Astonishing new map is a homage to Glasgow’s historic heritage

LIKE the 1864 work of art upon which it is based, Will Knight’s colourful, intricate map of Glasgow is extraordinary in its attention to detail.

“Sulman’s map is incredibly accurate, and it shows the whole life of a city – the back lanes and building sites, as well as the cathedrals and hospitals,” he explains.

“Everything has equal value. That’s what I wanted to achieve, that democracy, and that same level of forensic detail.”

He adds: “Unlike the drawings of the abstracted skyline you see of Glasgow: the Squinty Bridge, the Armadillo, the Hydro, all mashed together, I wanted to record the reality of Glasgow, which is much richer and more varied.”

In 2021, Glasgow City Heritage Trust launched its Gallus Glasgow project based on Sulman’s illustration, which included bespoke animation and an interactive website. To mark its 15th anniversary in 2022,  the charity commissioned Will to create a contemporary, illustrated record of the city.

The inspiration was Thomas Sulman’s Bird’s Eye View map, created by the architectural illustrator while he was working for the Illustrated London News.

It covers central Glasgow, looking north from the southern side of the River Clyde, towards the Campsie Fells and includes a river packed with sailboats and steamships, cranes and warehouses lining its banks, and the smokestacks and factories of Victorian Glasgow clearly visible. Famous landmarks such as the City Chambers and Glasgow School of Art are not on it, because they have not yet been built.

(Image: Artist Will Knight, Rachel Kacir and John S. B. Crawford with a drone)

MAKING THE MAP
FOLKLORE has it that Sulman flew in a hot air balloon to capture every nook and cranny of the city – this was decades before aeroplanes, of course – while Will relied on extensive research, old maps and documents and drones.

His meticulous research and painstaking approach have resulted in an exquisite cityscape which gives people the chance to see Glasgow through new eyes. GCHT hopes that a permanent home can be found for Will’s map somewhere in the city, where it could be available for public view.

“The idea was to pay homage to the original map, rather than strictly accurately mapping the Glasgow of today, which is already modelled digitally,” explains Will. “I wanted to make the most of Sulman’s drawing, and allow the viewer to reflect on the city today, the city of 1864, and propose the city of the future by seeing the two comparable drawings.”

(Image: The Knight Map)

Gemma Wild, Heritage Manager, explains: “The story goes that Thomas Sulman took to a hot air balloon to draw the map for the Illustrated London News, which gives it a unique and highly detailed perspective.  It captures a city on the cusp of greatness: the Victorians have found success in manufacturing and trading, they’ve conquered much of the world. 

“They celebrate these achievements by constructing extravagant buildings in which to work, live and meet. It’s an exciting time, full of opportunity and optimism. Fast forward to the present day and high rise flats punctuate the skyline where the chimneys once stood. The Clyde lies dormant, with the motorway and railways cutting through the city as the main forms of transport for people and goods.

"Many buildings and even whole districts have been lost to time. And yet, the historic built environment still gives the city much of its character. Some areas, such as Glasgow Green and the Necropolis, have changed little. 

“The Britannia Music Hall, The Trades House and Hutcheson’s Hall are amongst the many buildings that have also survived this century and a half of change. They are all testament to how Glasgow’s architectural legacy is still present and relevant today.”

Rachel Kacir, Heritage Manager, said “We’re really excited to have commissioned this map, following in Sulman’s footsteps, and leaving behind our own impression of Glasgow in 2022 for people to explore in another 150 years’ time. Will has done an incredible job, and it was fascinating to watch his meticulous process as the map developed. 

“The new drawing will hopefully give us a greater appreciation and value for the city’s historic buildings, whilst also provoking us to consider what might change in the next 150 years, and what we might value in the city in the years to come.”

By tracing the street patterns on the original drawing, and labelling the street names in red pen, Will could cross-reference with city plans and maps. He added watercolour to the pen line drawings to show light and shadow, giving the drawing the sense of depth and perspective that Sulman achieves. 

“I decided to faithfully colour each building, showing the wider range of building materials seen across the city today, compared to Sulman’s time when most buildings were made of stone, and therefore rendered in the same shade of yellow,” he adds.

During the process of creating the map, Will admits his own eyes were opened to parts of the city he had never visited before. “I was drawing roads I’d never walked down, and buildings on the horizon I’d seen but never been inside,” he explains.

“Parts of the city have changed enormously – particularly around the Central 
Station area – while others, like Glasgow Green, hardly at all. That was really 
interesting to see.”  

SPECIAL OFFER: Get a black and white copy of the Knight Map for the special price of only £20 + postage, usually £75. Colour prints of both maps are available at www.glasgowheritage.org.uk

This article was brought to you in association with Glasgow City Heritage Trust