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.BAsbestos
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
FURNEFurnicture
GARGarage
(G.E.)Gas Engine
H.W.Hardware
I.COLS.Iron Columns or Steel Stanchioned
JWLY.Jewellery
M.W.Manchester Warehouse
M.CLDMetal 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

Illustration of brick, stone or concretePink colour = brick, stone or concrete
Illustration of wooden buildingsYellow colour = wooden buildings
Illustration of 1-2 storey buildingsBlue colour = skylight - 1-2 storey buildings
Illustration of skylights on higher buildingsPurple colour = skylights on higher buildings
Illustration of metal buildingsGrey colour = metal buildings

Heights

Illustration of figures in buildingsFigures in buildings are storeys in height from ground -
ie. 3½ storeys and below, 2½ storeys
Illustration of figures in buildingsie. 1 Storey and 1 Basement
Illustration of figures showing relative heightsFigures in brackets are relative heights
(in feet) of ground above Ordnance Datum

Numbers

Illustration of numbers parallel with street as building/house numbersNumbers parallel with street are building/house numbers
Illustration of crossed through building/house numbersCrossed through building numbers
relate to demolished buildings
Illustration of numbers within dashes being street widthsNumbers - within dashes - are street widths (in feet)

Skylights

Not shown if under 20 square feet

Illustration of skylight, less than 50 square feetSkylight, less than 50 square feet
or say 10 ft x 5 ft, or 7 ft x 7 ft

Sundry symbols

Illustration of factory chimneyFactory chimney
(height in feet often given by chimney)
Illustration of doorsDoors
Illustration of hoistHoist
Illustration of normal hydrantWater hydrant
Illustration of water hydrantWater hydrant -
with size of mains supplying hydrant
Illustration of double water hydrantDouble hydrant
Illustration of private hydrantPrivate hydrant
Illustration of steam boilerSteam boiler

Walls

Illustration of party wallParty wall, 2 storeys or over -
Probable fire cut off
Illustration of doubtful wall as fire shieldEntire wall doubtful as fire shield because
of age, common gutter or construction
Illustration of wooden or plaster partitionWooden or plaster partition;
or wall some floors only
Illustration of brick above, iron columns underBrick above, iron columns under
Illustration of passage underSemi-circular curve = Passage Under

Windows

An ordinary amount of windows accepted in front and rear of buildings abutting on public ways, unless otherwise shown.

Illustration of windows on all or most floorsWindows on all or most floors
Illustration of windows, second and third floorsWindows, second and third floors

Dots denote windows, strokes floors.