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Dassie Green, Greenhead Street, Bridgeton
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Statue of JAMES WATT.(1736-1819)
whose idea of the steam engine came to him in 1765, while wandering
aimlessly through Glasgow Green, Watt hit upon the idea of condensing the
steam in a separate vessel. This removed the need for heating and cooling,
making the engine faster, safer, and more fuel-efficient. A stone in
Glasgow Green marks this spot, where the industrial revolution really
began.
It was his invention that allowed industry to move into towns from the
water powered countryside and laid the foundations for the industrial
revolution.
I think its shocking that this pioneer's statue
has been left headless in a run down park. Surely a prominent spot along
at the Peoples Palace would be more appropriate?....with a new head!
#
In 1882, 63 years after Watt's death, the British Association gave his
name to the unit of electrical power - and today James Watt's name is to
be found written on almost every lightbulb in the world.
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How the Statue and
park used to look
Notice the Goalpost in the background from the famous 'red ash' football
parks of the Glasgow Green
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Photograph of the statue with its original head taken in c1941 The two
wee girls are sisters Dinah and Alice Maxwell aged 7½ and 2½ from James
Street, Bridgeton. |
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Jan.2003 SOME GOOD NEWS
One of my readers (Russell Henry) wrote to the
Glasgow City Council after viewing this website to complain about the state
of the James Watt statue......Extract from letter :
"......I write to bitterly complain about the
James Watt statue which has not only been badly defaced but is also
headless!...........I find it appalling that such a well known figure, who
brought fame to the city should be left in such a state.........he like many
other people are part of the culture of our great City........Could you
please let me know if there are any plans to restore this statue and it's
rightful place in our City's history"
# Extract of Reply from Glasgow City Council, Peter J Downing,
Principal Landscape Officer.
"I am delighted to be able to advise you
that it is planned to restore the James Watt Statue including replacing his
head, and relocating it within the Winter Gardens enclosure"
So success for our James Watt statue and
our website, well done Russell.
...
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Further along in THE GREEN next
to Admiral Nelson's column is a boulder ........
The Winter Gardens of the Peoples Palace can be seen in the background and
further back through the trees you can just make out the old Templeton
Carpet Building
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