENS. | Tenements |
W.G. | Wired Glass |
W.H.S.E. | Warehouse |
W.N. | Wire Netting over Glass |
Building Colours
Pink colour = brick, stone or concrete | |
Yellow colour = wooden buildings | |
Blue colour = skylight - 1-2 storey buildings | |
Purple colour = skylights on higher buildings | |
Grey colour = metal buildings |
Heights
Figures in buildings are storeys in height from ground - ie. 3½ storeys and below, 2½ storeys | |
ie. 1 Storey and 1 Basement | |
Figures in brackets are relative heights (in feet) of ground above Ordnance Datum |
Numbers
Numbers parallel with street are building/house numbers | |
Crossed through building numbers relate to demolished buildings | |
Numbers - within dashes - are street widths (in feet) |
Skylights
Not shown if under 20 square feet
Skylight, less than 50 square feet or say 10 ft x 5 ft, or 7 ft x 7 ft |
Sundry symbols
Factory chimney (height in feet often given by chimney) | |
Doors | |
Hoist | |
Water hydrant | |
Water hydrant - with size of mains supplying hydrant | |
Double hydrant | |
Private hydrant | |
Steam boiler |
Walls
Party wall, 2 storeys or over - Probable fire cut off | |
Entire wall doubtful as fire shield because of age, common gutter or construction | |
Wooden or plaster partition; or wall some floors only | |
Brick above, iron columns under | |
Semi-circular curve = Passage Under |
Windows
An ordinary amount of windows accepted in front and rear of buildings abutting on public ways, unless otherwise shown.
Windows on all or most floors | |
Windows, second and third floors |
Dots denote windows, strokes floors.
- See also: Goad Explanation of Signs Used on the British Library's website for these and other symbols.