The Great Polish Map of Scotland, Barony Castle Hotel, Eddleston.
The Great Polish Map of Scotland is a large (50 m x 40 m) three-dimensional, outdoor concrete scale model of Scotland. It is also known as the Mapa Scotland (derived from Polish mapa Szkocji) or the Barony Map.
The brainchild of Polish war veteran Jan Tomasik, it was built between 1974 and 1979 and is claimed to be the world’s largest terrain relief model.
The sculpture is a category B listed building and is being restored by Mapa Scotland.
The Great Polish Map of Scotland is a unique feature in the Scottish landscape. It is a large physical relief map of Scotland, sculpted in concrete and measuring some 40m by 50m. It stands in the grounds of Barony Castle, Eddleston, once the home of the Murrays of Elibank, and later the Hotel Black Barony. But how did this remarkable artefact come into existence…?
“The Great Polish Map of Scotland” was built over six summers between 1974 and 1979. It was mainly the work of a small group of Poles.
They were assisted by staff from the Hotel Black Barony (Barony Castle) and Polish exchange students visiting Britain.
The map was the brainchild of Krakow-born Jan Tomasik (pron. Tomaashik), a sergeant in the 1st (Polish) Armoured Division, who had been stationed in Galashiels and had married a Scottish nurse in 1942 after being treated in the town’s Peel Hospital for the effects of a wound.
He became a successful hotelier in Edinburgh after the war and added Black Barony to his properties in 1968.
The Great Polish Map of Scotland measures some 50 metres by 40 metres and lies in an oval pit surrounded by a 142 metres long perimeter wall. Covering an area of 1590 square metres, it is understood to be the largest three-dimensional physical representation of a country and the largest outdoor relief map in the world
In 1981 deterioration of the surface paint caused by weathering was tackled in an general attempt to refresh the map. The existing paint was stripped and the whole map repainted. A hotel fire in the same year and the pressing need to renovate the damaged interior diverted attention and efforts away from the map.
After the hotel closed in 1985 and ownership of Barony Castle passed from the Tomasik family, the map fell gradually into neglect and disrepair caused mainly by frost damage. It became heavily overgrown and almost hidden from sight.
On a later visit to Scotland in 1994 Professor Trafas, as he now was, happened to mention the map while attending a European Union sponsored meeting of town planners from Edinburgh and Krakow. Its “rediscovery” led eventually, in 2010, to the formation of Mapa Scotland, a group of volunteers dedicated to saving it from further decay and restoring it to its former condition.
In August 2010 the initial clean-up started. Category B-listed status was secured for the map in 2012. In September of the same year it was the subject of a debate in the Scottish Parliament sponsored by Christine Grahame MSP
In 2013, while the search for funding continued, work began on clearing loose rubble and weeds from the map in advance of restoration, and tests were carried out successfully to reconnect the old gravity-driven water supply.
In the same year Mapa Scotland acquired charitable status. Its main aim in restoring the map is to ensure that it becomes a permanent feature in the Borders landscape and an educational resource and visitor attraction for future generations to admire and enjoy. The map’s construction and now its restoration have linked Scots and Poles for almost three generations.
Featured recently on BBC1s Hidden Highlands of Scotland
A brief timeline:
Original Creation:
Commissioned: Jan Tomasik
Designed: Dr Kasimierz Trafas
Built 1975 – 79
Abandoned 1980
“Rediscovered” late 1990s
Restoration campaign formed, 2010
Debris and vegetation clearance starts, 2010
Mapa Scotland Charity established June 2012
Category B listed status with Historic Scotland, August 2012
Main Funding in place, November 2013
Restoration works and heritage research start, February 2014
Heritage Lottery and Leader Fund completion cleared, Jan 2017
Map development and heritage promotion continue, Feb 2017
European Heritage Conference in Krakow, June 2017
Historic Environment Scotland digital archiving of the Great Map, August 2017
Royal Geographical Society Conference August 2017
This all the footage I managed to capture before the rain started again.
Filmed with my DJI Mavic Pro.
The Great Polish Map Of Scotland
Aerial footage of the largest map in the world.
Set in the grounds of Barony castle in Scotland.
The Great Polish Map of Scotland
Great Polish Map of Scotland, Barony Castle, Eddleston, Scottish Borders.
The Great Polish Map of Scotland
The newly restored Great Polish Map of Scotland and a 3D model of the monument have been unveiled.
The 3D model, which has been created by Historic Environment Scotland (HES), highlights the cultural links between Scotland and Poland and will be presented as a Scottish contribution to the Polish independence centenary celebrations in November this year.
Barony Castle ???? The Great Polish Map Of Scotland 2018 ????
Join myself Is and Diesel as we travel to Eddleston in the beautiful Scottish Borders to visit a special place of interest Barony Castle and the great map of Scotland built over six summers by Polish people as a lasting tribute to Scotland.
