Hey, fedi #Unicode nerds!  

#OpenStreetMap's Andy Mabbett (@Pigsonthewing) is asking whether anyone knows about any instances of the #OrdnanceSurvey's bench mark symbol appearing in actual print, on a page. Looks a bit like β­± or β€’ but a broader arrow. Usually found carved on stone or brick all over the UK/ROI.

Their goal is to propose it as a Unicode symbol! https://community.openstreetmap.org/t/os-bench-mark-symbol-in-printed-documents/128182

Any known international usage of this symbol would doubtless be appreciated too

@openstreetmap

@achadwick @Pigsonthewing @openstreetmap
Is it on OS paper maps legend?

@Cameleopard Not from the recent examples I can grub up with an image search. I may have missed it, tho. They're kind of internal to the process of surveying without GPS.

OS still(?) use a blue upward-facing equilateral triangle for the trig points, but I think that's the extent of their mapping their own reference points. I think these marks occur in other places on the ground too.

Perhaps historical maps might have it, or a more recent book on the subject

@Pigsonthewing @openstreetmap

@achadwick @Pigsonthewing @openstreetmap another place to consider would be the board of ordinance, likely able to find similar on their stuff, must exist in their papers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Board_of_Ordnance#Broad_Arrow
Board of Ordnance - Wikipedia

@achadwick @Pigsonthewing @openstreetmap My Dad.uded to have a compass with such a mark. My hazy understanding was it was also used to mark government property (he either bought it from an Army Surplus store or purloined it from an RAF missile testing range in the early 1950s.