Feature: Making the Act of Union 1707

An exhibition marking the 300th anniversary of the Union of Parliaments in 1707 has opened at the Scottish Parliament, where visitors can view it for free until 18 November.

The exhibition features five key documents: the Scottish and English copies of the Treaty concluded in 1706, known as the Articles of Union; the Acts of the two parliaments consenting to union, and the 'Exemplification of Union', an illuminated copy of the Act passed at Westminster, which Queen Anne gifted to the Scottish Parliament that year. Three of the five documents are on loan from the NAS.

A touch-screen interactive allows visitors to explore more of the historical background, and zoom in on the documents. Among the special features are images of the Exemplification taken by a hyper-spectral imaging apparatus to determine the make-up of the pigments.