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I've always wanted to do a project that would try to show a map of clan lands. I did make a start at this some time ago but it was getting so time consuming that I abandoned the project.
The problem is that when you ask a clan to define their clan lands they ask in what time frame. That is because over the centuries they may well have gained or lost lands due to conflict over the years. And so that's one major problem.
To try and accommodate that I thought I'd show maps of clan lands as they were today. And then I'd do another set showing where else they were in their history. That did seem to be the way forward but I would also have to define the time frame for those historical lands.
The next problem was getting clans to define where these lands are. That became a major issue as most wouldn't respond to my emails and the information was usually not available on their web sites.
The next issue is to do with defining the maps themselves. I used the www.streetmap.co.uk web site as they are based on the UK ordinance survey maps and would show castle remains and battlefields. But the problem was in trying to work with the site to show the best possible map of the areas as often they wouldn't fit onto one screen. I ended up doing a text description where I embedded the central map but then had to explain under it that you had to scroll left three clicks to get to such and such as the western boundary or 1 click up to get to such and such as the northern boundary, etc.
And of course when it came to the historical boundaries often places they used to have clan lands are well away from where they are now. That meant getting these other lands defined and then yes another map showing where they were along with another description.
And of course where you hit the major clans like Campbell and MacDonald that was going to take ages.
None the less I believe this is work that should be done by all clan societies but I have as yet to see any of them doing this. I'd be happy to donate the work to the streetmap site as they did say if I ever managed to document this they'd be happy to make this an option on their site.
Given the work involved it would need someone that has time on their hands, would be interested in the challenge and be able to contact clans and clan societies or other interested parties to get this information.
And so... should such a wonderful person like this exist I'd love to hear from them <grin>
Alastair
The problem is that when you ask a clan to define their clan lands they ask in what time frame. That is because over the centuries they may well have gained or lost lands due to conflict over the years. And so that's one major problem.
To try and accommodate that I thought I'd show maps of clan lands as they were today. And then I'd do another set showing where else they were in their history. That did seem to be the way forward but I would also have to define the time frame for those historical lands.
The next problem was getting clans to define where these lands are. That became a major issue as most wouldn't respond to my emails and the information was usually not available on their web sites.
The next issue is to do with defining the maps themselves. I used the www.streetmap.co.uk web site as they are based on the UK ordinance survey maps and would show castle remains and battlefields. But the problem was in trying to work with the site to show the best possible map of the areas as often they wouldn't fit onto one screen. I ended up doing a text description where I embedded the central map but then had to explain under it that you had to scroll left three clicks to get to such and such as the western boundary or 1 click up to get to such and such as the northern boundary, etc.
And of course when it came to the historical boundaries often places they used to have clan lands are well away from where they are now. That meant getting these other lands defined and then yes another map showing where they were along with another description.
And of course where you hit the major clans like Campbell and MacDonald that was going to take ages.
None the less I believe this is work that should be done by all clan societies but I have as yet to see any of them doing this. I'd be happy to donate the work to the streetmap site as they did say if I ever managed to document this they'd be happy to make this an option on their site.
Given the work involved it would need someone that has time on their hands, would be interested in the challenge and be able to contact clans and clan societies or other interested parties to get this information.
And so... should such a wonderful person like this exist I'd love to hear from them <grin>
Alastair
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