Maps & Hong Kong history | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

Maps & Hong Kong history

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Submitted by David on Mon, 2017-04-24 10:55

Notes & resources for a discussion:

Introduction

Gwulo is a community of people building an online record of Hong Kong's history. See Directory for main themes, Gwulo in 2017 for stats.

Old paper maps

We use old maps to answer questions. eg

  • The old rusty iron water tank: Is there any proof to show it is really older than 1855? When was it installed above HKU?
  • Oaklands and development of area around Babington Path. What were there addresses over time?

Online maps & database

We combine Gwulo's database with modern online maps. eg

  • Map of all the Places we've recorded. Zoom out to show total. Zoom in on clusters. Markers are green (existing) / yellow (ruin) / red (demolished) / blue (unknown or undocumented)
  • It provides a geographical search for photos.
  • Places in a certain category, eg pillboxes. List vs Map, map provides different information. On Hong Kong Island - coast & gaps. In NT, Gin Drinker's Line. Base layers have different strengths: ESRI shows position on contours. OSM shows paths. Satellite aids visits. (HK Gov Maps would make a great base layer)
  • Mapping over time shows development of Hong Kong. eg cinemas in 1910s / 30s. Where will the first cinemas outside HK & Kln be? 1940 / 1950.

Combine old paper maps with modern database

We combine the two:

  • Map of Central - 1845 (club house) - 1905 (reclamation - lot numbers are very useful) - 1957 (commercial maps are not very accurate but provide a lot of additional information)
  • Cinemas in Kowloon in 1956 - Around Sham Shui Po map shows cinemas as red dots to confirm location - Are we missing the Ritz & Broadway in Mong Kok?

Summary

  • Old paper maps are valuable research tools. What are available?
  • Presenting a database on a map provides different knowledge. Base layer?
  • Combining paper maps with online is a powerful tool. What are available?
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Submitted by OldTimer on Tue, 2017-04-25 06:17.

Hi David,  in the meta data section for Broadway (Monk Kok) and Ritz, I suspect their operating period(s) has not been provided.  This could be the cause for their location markers not showing up when a specific year is chosen-applied.  Their markers do show up in the all-cinema tag map.  Athough the 1956 map has the two theatres marked at their respective locations, there are no red dots on the map.  Other red dots appear quite consistent in colour and size so I think the map's keeper located the theatres as a hobby, just that he didn't "dot" these two theatres and a few others.  If the red dots are part of the map, I wonder why these two well-known's were missed.

 Regards, Peter

Broadway (Mong Kok) July 24, 1949 - Feb 15, 1966.

Ritz Mar 20, 1953 - June 1, 1972. 

Submitted by David on Wed, 2017-04-26 17:24.

Thanks Peter, I've added dates to those two Places now.

Regards, David