20.09.2007
Three hundred years after they were signed the Acts that officially joined Scotland and England together are going on display side-by-side in Scotland for the first time.
Three hundred years after they were signed the Acts that officially joined Scotland and England together are going on display side-by-side in Scotland for the first time.
The public will be able to view these historical documents as part of the ‘Making the Act of Union 1707’ Exhibition, which starts tomorrow (Friday 21 September).
In addition to the Scottish and English versions of the Acts of Union, is an illuminated copy of the Act of Union gifted by Queen Anne to Scotland in 1707.
A particular highlight of the exhibition is the interactive feature, which will give visitors the opportunity to look closely at the historic documents and learn more about their history.
Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson MSP said:
"The exhibition explores the events, which brought about the creation of the United Kingdom.
"Events being held to mark the 1707 Act of Union offer people the chance to learn about this significant event in Scottish history and the changes that have taken place as a result of devolution.”
The ‘Making the Act of Union 1707’ exhibition is free to the public and will run in Holyrood’s Main Hall from Friday 21 September to Sunday 18 November.
The exhibition is a joint initiative between the Scottish Parliament, the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the National Archives of Scotland.
In addition to the interactive feature, the documents on display are the Scottish Act and Articles of Union, the English Act and Articles and the Exemplification of the Act of Union, the presentation copy of the Act gifted to Scotland by Queen Anne.
These documents are currently held in the collections of the National Archives of Scotland and the Parliamentary Archives.
The Scottish Parliament's Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson MSP, the Lord Speaker, the Rt. Hon the Baroness Hayman and the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture Linda Fabiani MSP will formally open the exhibition at a reception at Holyrood tonight.
Another upcoming initiative marking the 1707 Act of Union is a project for schools entitled “A’ Union for a’ that”.
This initiative is being run in conjunction with the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, the National Archives of Scotland, Historic Scotland, the National Library of Scotland and the Law Society of Scotland.
As part of this event, school children will take part in workshops hosted at Edinburgh Castle and at Holyrood from September to November, which will be linked by a walking tour of the Royal Mile.