TWO mums have amassed a vast archive of more than 15,000 old Ordnance Survey maps, much to the astonishment of family and friends.
Helen Marshall and Belinda Easton began their unusual hobby just 18 months ago when they bought 60 large-scale local maps of the Monmouth area dating from 1880.
Within a year the map fever had taken over and their collection reached 450.
"It's more than a hobby really – it has taken over everything," said Belinda, who lives at Whitebrook.
When the opportunity arose to purchase a large national map archive they jumped at the chance.
To keep their husbands happy they have funded the archive by selling duplicated originals and reproductions, and they have been juggling family life with the day to day business of cataloguing the collection and organising exhibitions.
People from all walks of life now use the archive, including landscape architects, home owners and family historians who want to trace homes through the ages.
The pair believe the collection should be accessible to the public and have organised a free exhibition on Saturday June 5 at Chepstow Library from 10.30am to 3.30pm – and they hope there will be a further chance to see them at Monmouth Show.
Eventually, says Belinda, the collection could help them to make a living.
"But I think that is about 20 years down the line," she said.