Professor Gordon Masterton from the University of Edinburgh ponders the legacy of James Watt during a talk at the Hippodrome Cinema, Bo'ness, in January 2020. With thanks to staff at Falkirk Community Trust.
James Watt spent half his life in the Birmingham area. In 2019, a new walking guide was produced to highlight some of the sites associated with James Watt. Download a PDF here: j.mp/watt-birm-guide In this episode, we travel to Birmingham to visit places linked with James Watt – two churches, the home of his business partner Matthew Boulton and the impressive home of his son, James Watt Jnr. James Jnr is widely credited with the widespread memorialisation – and hero worship – of James Watt. With...
At the heart of Greenock – on the west coast of Scotland – is a complex which celebrates James Watt, learning and local heritage. This is the Watt Institution – a series of buildings housing the Watt Library , the Watt Hall and McLean Museum and Art Gallery. The buildings cover part of Union Street and Kelly Street in the town. The Library was established first – to house a memorial statue of the great Greenock-born inventor James Watt and provide a new home for Greenock Library. The campus was ...
A new display – inspired by the achievements of the Scottish inventor James Watt – launched at Riverside Museum in Glasgow at the end of 2019. Watt’s development of the steam engine, 250 years ago, made it more efficient – radically reducing the amount of coal required and driving the Industrial Revolution. The new display at Riverside, the city’s transport museum is called Going Green – The Drive for Energy Efficiency ( sponsored by Aggreko ). It considers James Watt’s pioneering spirit and leg...
Researcher Kate Bowell has been looking at how the story of James Watt has been presented to audiences visiting the National Museum of Scotland. The Museum in Edinburgh is home to a Boulton and Watt engine , which takes pride of place in one of the first floor galleries. Kate has been examining labels and interpretative text used by the Museum to explain Watt’s story. She spoke about her work at the recent STICK conference in Stirling’s Engine Shed in 2019. She said – over time – progressive lab...
The Boulton and Watt engine on show at the National Museum of Scotland in Chambers Street in Edinburgh is one of the oldest surviving beam engines in the world. The metal and wood structure – weighing 20 tonnes – was made in London by Scottish inventor James Watt and dates from 1786. In this podcast, curator Ellie Swinbank tells you more about the exhibit, which is one of the key displays in the Science and Technology section of the museum. Visit the Museum website for more information....
Today it’s just a ruin on the north side of the River Forth. But Kennetpans Distillery, near Kincardine in central Scotland, was once the largest distillery in the country and is said to be the “birthplace” of the Scottish whisky industry. It was also once home to Scotland’s first rotative Boulton and Watt steam engine. The distillery was founded in the early 18th century by brothers John and James Stein. The buildings which survive today probably date from the 1770s. (See a map to the site here...
Art lovers can come face-to-face with inventor James Watt through the collection of the National Galleries of Scotland. You can view online images from the NGS collection here. We asked Helen Smailes, Senior Curator of British Art (Paintings and Sculpture), at NGS to pick out some of her highlights. THE BUST She started by talking about a marble bust of Watt by Sir Francis Chantrey, which is on display in the entrance hall of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh’s Queen Street . T...
James Watt’s innovations in energy and engineering have inspired students since the origin the Edinburgh School of Arts, the world’s first mechanics institute, in 1821. The School is now known as Heriot-Watt University. In 2018, we caught up with Angela Edgar, the then curator at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh . She talked about the foundation of the institution – and what visitors can see at the University’s Riccarton campus, on the outskirts of Edinburgh. The site includes a free museum w...
A Boulton and Watt engine is one of the star attractions at the Verdant Works museum in Dundee. The engine is located in the High Mill section of the works. The engine dates from 1801-1802. It’s one of only five of its kind surviving in the UK and is on loan from Dundee City Council via a partnership with Leisure and Culture Dundee. The engine is typical of the type used in textile mills in the 1800s – and was originally used to drive the machinery at Douglasfield Bleachworks in Dundee. Here’s G...
