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LOCALMSP Christine Grahamehas joined the fight to savea three-dimensional map ofScotland, created in the Bordersby Polish students in the 1970s.
Conceived by polish militarycommander, General StanislawMaczek and his wartimecompanions as a permanentreminder of their part inScotland's defence and of thecountry's wartime hospitalityto Poltsh forces engaged inthe fight against Hitler's ThirdReich, the map is in the groundsof the Barony Castle Hotel atEddleston.
During the war, the hotel was
used as a headquarters and latera staff training college for theexiled Polish forces.
Known as the Great Polish Mapof Scotland, it was designed andbuilt as a labour oflove by a groupof young Polish geographersfrom the Jagellionian Universityof Krakow in 1975.
This was at the request ofGeneral Maczek, former wartimecommander of the 1st ArmouredDivision, and local war veteran,[an Tomasik.
The map was set in a sea ofreal water and fitted with watersprings to allow the rivers toactually flow.
However, over the interveningdecades it fell into a state ofdereliction. Then, four years ago,the Mapa Scotland group was set
up to raise funds to restore the three-dimensional outdoormap to its former glory. 1:10,000 scale model of Scotland,
Ms Grahame this week is a remarkable exampleinformed TheSouthern she was' of topographic landscapewriting to' the Polish Consular '. modelling of a complete country,General and the Parliament's with a design and layoutCabinet Secretary for Culture and involving pioneering survey andExternal Affairs to try to secure construction techniques withsupport for Mapa Scotland dynamic representation of major
"I feel it has a significant role river basins using a gravity-to play in our history given that driven water supply.it commemorates the vital role Ms Grahame added: "I thinkof Polish forces in the defence Mapa Scotland deserves a lot ofof Scotland in the Second World credit and support for its workWar, and is a token of thanks to in restoring the map, which willthe people of Scotland for the remind Scots of the historicalhospitality and friendship given heritage linking Poland withto the Polish people, not only Scotland for many years toduring the war years but also come."in the decades that followed," And she has lodged a motionexplained Ms Graharne. in the Scottish Parliament urging
She believes the 50m x 40m, support for the project.
, .'
Estate agents Savills is sellingthe Barony Castle Hotel on behalfof owners, De Vere, for just under£2million. Savills confirmed toTheSouthern this week that theproperty was now under offer.
Keith Burns, secretary of Map aScotland, says the project cannotproceed until the property issold "However, we're confidentthat once the new owners- whoever they may 'be - areannounced, they will recognisethe commercial spin-off benefitsfrom our project," Mr Burns toldus this week.
He welcomed the support of MsGrahame, and added that MapaScotland's forinal application tohave the map listed had now beenlodged with Historic Scotland
"Historic Scotland has!
Southern Reporter, Thursday,
\
insp : ted the site and has \confirmed the map meets theeligibility criteria for listedstatus, so we're just waiting tohear feedback on this."
Mapa Scotland is looking toraise £50,000 to pay for thematerials which the physicalrestoration of the map willrequire, while the group itselfhas all the labour and technicalskills needed within its ownranks.
Mr Burns continued: "Whenthe restoration is complete, theintention is to hand the map overto the local community for use asan educational research tool, as atourist attraction and as a catalystto underline the important links..that exist to this day betw enPoland and Scotland"
AndapplicatiGuinnesssoon be iI]
He sailcouplebroughtwasonth
"It was •Canadatmodel ofthe largmodel in
"Howemass areactually 2the Canadl. "The (l
apparentl'the Guinnlwe mightof our own
Grahame joins push to restore wartim.reminder that could put Borders on m
, "
Southern Reporter,Thursday, May 312012
TIlejoins push to restore wartimeIer that could put Borders on mapsed as a headquarters and laterstaff training college for thealed Polish forces.Known as the Great Polish Map,Scotland, it was designed andJilt as a labour oflove by a group, young Polish geographersorn the Jagellionian UniversityKrakow in 1975.This was at the request ofmeral ~aczek, former wartimemmander of the 1st Armouredvision, and local war veteran,11Tomasik.The map was set in a sea ofal water and fitted with waterrings to allow the rivers totually flow.However, over the interveningcades it fell into a state ofreliction. Then, four years ago,eMapa Scotland group was set
up to raise funds to restore themap to its former glory.
Ms Grahame this weekinformed TheSouthern she was'writing to ',the Polish Consular'General and the Parliament'sCabinet Secretary for Culture andExternal Affairs to try to securesupport for Mapa Scotland
"I feel it has a significant roleto play in our history given thatit commemorates the vital roleof Polish forces in the defenceof Scotland in the Second WorldWar, and is a token of thanks tothe people of Scotland for thehospitality and friendship givento the Polish people, not onlyduring the war years but alsoin the decades that followed,"explained Ms Grahame.
She believes the 50m x 40m,
three-dimensional outdoor1:10,000 scale model of Scotland,is a remarkable exampleof topographic landscapemodelling of a complete country,with a design and layoutinvolving pioneering survey andconstruction techniques withdynamic representation of majorriver basins using a gravity-driven water supply.
Ms Grahame added: "I thinkMapa Scotland deserves a lot ofcredit and support for its workin restoring the map, which willremind Scots of the historicalheritage linking Poland withScotland for many years tocome."
And she has lodged a motionin the Scottish ParUament urgingsupport for the project.
Estate agents Savills is sellingthe Barony Castle Hotel on behalfof owners, De Vere, for just under£2million. Savills confirmed toTheSouthern this week that theproperty was now under offer.
Keith Burns, secretary of MapaScotland, says the project cannotproceed' until the property issold "However, we're confidentthat once the new owners- whoever they may 'be - areannounced, they will recognisethe commercial spin-off benefitsfrom our project," Mr Burns toldus this week.
He welcomed the support of MsGrahame, and added that MapaScotland's formal application tohave the map listed had now beenlodged with Historic Scotland
"Historic Scotland has
inspected the site ana hasconfirmed the map meets theeligibility criteria for listedstatus, so we're just waiting tohear feedback on this."
Mapa Scotland is looking toraise £50,000 to pay for thematerials which the physicalrestoration of the map willrequire, while the group itselfhas all the labour and technicalskills needed within its ownranks.
Mr Burns continued: "Whenthe restoration is complete, theintention is to hand the map overto the local community for use asan educational research tool, as atourist attraction andas acatalystto underline the important linksthat exist to this day betweenPoland and Scotland"
And Mr Burns says anotherapplication, this time. to theGuinness Book of Records, couldsoon be in the offing.
He said: "A young Polishcouple from Dundee recentlybrought an item of interest thatwas on the web to my attention.
"It was a claim from a group inCanada that a three-dimensionalmodel of British Columbia 'wasthe largest three-dimensionalmodel in the world
"However, the actual landmass area of the Polish map. isactually 2.83 times larger thanthe Canadian model., "The Canadian group has
apparently submitted a claim tothe GuInness Book of Records, sowe might have to put in a claimof our own."
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