Restoration completed. Formal opening of the map, 12 April 2018

     Opening 1

opening 2

Polish and Scottish Government representatives celebrated the completion of restoration of the Great Polish Map of Scotland at a reception at Barony Castle Hotel, home of the Great Map.

https://tinyurl.com/y6m87gaw 

https://www.youtube.com/watch…

 https://tinyurl.com/ITV-Border-Life-on-Map-opening

DSC_6279

On 12 April 2018 Polish and Scottish Government representatives celebrated the completion of restoration of the Great Polish Map of Scotland at a reception at Barony Castle Hotel, home of the Great Map.

The following distinguished guests represented their home governments to mark this important milestone:

His Excellency, Dr Arkady Rzegocki, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the Court of St James.

Ms Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs for Scottish Government.

Minister Jan Josef Kasprzyk, Head of the Warsaw Office for War Veterans and Victims of Oppression.

Mr Ireneusz Truskowski, Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Edinburgh.

Dr Tomasz Trafas, past Polish Consul General for Edinburgh, and brother of Kazimierz Trafas, designer of the map and leader of the early construction team in 1975.

Also present were:

The family of Mr Jan Tomasik, who conceived and commissioned the design and construction of the unique relief model we were here to celebrate.

Ms Malgosia Luc, representing the University of Krakow, the alma mater of cartographer Kazimierz Trafas.

The Polish Consulate hosted a reception for 80 guests. Historic Environment Scotland unveiled a new 3d laser point cloud model of the Great Map which will be available on the internet.

The Mapa Scotland project team was presented with Pro Patria Medals by the Polish Minister for War Veterans and Victims of Oppression. The medal is awarded to mark special merit in strengthening and treasuring the memory of the Polish people’s fight for the independence of the Polish Republic during and following World War II.

Time line for the Great Polish Map of Scotland

1974 – 2014

Commissioned: Jan Tomasik, 1974

• Designed and built: Dr Kasimierz Trafas and team from Krakow, 1975 – 1979
• Abandoned early 1980s
• “Rediscovered” late 1990s
• Mapa Scotland restoration campaign launched, 2010
• Debris and vegetation clearance started, 2010
• Mapa Scotland Charity established June 2012
• Main funding in place, November 2013
• Restoration works and heritage research started, February 2014

2014 – 2017
• Safety fence installed, pit wall repaired and rendered, new coping added
• 250 tonnes of debris removed and recycled as foundations for landscaping

and stumperies
• 300m of underground pipework replaced and seabed sealed with bentonite
• All insecure foundations of rusty cans and rubble replaced by frost resistant

concrete; damaged surface repaired with frost resistant mortar
• New viewing tower designed and built
• Heritage Lottery and European Leader Fund completion audits cleared

January 2017

• Map development and heritage promotion continue
• European Heritage Conference, Krakow, Summer 2017

• Royal Geographical Society, London, Summer 2017
• Foundation and topography repairs completed, August 2017
• Surface stabilisation, protection and painting completed, December 2017
• Total concrete and mortar added, 14,000 litres
• Total weight added: 34 tonnes. Equal to a concrete cube 2.4m x 2.4m x 2.4m

Major Grant providers for restoration:

Barony Castle Hotel LLP, Blackwood & Smith, Borders Council, Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Edinburgh, European Leader Fund, Polish Foreign Ministry, Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Environment Scotland Support Fund, Landfill Communities Fund, Maczek Memorial Trust, Polish Connections Scotland, Scottish Borders Council, Scottish Polish Cultural Association, Wojtek Trust, two major anonymous donations, and you the public.

Volunteers:

The Mapa Scotland volunteer squad, The Royal Highland Fusiliers 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland, EDF Torness, Royal Bank of Scotland, Local scouts, guides, cubs and brownies.

Major Contractors:

Ladywood, Glendinning Groundworks, Differentia Design, Prettybright Design, Gordon Wilson (Peebles), I W Design, Polwork Edinburgh, Elmbank Printing, The Blazing Blacksmith.

For more information:

goo.gl/ofEsa8

goo.gl/ehBxck

Donation Box