Rare Old OS Map of Wigtownshire by Bartholomew, 1901: Stranraer, Luce Bay, Galloway Forest, Merrick, River Cree, Portpatrick

Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of early 20th-century cartography with "Sheet 1 - Wigtown," a masterful creation by the renowned Scottish cartographer JG Bartholomew, dated 1901. This exquisite map, a part of Bartholomew's flagship series, is a testament to his unparalleled expertise and dedication to the art of mapmaking. Known for his innovative approach, Bartholomew's maps were highly sought after by cyclists and tourists, offering a blend of aesthetic beauty and practical utility. The map's meticulous detailing and vibrant colour layers not only guide the traveler but also bring the landscape to life, making it a treasured piece for any collector.

The map's design is a harmonious blend of political and physical features, rendered with a clarity that was revolutionary for its time. Using a scale of half an inch to the mile (1:126,720), Bartholomew employed a subtle gradation of colour bands to represent different land elevations, providing an intuitive understanding of the terrain. This technique, combined with the map's clear and attractive layout, made it an indispensable tool for explorers of the early 1900s. The landscape relief is depicted with such precision that one can almost feel the undulating hills and valleys of Wigtownshire.

Covering an area of 36 miles from north to south and 52 miles from west to east, this map offers a comprehensive view of the Wigtown region in Scotland. It highlights significant geographical features such as Luce Bay and Wigtown Bay, as well as the prominent Rhins of Galloway peninsula. The Mull of Galloway, Scotland's southernmost point, is also prominently featured, along with the notable hills of Cairnsmore of Fleet and Cairnsmore of Carsphairn. These natural landmarks are intricately detailed, showcasing Bartholomew's commitment to accuracy and his deep understanding of the region's topography.

The map also provides a window into the historical and cultural landscape of early 20th-century Scotland. It marks important rivers like the River Cree and River Bladnoch, which have been lifelines for the communities in the region. Historical sites such as St Ninian's Cave, Cruggleton Castle, Glenluce Abbey, and Dunskey Castle are also depicted, offering a glimpse into the rich heritage of Wigtownshire. These landmarks, steeped in history, add a layer of depth and intrigue to the map, making it not just a navigational tool but a storyteller of the past.

In addition to its geographical and historical richness, the map highlights the region's infrastructure, including railway lines and roads that were crucial for transportation at the time. The towns and cities, from the bustling Stranraer to the quaint Isle of Whithorn, are meticulously marked, reflecting the vibrant human settlements of the era. This map is more than just a representation of Wigtownshire; it is a piece of history, capturing the essence of a bygone era with an elegance and precision that only JG Bartholomew could achieve.

Cities and towns on this map

• Wigtownshire:
• Stranraer
• Newton Stewart
• Wigtown
• Whithorn
• Portpatrick
• Glenluce
• Kirkcowan
• Port William
• Garlieston
• Isle of Whithorn
• Creetown
• New Luce
• Sandhead
• Drummore
• Ardwell

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Geographical features:
• Luce Bay
• Wigtown Bay
• Rhins of Galloway
• Mull of Galloway
• Cairnsmore of Fleet
• Cairnsmore of Carsphairn
• Rivers and Waterways:
• River Cree
• River Bladnoch
• Water of Luce
• Transportation:
• Railways
• Roads
• Natural Reserves and Forests:
• Galloway Forest Park
• Islands:
• Isle of Whithorn
• Burrow Head
• Historical sites:
• St Ninian's Cave
• Cruggleton Castle
• Glenluce Abbey
• Dunskey Castle

Historical and design context

• Name of the map: Sheet 1 - Wigtown
• Scale and popularity: A clear, attractive, and colourful map at the half-inch to the mile scale (1:126,720). These maps were popular with cyclists and tourists, and became Bartholomew's flagship series.
• Relief representation: The half-inch maps were distinctive for using different layers of colour to represent landscape relief, with a subtle and innovative gradation of colour bands used to show land at different heights.
• Basis: The map is based on a reduced Ordnance Survey map from the same period.
• Orientation and coverage: This is a landscape map that covers 36 miles from north to south, and 52 miles from west to east.
• Date of creation: 1901
• Mapmaker or publisher: JG Bartholomew
• Context about the mapmaker: JG Bartholomew was a prominent Scottish cartographer known for his detailed and accurate maps. He was instrumental in advancing the field of cartography during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Themes shown on the map:
• Political and physical features: The map details both political boundaries and physical landscapes.
• Cycling and tourism: The map was popular among cyclists and tourists for its clear depiction of routes and terrain.
• Countries and regions shown: The map primarily shows the Wigtown area in Scotland.
• Design or style: The map employs a distinctive use of colour layers to represent landscape relief, providing a clear understanding of the terrain.
• Historical significance: This map is a part of Bartholomew's flagship series, which was highly regarded for its accuracy and aesthetic appeal. It reflects the cartographic advancements of the early 20th century and the growing interest in outdoor activities like cycling and tourism.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 70in (180cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

Please note: the labels on this map are hard to read if you order a map that is 20in (50cm) or smaller. The map is still very attractive, but if you would like to read the map easily, please buy a larger size.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and custom made maps take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes a day or two.

Please note that for larger framed orders (over 40in/100cm), and some other framed sizes, the delivery time will be closer to 7-10 days.

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps in 22 countries around the world. This means your map will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and reduces the chance of your map being damaged during delivery. There won't be any extra taxes or duties to pay, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all maps within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks or mugs) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

We can sometimes do next-day delivery if you order before 10am. But usually it's best to contact me first before you order.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps are also available as a framed canvas. The map is printed on matte (not shiny) canvas, stretched over a box frame, and then 'floated' within a simple wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing in front of your map.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map yourself, please read my map size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your unique map for any reason, contact me for a no-quibble refund.

I am very confident you will like your old map. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and have over 4,000 real 5-star reviews.

I use a unique process to restore my maps that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore the maps. As a result, I guarantee my maps are a cut above the rest - that's why I can offer a no-quibble refund.

Almost all of my maps look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.