This timeline provides an alternative means to explore some of the different ways Scotland was perceived and experienced by 18th-century travellers. Besides relevant key historical facts, at times connected to related objects in Old Ways New Roads, it features a summary of the output of key travellers, writers and artists around whom the exhibition has been built.
Treaty of Union between Scotland and England.
Attempted invasion of Scotland by James Francis Edward Stuart with the support of a French fleet.
Attempted invasion of Scotland by James Francis Edward Stuart with the support of a French fleet.
Death of Queen Anne, the last Stuart monarch. Accession of the Hanoverian George I to British throne: the Georgian era begins.
Jacobite Rising led by Earl of Mar against Hanoverians. Signing of the Act of Union.
Jacobite Rising led by Earl of Mar against Hanoverians. Signing of the Act of Union.
Battle of Glenshiel: the Scottish and Spanish Jacobite army is defeated by General Wightman.
General Wade appointed Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty’s Forces in North Britain: he is tasked with overseeing a massive fort and road-building programme to 'open up' the Highlands, continued by General Caulfield after 1747.
General Wade appointed Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty’s Forces in North Britain: he is tasked with overseeing a massive fort and road-building programme to 'open up' the Highlands, continued by General Caulfield after 1747.
Edmund Burt includes in letters a rare early account of the Highlands. They were first published as 'Letters from a Gentleman in the North of Scotland' in 1754.
Jacobite rising led by Prince Charles James Edward Stuart: he is eventually defeated by the Duke of Cumberland at Culloden (16th April 1746). Brutal reprisals, military occupation and the Act of Proscription (a virtual ban on most aspects of Gaelic culture) follow.
Jacobite rising led by Prince Charles James Edward Stuart: he is eventually defeated by the Duke of Cumberland at Culloden (16th April 1746). Brutal reprisals, military occupation and the Act of Proscription (a virtual ban on most aspects of Gaelic culture) follow.
Commission of 'A New Map of North Britain done by order of the Right Honourable the Lord of Albemarle, Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty’s Forces in Scotland'.
Cartographic survey of mainland Scotland by the Board of Ordinance directed by William Roy, resulting in the creation of 'the Great Map'.
Cartographic survey of mainland Scotland by the Board of Ordinance directed by William Roy, resulting in the creation of 'the Great Map'.
First known views of the Falls of Clyde, drawn by Paul Sandby, and exhibited in London in the early 1760s.
Publication of Alasdair Mac Mhaighstir’s Gaelic poetry collection 'Aiseirigh na Seann Chànain Albannaich' or ‘Resurrection of the Ancient Scottish Language’ (Edinburgh).
Publication of Alasdair Mac Mhaighstir’s Gaelic poetry collection 'Aiseirigh na Seann Chànain Albannaich' or ‘Resurrection of the Ancient Scottish Language’ (Edinburgh).
Construction of the Dunkeld Hermitage overlooking the Black Linn Falls, renamed 'Ossian's Hall' in 1783.
James Macpherson first publishes the Poems of Ossian, claiming to be 'translations' from the Gaelic, including the epics 'Fingal' (1761–2) and 'Temora' (1765). Several more editions would follow in the next few decades.
James Macpherson first publishes the Poems of Ossian, claiming to be 'translations' from the Gaelic, including the epics 'Fingal' (1761–2) and 'Temora' (1765). Several more editions would follow in the next few decades.
Charles Steuart starts to work on a series of pictures set on the Dunkeld estate of the Dukes of Atholl in Perthshire.
Publication of a 'Collection of Etchings' - including a number of Scottish views – executed by Paul Sandby.
Publication of a 'Collection of Etchings' - including a number of Scottish views – executed by Paul Sandby.
George Barret starts to work on a series of pictures set on the Lowland estates of the 3rd Duke of Buccleuch, designed to record an extensive programme of improvements.
William Tomkins secures a commission to depict views on the estate of the young James Duff, 2nd earl of Fife.
William Tomkins secures a commission to depict views on the estate of the young James Duff, 2nd earl of Fife.
Charles Cordiner travels through north-eastern Scotland on Pennant’s behalf to draw and describe local points of interest. He keeps his drawings in an album now titled Cordiner’s album
Thomas Pennant tours Scotland. His account, 'A Tour in Scotland', is first published in 1771.
Thomas Pennant tours Scotland. His account, 'A Tour in Scotland', is first published in 1771.
Charles Steuart starts to work on a series of pictures set on the Bute seat on the Isle of Bute.
Joseph Banks 'discovers' Fingal's Cave on the island of Staffa, subsequently a leading attraction on the Scottish tour.
Joseph Banks 'discovers' Fingal's Cave on the island of Staffa, subsequently a leading attraction on the Scottish tour.
