Scotland's Great Heritage
If I had to write a blog about Scotland’s contribution to the sciences and engineering history then I’d have no shortage of material. The nation has been as active or more active in the great leap forward of mankind as any other and much more than most. Scots genius from Bell to Fleming to Watt is world renowned. But one of the more forgotten corners at the moment is ship building which used to be one of the mainstays of the economy north of the border. And in its day it was revolutionary. And now in Port Glasgow they will be celebrating the unveiling of a replica, a full-sized replica, of a small Clyde built ship that changed forever world shipbuilding more than 200 years ago. This is Henry Bell's Comet, the world’s first commercially successful steamship which was launched in Port Glasgow in 1812, and it is celebrated at the Comet Festival each year.
It’s hard to think now that the Clyde once dominated world ship building. Some only remember that it gave us Billy Connolly, who was a welder there.
It isn’t the first replica of the steam vessel, the first was built in 1962, but it rotted away in the northern weather, The Comet offered sailings between Greenock, Helensburgh and Glasgow. The boat was the forerunner of every engine powered ship ever made and its historical significance should not be understated. The Comet was powered by a steam engine and its funnel doubled as a mast so that the engine could get some wind assistance from a sail. There was a great comet in 1811 and the vessel was named after that event at a time when Britain was still fighting the Napoleonic wars. The original was wrecked in stormy weather in 1819 and the wreck has only recently been found.
Now one of the other offshoots of Scotland’s genius is the true amber nectar, whisky. And the best way to enjoy it is with a more than half price offer from the good folk at James Pirie, established in 1890. If you want 55% OFF some really good goods, some vessels of the drinking rather than the sailing kind then you are in the right place. May I present the set of six Edinburgh Large Crystal Tumblers from Royal Scot Crystal? They in a very smart presentation box and come with free delivery and free gift wrapping when you tick the box at check out. They are five star reviewed and handsome beasts.
