The history of physical relief models in British geography

George recently gave a talk as part of the Map Room conversations at this year’s Annual International Conference. One model he featured (pictured) was of Grand Coulee in Washington, illustrating the formation of a deep gorge via a succession of plunge pools.

George commented: “The detail of the models is quite incredible, they have markings for individual fields, railways, houses, trees - all of which were plotted from maps, plans and reference photographs. They serve as direct mimetic devices for the real landscapes they represented. It was interesting to see during the Map Room conversations event that the models still have the same ability to excite and inspire, with several people recollecting their trips to Malham or Grand Coulee and recognising particular places on the models, they have a very nostalgic quality.”

The Society holds 24 physical relief models, which George says made his research a little unusual: “The collection that my research is focused on is small in number but the artefacts are large in size so I didn’t spend a huge amount of time in the Foyle Reading Room, the actual archival material about the history of the models and their creators was elsewhere.”

So, as well as spending time at the Society, George explored the National Archives’ collection of military cartography which is where a lot of the modelling techniques had originated and been developed, particularly during WWI and WWII. George also spent time at the University of Sussex, finding materials related to Laurence Dudley Stamp’s life’s work, and at University of the Arts London, where he found details on Thomas Bayley’s sculpture and modelling classes, including the methods used to build the relief models.

Reflecting on the opportunities that the CDA provided, George was positive about the skills and contacts he gained through being able to give a Be inspired lecture, attend monthly events held across the wider CDA cohort, as well as take part in three-day workshops at the British Museum.

On advice for prospective students, George said: “I would definitely recommend applying. Like all funding schemes, you have to look at what opportunities there are - the CDA has loads, socially as well as academically. I think for anyone who is prepared to be quite full on and throw themselves into the mix, it is a really positive scheme”.

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