Bo’ness event will reflect on Watt’s life and legacy

History fans are being invited to a free event to celebrate the life and legacy of inventor James Watt. The evening – on Tuesday, January 21, 2020 – will feature talks and films about the great man. It will be hosted in the historic Hippodrome Cinema in Bo’ness: just a few miles from Watt’s cottage … Continue reading Bo’ness event will reflect on Watt’s life and legacy

Watt a career: curator reflects on time at Greenock museum

The curator of the McLean Museum and Art Gallery in Greenock - part of the Watt Institution - is heading for retirement after 40 years of service. Val Boa has been reflecting on her time at the museum in an interview with the local paper, The Greenock Telegraph. She says the 2019 celebrations of Greenock-born … Continue reading Watt a career: curator reflects on time at Greenock museum

Book tickets for free Watt event on January 21

The Bo'ness Hippodrome will host a special, free evening about James Watt, his life and legacy on the evening of Tuesday, January 21. It's the same week as Watt's birthday and will look back on a successful year celebrating the Scottish inventor. Watt worked on his development of the steam engine at a cottage workshop … Continue reading Book tickets for free Watt event on January 21

Sweet taste of success at Riverside

Neil Johnson-Symington and Rosemary Watt show off a special cake to mark the James Watt 2019 anniversary and the recent launch of a new Watt-themed display at Glasgow's Riverside Museum. The Museum invited partners and those involved with the exhibition to a mini reception today (December 19) to thank people for their support. The event … Continue reading Sweet taste of success at Riverside

New website highlights Watt letters

A new website - highlighting letters from inventor James Watt - has gone live. The site - https://jameswattkennetpansletters.info - has been set up to showcase more than 100 documents relating to Kennetpans, near Kincardine-on-Forth. The site was once home to the largest whisky distillery in Scotland and Scotland’s first rotative Boulton and Watt steam engine. Some … Continue reading New website highlights Watt letters

Watt a great looking complex

Historic buildings - housing a museum and art gallery, library and meeting hall - have re-opened after a £2.1 million refurbishment programme. The Watt Institution in James Watt's hometown of Greenock houses the McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Watt Library and Watt Hall. The complex re-opened its doors to visitors today (November 22), following extensive … Continue reading Watt a great looking complex

New Riverside exhibits explore Watt’s legacy

A new display - inspired by the achievements of the Scottish inventor James Watt - has been launched at Riverside Museum in Glasgow. Going Green – The Drive for Energy Efficiency (sponsored by Aggreko), considers James Watt’s pioneering spirit and legacy in a modern-day context. Neil Johnson-Symington, curator of Transport and Technology with Glasgow Museums, … Continue reading New Riverside exhibits explore Watt’s legacy

The complex that celebrates Watt in his hometown

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 … Continue reading The complex that celebrates Watt in his hometown

Watt experts cross the borders

Leading experts on James Watt have been crossing the English/Scottish border - just like the great man himself. Chris Rice, who has been leading the development of the Watt 2019 celebrations around Birmingham, was in Scotland recently to visit a number of Watt-related sites - including Kinneil Estate in Bo'ness, which boasts the remains of … Continue reading Watt experts cross the borders