15 June 2018
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maps and plans collection
More than 2,400 historic maps, plans and drawings from the collections of National Records of Scotland have been made available on the ScotlandsPeople website.
More than 2,400 historic maps, plans and drawings from the collections of National Records of Scotland have been made available on the ScotlandsPeople website.
The maps and plans collection is amongst the finest in the UK and contains the largest number of Scottish manuscript maps and plans held by any single institution.
Spanning four centuries, the collections cover both manuscript and printed topographical maps and plans. They are particularly strong on:
- estate and railway plans
- architectural drawings
- engineering drawings, particularly of ships
- railway engines
- rolling stock
Most of the maps and plans originate in the records of court cases, Scottish government departments, Heritors’ records, as well as in private collections gifted to or purchased by National Records of Scotland.
Collection highlights
Detail from the plan of the estate of Carse Gray, Angus, 1815
(Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, RHP505)
An example of one of the many estate plans National Records of Scotland holds: the estate of Carse Gray, east of Forfar in Angus. Drawn in 1815 by William Blackadder, the plan depicts the property of Charles Gray.
A table provides information about the use of areas of land on each farm, and details how the ground is divided (whether arable or pasture farming), and whether there are gardens or woods. In 1815 there were many more houses at Carseburn at the top of the map than exist nowadays. The bottom of the plan records an archaeological feature marked as an ‘ancient camp’, beside the settlement now known as Lunanhead.
New Palm House, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh: front elevation and plan, 1854
(Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, RHP6521/19)
This architectural drawing, which dates to 1854, is of the New Palm House at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh. The New Palm House was designed by Robert Matheson, architect for Scotland for HM Office Works and this drawing shows the front elevation. It is still in use and is one of the main features of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh.
Matheson also designed New Register House and the rotunda at the back of General Register House, Edinburgh, named the Matheson Dome in his honour. These buildings are occupied by National Records of Scotland.
See more examples of the maps and plans on ScotlandsPeople.
(Images Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland)
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