KNOWING Southampton’s boundaries has always been of great importance – so much so that children were once ceremoniously harmed in the hope of having them remember. Arriving at Southampton by car you pass signs saying “Welcome to Southampton” showing that you are entering the city’s confines. As you drive around the city, signs will welcome you to the different parishes or wards. People such as surveyors are often seen in archives examining historic maps so they can confirm a place name, land boundary, location or some other important local geographical detail. Accurately defined land boundaries are important for legal, financial, political and ecclesiastical reasons and fortunately we have detailed Ordnance Survey maps to help us.