The Atlas of Britain: Subjects not susceptible to mapping

Summary

This paper examines ten subjects omitted from the Atlas of Britain, a 200-page cartographic work covering 217 topics. Despite claiming comprehensiveness, the authors acknowledge that during ten years of planning, many additional topics were investigated through source examination and experimental mapping but ultimately excluded. The omitted subjects discussed include biological distributions, atmospheric pollution, gravity surveys, blood groups, educational facilities, hospitals, unemployment, industrial sectors beyond the 80 included, urban land use, and ecclesiastical and judicial boundaries. The article serves two constructive purposes: first, to highlight deficiencies in existing data collection regarding Britain's material resources; and second, to argue against redundant mapping of subjects whose geographical patterns merely duplicate those already illustrated by more fundamental, included topics. The authors stress the growing demand for comprehensive national atlases while cautioning against unrealistic cartographic expectations.