Mapping the Past puts 'The General' on the map

‘Mapping the Past,’ a FREE pop-up exhibition inspired by the life and work of Carluke’s Major-General William Roy, will be displayed at 28 Hamilton Street, Carluke from 19 – 29 March.

The exhibition has been created by CAVLP Heritage and is supported by Heritage Lottery Fund supported Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership (CAVLP), Historic Environment Scotland, Carluke Business Improvement District (BID), Carluke Parish Historical Society and South Lanarkshire Council.

The exhibition showcases the artwork created by local community groups, schools, Guide and Scout groups through the Mapping the Past project, undertaken by CAVLP Heritage and managed by Northlight Heritage.

The groups took part in workshops exploring the legacy of new mapping survey techniques and the first Ordnance Survey maps that Major-General William Roy produced, before creating their own personalised and expressive maps, based in the Clyde and Avon valleys.

The pop-up exhibition will travel to other locations in the Clyde and Avon valleys after being premiered in Carluke.

William Roy (1726 - 1790) is a major figure in Carluke's history, and in the history of Scotland and the United Kingdom. Roy was a pioneering archaeological surveyor, mapping many of the Roman sites in Scotland, and was the first person to map the whole of Scotland, going on to devise what would become Ordnance Survey Mapping.

Carluke BID Chairman Brian Clark said, “We are delighted to have been able to put this exciting exhibition together. It is so important for people to understand the history of our town, and impact of a Carluke man on the world.”

Dr Paul Murtagh, CAVLP Heritage Project Officer said, “It’s a real privilege to highlight the work of the project in Carluke, birthplace of William Roy. Roy’s legacy is with us today and it’s appropriate that we celebrate the life and work of this local landscape hero. It’s doubly important as the research carried out during the project was carried out by local volunteers who helped us build a picture of how the landscape and its people developed and changed over hundreds of years.”

“As well as the exhibition, we will be running other associated events and activities in the temporary space, including opportunities to make maps and celebrate the remarkable legacy of the father of mapping, Major-General William Roy,” explains Gavin MacGregor, CAVLP Heritage Project Manager.

Please come along to support this event. Entry is free of charge.

To find out more about CAVLP Heritage projects and how you can get involved, contact the team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow them on Facebook or on Twitter at the links provided on the right to keep up to date with events and workshops.