There is a RAF crash site not far from Eddleston a Javelin crashed into the hills in the 50s I attempted to traverse to the site but bailed as it was more of a hike than I thought.
More footage from this video on my second channel “Phoenix”, less edited content
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Gaz Whitehouse
Music ???? by myself “ perfecto”, with real RAF Ww2 audio samples
The Great Polish Map of Scotland.
Created over 6 consecutive summers from 1974-1979, the GPMoS is the largest terrain relief model in existence. It was mainly the work of a small group of Poles from the Jagiellonian University of Krakow, Poland, led by the map’s main designer, Dr. Kazimierz Trafas. They were assisted by staff from the Hotel Black Barony (Barony Castle) and Polish exchange students visiting Britain. It's located beside the Barony Hotel near Peebles and is open to visitors.
Sadly it had fallen into disrepair, but volunteers and charity are trying to restore it. For more info or to donate to it's restoration visit
Restoring the Great Polish Map of Scotland
We've been working with MAPA Scotland to raise awareness of the great Polish map of Scotland in the grounds of the Barony Castle Hotel at Eddleston in the Borders. A vast concrete relief map built by Polish volunteers, its an important icon of the enduring cultural and historic ties between Scotland and Poland.
facebook.com/mapascotland
The great Polish Map of Scotland needs your help - ITV Border
The people behind the Great Polish Map of Scotland have asked the local public to get involved in the maintenance and upkeep of the giant piece of Scottish history.
Soldier's GIANT 3D MAP of Scotland | Great Polish Map of Scotland
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Road Trip - Joakim Karud
Great Polish Map of Scotland - Routes to Roots Podcast
Our latest podcast is from our visit to the Great Polish Map of Scotland. It is thought to be the largest 3D map of a country in the world and was built on the grounds of Barony Castle by Polish war Veteran Jan Tomasik in the 1970s. The map gradually went into disrepair and was virtually forgotten until 1996 when it was rediscovered by the founders of Mapa Scotland. Thanks to everyone at Mapa Scotland for hosting us and providing a very informative tour.
Social Media Links:
Twitter: @ELREC_Routes
Facebook: facebook.com/ELRECroutestoroots/
Sponsor Links:
Sponsor Web: hlf.org.uk
Sponsor Social Media: @HLFScotland
Special Thanks:
Heritage Lottery Fund
Mapa Scotland
Inma De Reyes - Video editing
Chris Morris - Audio Recording
Daniel Robertson - Video Recording
Music:
“Break Through” by Pictures of a Floating World. Available from: freemusicarchive.org
Great Polish Map of Scotland
Great Polish Map of Scotland is a large terrain relief map of Scotland. Created out of concrete it covers an area of 50 m x 40 m.
The map is located on the grounds of the Barony Castle Hotel and is open to the public for free.
For more information please visit:
The great Polish map of Scotland at the Barony Castle hotel
The Great Polish map of Scotland in the grounds of the beautiful Barony Castle Hotel near Peebles
General Maczek's Great Polish Map of Scotland
Great Polish Map of Scotland is a large terrain relief map of Scotland. Created out of concrete it covers an area of 50 m x 40 m.
The map is located on the grounds of the Barony Castle Hotel and is open to the public for free.
For more information please visit:
Great Polish Map of Scotland
This video is about Great Polish Map of Scotland
Mapa Scotland (Polish Map Of Scotland) Drone Footage
Polish Map Of Scotland #MapaScotland from above by drone
Great Map of Scotland
Lying in the grounds of the Barony Castle Hotel in Eddlestone near Peebles, the Great Polish Map of Scotland is the largest 3d relief map in the world.
Mapa Scotland
Aerial footage of Mapa Scotland - a concrete 3D representation of Scotland built in the '70s. The relief map is currently being restored hence the barrels and new concrete on the site.
Music: One for the Wireless Ceol an Aire
Postcard - 3D Raised Relief Maps of United Kingdom
This is real postcard with raised-relief map of United Kingdom. It can be signed at the back side and easily sent by post, just put the stamp.
Postcard is made as a real physical map with topographic features, political boundaries, main hydrography, showing mountains and valleys. Cities are grouped by population. Additionally You’ll find depth/high scale and country location globe. There are names of neighbour countries and biggest cities of them. There are country name, coat of arms and flag at the top. All names in English.
This is an excellent souvenir for yourself and gift for your friends and relatives.
Size: 12x17cm.
Scale: 1cm = 170 km / 1 : 17 000 000
Packed in transparent pocket.
(50)
BBC Scotland : Mysterious 3D Map of SCotland .
Mercure Peebles Barony Castle Hotel, Peebles, Scotland, United Kingdom
Mercure Peebles Barony Castle Hotel, Peebles, Scotland, United Kingdom
Eddleston, Peebles, Scotland, EH45 8QW, United Kingdom
3-star hotel in Eddleston with indoor pool, restaurant
Free WiFi and free parking