1850 Pictou Harbour Map
In 1850 Pictou Harbour Map shown above remains a fascinating artifact of maritime history. Created from data surveyed in 1843, it helped guide sailing vessels into one of Nova Scotia’s busiest ports at the time, when Pictou was a bustling hub for shipbuilding, coal exports, and trade, and safe navigation into its harbour was essential for economic growth.
The chart reflects the surveying methods of the mid-19th century. Mariners relied on lead-line soundings to measure depths, and triangulation from visible landmarks to plot positions. The result is a map dotted with depth values (in fathoms), careful outlining the shoals, sandbanks, and hazards.
A few insets and a sketch provide detail views of the Middle River, and the East River. Coastal features such as headlands, rivers, and even church spires were added as visual aids, since sailors often depended on what they could see from deck.
For historians, maps like this offer a window in time.
- Title: Pictou Harbour – Gulf of St. Lawrence. Nova Scotia
- Creator(s): Surveyed by Captain W. H. Bayfield R.N F.A.S. (engraved by J&C Walker)
- Publisher: Hydrographic Office of the Admiralty (London)
- Date: 1850 (updated copy in 1905)
- Scale: 1:24,140 (approximately)
- Location of Map: Library and Archives Canada
- License: Public Domain
- Click here to download a copy of this Map
1905 Pictou Harbour Map
Below is a similar copy, created in 1905 that is considered an updated version. This version adds an inset that examines the entrance to the harbour and approaches, a few more sketches.
Some of the significant changes between the two versions are the development shown during that time. You can see more features added to the update, such as new wharfs and roads, navigation details, and a few areas labeled that were not on the original.
[Source: Library and Archives Canada]
Places located on the 1850 Pictou Harbour Map include:
- Abercrombie Point
- Albion Mines (Stellarton)
- Ballast Island
- Battery Point
- Begg Creek (Begg Brook)
- Begg Point
- Boat Harbour
- Brown Point (Browns Point)
- Campbell Point
- Christie Point
- Cole Point
- Dunbar Point
- East River
- Gavin Islet
- Grave Point (Seaview Point )
- Indian Cross Point
- Lank Point
- Lochbroom Islet (Loch Broom Islet)
- Lochbroom Point (Loch Broom Point)
- Logan Point (Logans Point)
- Lyon Brook (Lyons Brook)
- Macdonald Reef
- Mackenzie Head
- Mackenzie Shoal
- Mill Creek (Mill Brook)
- Moodie Point
- Moodie Cove
- New Glasgow
- Patterson Point
- Pictou Landing
- Pictou Road
- Powell Point (Powells Point)
- Shipyard Point
- Skinner Point
- Smith Point
- Town Point
- Town of Pictou
- West River
Note: If a bracket appears after a listed name, it will include the current name, with the name used on the map
- Tree Island
- Narrows Point
- Windmill Point
- Muscle Point
- Cameron Point
- Marine Hospital
- Macdonald
- Flagstaff
- Water Tower
- Academy
- Haliburton Street
- Dam Mill
- Limestone Wharf
- Glen Nevis
- Drumond Coal Company
- Fishers Grant
- Esbyees Grant
- Pictou Road
- London Beach
- Watering Place
- Halliburton Creek
- Queens Wharf (in Pictou)
-
- Smiths Wharf (in Pictou)
- Free Church (in Pictou)
- Antiburghers Church (in Pictou)
- College (in Pictou)
- Episcopal Church (in Pictou)
- Hattons Wharf (in Pictou)
- Presbyterian Church (in Pictou)
- New Halifax Road (in Pictou)
- Mill Pond
1905 Pictou Harbour Map
Historical Maps are a great resource to help learn geography at a particular point in time. They can be used to locate exactly where someone’s ancestors lived, as well as the layout of neighborhood and surrounding areas. Here we share old historic maps of Pictou County related geography that are either available to view online or download.
If you know of maps that we should include in this section, then we would love for you to share that information with us.
Disclaimer
We are not the authors of this map product, and are simply helping it get more public exposure.
Please note that the maps provided on PictouCounty.net are meant for general informational, educational purposes, meant to help you understand the area better but are not official legal documents. They are non authoritative and should not be used for defining boundaries or any other legal purposes. Although we are cartographers and do create many maps for this site, in some cases we are providing maps already created by others. In these cases, we provide map details and cite both creators and providers whenever possible.
By using PictouCounty.net you accept that maps and data may be incomplete or out of date. We do not guarantee accuracy and are not responsible for mistakes. If you download files or follow links, you do so at your own risk and are responsible for any damage or data loss.