Thomas Pennant undertakes his second tour of Scotland. Part 1 of 'A Tour in Scotland and voyage to the Hebrides' is published in 1772 and Part 2 in 1776.
John Lightfoot accompanies Pennant on his second tour. This leads to the publication of 'Flora Scotica: Or A Systematic Arrangement, in the Linnaean Method, of the Native Plants of Scotland and the Hebrides' in 1777.
John Lightfoot accompanies Pennant on his second tour. This leads to the publication of 'Flora Scotica: Or A Systematic Arrangement, in the Linnaean Method, of the Native Plants of Scotland and the Hebrides' in 1777.
Samuel Johnson and James Boswell tour the Highlands and islands together. Johnson's account is published in 1775, and Boswell's in 1885.
William Roy finishes his drawings of the entire course of the Antonine Wall together with plans and sections of several of its associated forts, based on his knowledge of the ground accumulated when working on the ‘Great Map’ almost two decades previously.
William Roy finishes his drawings of the entire course of the Antonine Wall together with plans and sections of several of its associated forts, based on his knowledge of the ground accumulated when working on the ‘Great Map’ almost two decades previously.
George Taylor and Andrew Skinner publish 'Survey and Maps of the Roads of North Britain or Scotland'.
William Gilpin goes on a sketching tour of Scotland. Its account is first published in 1789.
William Gilpin goes on a sketching tour of Scotland. Its account is first published in 1789.
Thomas A Thornton undertakes a sporting tour of Scotland. Its account is published in 1804.
Joseph Farington's first tour, followed by another in 1792.
Elizabeth Diggle tours the Highlands.
Elizabeth Diggle tours the Highlands.
Posthumous publication of 'William Roy’s Military Antiquities of the Romans in North Britain'.
Sarah Murray of Kensington first tours Scotland. Her account is first published in 1799; she undertakes two more tours in 1800 and 1802.
Sarah Murray of Kensington first tours Scotland. Her account is first published in 1799; she undertakes two more tours in 1800 and 1802.
John Stoddart tours Scotland; his account is published in 1801 as 'Remarks on Local Scenery and Manners in Scotland during the years 1799 and 1800', 2 vols.
Joseph Mallord William Turner first tours Scotland and undertakes further tours in 1818; 1822; 1831 and 1834.
Joseph Mallord William Turner first tours Scotland and undertakes further tours in 1818; 1822; 1831 and 1834.
John Bristed embarks on a pedestrian tour of Scotland; its account is published in 1803 as 'Athroplanomenos, or, A Pedestrian Tour through Part of the Highlands of Scotland'.
Publication of Sir John Sinclair’s 'The Poems of Ossian, in the Original Gaelic, with a Literal Translation into Latin, by the Late Robert McFarlan. Together with a Dissertation on the Authenticity of the Poems', by Sir John Sinclair, Esq., Vol. 1.
Publication of Sir John Sinclair’s 'The Poems of Ossian, in the Original Gaelic, with a Literal Translation into Latin, by the Late Robert McFarlan. Together with a Dissertation on the Authenticity of the Poems', by Sir John Sinclair, Esq., Vol. 1.
Parliamentary Roads and Bridges Act: Thomas Telford's road-building programme and the construction of the Caledonian Canal begin.
Publication of Walter Scott’s Marmion.
Publication of Walter Scott’s Marmion.
Publication of Walter Scott’s verse romance 'The Lady of the Lake', set in the Trossachs.
Launch of Henry Bell's Comet, the first steamboat to take passengers between Glasgow and Greenock.
Launch of Henry Bell's Comet, the first steamboat to take passengers between Glasgow and Greenock.
Publication of Walter Scott’s 'Waverley'.
William Daniell’s first tour, followed by another in 1821.
William Daniell’s first tour, followed by another in 1821.
Publication of Walter Scott’s verse romance 'The Lord of the Isles'.
David Wilkie tours the Highlands.
David Wilkie tours the Highlands.
Publication of John MacCulloch’s 'A Description of the Western Islands of Scotland'.
Publication of 'The Tour of Doctor Prosody: In Search of the Antique and Picturesque, through Scotland, the Hebrides, the Orkney and Shetland Isles'.
Publication of 'The Tour of Doctor Prosody: In Search of the Antique and Picturesque, through Scotland, the Hebrides, the Orkney and Shetland Isles'.
Publication of Walter Scott’s 'Provincial Antiquities and Picturesque Scenery of Scotland'.
Scotland’s first formal passenger railway service was officially opened, linking Glasgow to Garnkirk.
Scotland’s first formal passenger railway service was officially opened, linking Glasgow to Garnkirk.
Publication of Walter Scott’s 'Poetical Works'.
Walter Scott's death.
Walter Scott's death.
