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Campaign to save 'Great Polish Map of Scotland'

PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge 22.10.2013 16:17
A campaign is under way to save a vast memorial commemorating the Polish defence of Scotland during World War II.

Photo:
Photo: Mapa Scotland Group/Facebook

The so-called Great Map of Scotland – reputedly the world's largest terrain relief model – was conceived by Polish war veteran Jan Tomasik in the early 1970s.

It was created in southern Scotland within the grounds of Barony Castle, a property in Eddleston that has been requisitioned by the UK government during the war and handed over to Britain's Polish allies.

Polish forces were tasked with defending Scotland's east coast, among other duties.

Tomasik, who had been stationed at the castle during the war, became owner of a hotel at the site in 1968, and decided to pay permanent tribute to the building's wartime history.

In spite of the frosty relations between communist Poland and the UK, cartographers at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow agreed to design a vast terrain relief model of Scotland.

The concrete construction (50 m x 40 m) was created in 1975.

The council for the Scottish Borders region is currently being advised to provide 4000 pounds to repair the listed monument.

Moves to save the monument were initiated by the private Mapa Scotland Group, which potentially can use a 20,000 pound lottery grant, provided it can match the sum with funds raised elsewhere. (nh)

Source: BBC

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