The EPNS is helped with finance by the British Academy, particularly for printing, copies of the O.S. 1st Edition 6" maps have been provided by Lancashire County Council and a lot of time and effort have been provided by a team of volunteers. Those actually working on the volumes get no remuneration for their work.

The starting point for the project has been to produce a gazetteer that lists all the names for the 'historic' county of Lancashire found on the O.S. 1st Edition 6" maps. To simplify this enormous task the county has been broken down into ancient Hundreds of Amounderness, Blackburn, Leyland, Lonsdale, West Derby and Salford. The subsequent gazetteer will be used as a basis for further investigation.

Running in tandem with the mapping project, a study of field names is being undertaken. This usually begins with the recording of all the field names recorded in the mid-nineteenth century Tithe Commutation records - in particular the schedules. All the information in the Tithe Commutation schedules is being extracted and presented in a format as close to the original as possible including abbreviations.

All the data extracted will be entered into a computer database, and it is envisaged that it will be made available at county libraries, schools and to local historical societies throughout the county. Other local history/family history researchers would be able to use the copies rather than the originals - less 'wear and tear' on these precious documents.

Leyland Hundred is to be the first volume and work commenced on records for this area first.

If old maps, place names and local history interest you and you could volunteer a couple of hours a week to progress this valuable project, please contact at the email below.