Watt's The Story
On 25th August 2019 we will celebrate the life of James Watt on our third #GoIndustrial Day.
2019 marks 250 years since the patent of one of James Watt's most famous inventions – the separate condenser – and 200 years since his death on 25th August. It seems fitting that #GoIndustrial should commemorate Watt, whose success was so great that a unit of power was named a Watt in his honour. As well as events in our venues across Scotland, we'll be on social media too - find out more below.
James Watt was a Scottish engineer and inventor who changed the world. Watt’s improvements to the steam engine drove the Industrial Revolution. In 1769 he patented the separate condenser, a method of lessening the consumption of steam in steam engines. The Boulton & Watt steam engine would go on to be a driving force in the industrial revolution.
Watt also patented:
- An early copying machine
- A new method to produce a continued rotation motion – find out more about how to B&W engine worked (see link below)
- New improvements upon steam engines (twice!)
- New improvements of constructing furnaces
#GoIndustrial will celebrate the life of James Watt on 25th August!
In our venues
- family activities at Summerlee Museum
- train-themed craft at National Mining Museum Scotland
- steam workshops at Verdant Works
- a Watt-themed trail at the Scottish Shale Museum at Almond Valley
You can do the #GoIndustrial trail at Verant Works and Discovery Point on #GoIndustrial Day!
On social
Our venues will all be live streaming throughout the day - follow #GoIndustrial on Twitter and Facebook to catch them all!
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10.30am |
Scottish Maritime Museum |
|
11am |
At 11am Morag the Coo will take you on a virtual tour at Almond Valley |
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11.30am |
Auchindrain Township |
|
12pm |
The Museum of the Scottish Railways will say #TootToot with the power of steam |
|
12.30pm |
Scottish Fisheries Museum |
|
1pm |
Museum of Lead Mining |
|
1.30pm |
Museum of Scottish Lighthouses |
|
2pm |
At National Mining Museum Scotland the Junior Miner Experience will be making some noise! |
|
2.30pm |
Verdant Works will have a steam and mill-inspired performance from Quire with a Q |
|
3pm |
New Lanark |
|
3.30pm |
Summerlee Museum |
|
4pm |
Discovery Point |