Inventor James Watt worked on developing the steam engine to support the mining industry. Watt gained early support from industrialist Dr John Roebuck, who was leasing pits around Bo’ness in central Scotland in the 18th century. Roebuck hoped Watt could improve the steam engine to reduce flooding in his pits. Sadly Watt’s breakthrough improvements came too late for Roebuck. The pits kept flooding and Dr Roebuck went bankrupt. But it also led Watt to one of Roebuck’s creditors, Matthew Boulton of...
London’s Science Museum features a number of Boulton and Watt engines – as well as Watt’s Birmingham workshop (rebuilt in London). The Museum’s curator of mechanical engineering, Ben Russell, told us about what visitors can expect. He also reflected on how the museum celebrated the 100th anniversary of Watt’s death (in 1919). “We’ve got four of his engines. We’ve got Watt’s personal library,” said Ben. “And we have Watt’s workshop. James Watt died in 1819. For 104 years the workshop was left pre...
James Watt is famed for his work improving steam engines. But did you know he also invented a letter copier? Watt came up with the device to relive him of the tedium of making copies of his plans and drawings. The copier was patented back in 1780 – and the principle remained in use until the arrival of modern photocopiers. As part of the 2019 Glasgow Science Festival , printmaker Roger Farnham helped set up “The James Watt Print Show” – an exhibition showcasing modern fine art prints created usi...
Was James Watt a hero or superhero? We hear from two Professors who give their view on the Scottish inventor. David Miller is emeritus professor of the history of science at the University of New South Wales, Sydney. He is a fellow of the Australian Academy of Humanities and a member of the International Academy of the History of Science. In 2019 he published a new book, “The Life and Legend of James Watt: Collaboration, Natural Philosophy, and the Improvement of the Steam Engine” (University of...
Historian Dr Kate Croft has been talking about the women behind Watt – his two wives. The inventor and engineer was married to Margaret (“Peggy”) Miller from 1764 until her death in 1773. In 1776 he married Ann MacGregor. Ann’s relationship with Watt continued until his death in 1819. While much has been written about Watt’s partnerships with men, his domestic life and his marital partnerships have received less attention. Both wives were hugely supportive of Watt and his work. Kate says: “I thi...
Dr Malcolm Dick from the University of Birmingham talks about the life and legacy of James Watt and his later life in Birmingham . . . . Malcolm also talked about some of the Watt objects which remain in the city - and the sites you can visit to find out more about the Scottish-born inventor. Podcast produced by The PR Store
James Watt built an experimental steam engine at Kinneil, Bo’ness (in central Scotland) – as part of a partnership with Dr John Roebuck. But did you know that this engine eventually went to work in Birmingham at the famous Soho Manufactory ? The Manufactory was set up by businessman Matthew Boulton. Boulton teamed up with Watt after Watt’s partnership with Roebuck foundered. Honorary Research Fellow George Demidowicz from the University of Birmingham says the Kinneil engine was the first working...
In this episode we explore James Watt's partnership with Dr John Roebuck, one of the founders of Carron Iron Works in Falkirk - and the cottage workshop Roebuck built for Watt at Kinneil House, Bo'ness. Podcast produced by The PR Store.
James Watt is well known as an inventor and engineer. But did you know that he made musical instruments? Engineering historian Dr Nina Baker told us more. Podcast produced by The PR Store
Engineer and inventor James Watt spent his early working career at the University of Glasgow. Professor Colin McInnes takes up the story. You can see the model Newcomen engine, which inspired Watt, in the Hunterian Museum within the University. The Museum is open to the public.
We hear from Valeria Boa about the early life of Scottish inventor James Watt. At the time of recording (2018), Val was the curator of the McLean Museum and Art Gallery in Watt's hometown of Greenock. Val officially retired from her role at the Museum early in 2020.
Introduction to the James Watt podcast, highlighting the story of the Scottish inventor James Watt - who developed the steam engine and became one of the fathers of the industrial revolution. The podcast uses audio material originally recorded/curated for the JamesWatt.scot website, supported by Historic Environment Scotland. Podcast series produced by The PR Store
