A tale of two cities

Registers of Scotland's exhibition "Foundation Glasgow" has found a permanent home in the city, where it is now on display

15th August 2011 | Registers of Scotland

As part of Homecoming Scotland 2009, RoS developed “Foundation Glasgow – the story of a city”, an exhibition which told the story of Glasgow, from the formation of the land upon which it stands to plans for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The temporary exhibit was extremely well received and has now found a permanent home in The Lighthouse, Scotland’s centre for Architecture, Design and the City, thanks to Glasgow City Council.

The registration of land and property is fundamental to any city’s growth and development.

The exhibition features a unique bird’s-eye view of Glasgow as it grows beneath your feet. Using, film, digital animation and an unusual vantage point, you literally stand above the clouds, looking down on the changing scene.

The story tells of the history of Glasgow from the Ice Age to the present day, and offers a new perspective even for those people who feel they know Glasgow well.

Foundation Glasgow is not a typical museum experience. Historical information on property ownership and the sasine register is cleverly used to give an understanding how people’s rights to property have evolved and changed through hundreds of years of Glasgow’s history.

The formal opening of this exhibition will take place in September and will be attended by politicians, councillors and members of the public, but you don’t have to wait until then to see it. That’s because the company which helped produce the show, Randak Design, has kindly offered Journal readers a “two-for-one” deal. Simply cut out the voucher and present it at the door. Open from 10am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday, entry costs £5 for adults.

Those on the east coast should not feel left out, as next year will see the opening of Foundation Edinburgh, housed in the Museum of Edinburgh. Look out for news in forthcoming editions.