Survey and Recording specialists are set to explore the history and heritage belonging to a 60km stretch of the River Clyde. Now people along the route – which spans from Thankerton to Bothwell Bridge – and further afield are being urged to get involved in the project to help tell this section of the river’s story.
On Thursday 17th November some of the team behind the Discovering the Clyde project – a five-year-long project looking at the 176km river, its past and its story, from source to sea – will be carrying out a day-long fieldwork trip. Ahead of this, members of the public are being encouraged to take to social media using the hashtag #clyde2sea to talk about what the Clyde’s heritage means to them by sharing their own stories and suggesting locations that the team should visit.
People from all over the country and elsewhere have already started sending in their suggestions for places to visit, including prehistoric forts, medieval churches and even 20th century pubs.
The project to date has resulted in the creation of more than 370 new heritage records, illustrating the River Clyde’s sites of historical and archaeological diversity. The journey on Thursday 17th November aims to use different social media channels including Instagram, Periscope – which lets the viewer explore through live video streaming – and Twitter to record this particular stretch of the river.
Suggestions put forward could then end up being visited along the way and recorded by the Discovering the Clyde team, who aim to take on the challenge to visit as many points and landmarks along the Thankerton to Bothwell Bridge route in one day as possible. Visiting everything from a ruined 18th century bridge to Junction six of the M74, which is fifty years old this December, and located close by to Hamilton Motte – the remains of a castle mound dating back to the 12th century.
Historic Environment Scotland’s Archaeology Projects Manager, Dr Alex Hale, said: “This project aims to help Historic Environment Scotland further engage with people and heritage. We will listen to what people from across the globe know to be their heritage, along the River Clyde and begin to broaden our understanding of what the river means to so many people.
“As part of the Discovering the Clyde programme we’re now set to explore the 60km stretch from Thankerton to Bothwell Bridge. We really want to hear from members of the public as to what they know the heritage of the river is. They can put forward suggestions of where we should visit, it could be anything from a favourite castle or bridge, lookout point or a hidden gem, and even share their own stories and memories with us.
“These suggestions will help us fully explore this stretch of the Clyde and get a better insight into what its heritage really means to those who live here today, as we record the river’s story for the benefit of current and future generations.”
Please contact the team by Wednesday 16th November to put forward your suggestions. You can follow the journey on Twitter @HistEnvScot using the hashtag #clyde2sea. Members of the public can also share personal suggestions and memories associated with this stretch of the Clyde by visiting the Discovering the Clyde website.
Photographs and information from the journey will contribute towards the national Historic Environment Record, which can be found at www.canmore.org.uk.
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Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design 2016
2016 is the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design (IAD). Through a series of exciting events and activity, the year will showcase Scotland's position as an "innovation nation", its outstanding built heritage, and its thriving, internationally acclaimed creative industries sector. This is a Scottish Government initiative being led by VisitScotland and supported by a variety of partners.
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