New exhibition opens at Science Museum

The Science Museum in London has opened a brand new exhibition detailing the life of steam pioneer James Watt.

The exhibition, which focuses on the industrial revolution, has a replica of Watt's attic workshop as its centrepiece. 'James Watt And Our World' presents a portrait of the pioneer's life and his design of the steam engine.

Described as one of the founding fathers of modern industry, Watt – who died in 1819 – has been brought back to life through his workshop, which has been entirely recreated using the original furniture, floorboards and more than 8,000 objects. Now, for the first time, visitors will be invited inside the workshop.

Amongst the objects on show include the world's oldest circular saw and pieces of sandpaper used by Watt, alongside the original 1765 'separate condenser' model – an improvement to the steam engine and thought to be one of the most significant objects in engineering history.

Principal curator of technology and engineering at the Science Museum, Andrew Nahum, said, "The extraordinary thing about Watt's story is that it represents the crucial moment at which industry took off and transformed our lives.

"In the 19th century, Watt's improvements to the steam engine and the industry it drove was claimed as a powerful contribution to British strength and to Wellington's defeat of Napoleon. Watt became a new kind of 'industrial hero,'" he added.

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