At the next meeting of the West Lothian History and Amenity Society, the topic will be the power that truly changed the world, and how it had its beginnings right here in West Lothian.
Members will be hearing about James Watt’s steam engine and was it really invented and pioneered in West Lothian?
The group will also hear about the friendship and business partnership that developed between Dr John Roebuck at Kinneil and the young engineer that he brought in to solve the problem of flooding in the mines, had its ups and downs, but led eventually to James Watt’s great success and Roebuck’s bankruptcy.
It’s a tale of visionary enterprise, industrial espionage, personal setbacks and failures, but also progress in developing one of the greatest Scottish inventions.
The talk will be given by Ian Shearer of the Friends of Kinneil. The talk takes place at Ecclesmachan Village Hall, on Wednesday, February 19, at 7.30pm.
All are welcome; non members by donation.
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