Inventions Category
Meccano, Hornby Train Sets and Dinky Toys
Frank Hornby (1863-1936) grew up in industrial Liverpool. He became a cashier then a bookkeeper after leaving…
The Swing Aqueduct
There is only one swing aqueduct in the world and it is at Barton, 4 miles west of…
Pocket Calculators and Home Computing
Sir Clive Sinclair (1940=2021), from Middlesex, may not have been a good businessman, but he opened the…
Limelight and a Steam-Powered Coach
Sir Goldsworthy Gurney (1793-1875) of Cornwall first became a surgeon, chemist and lecturer but in 1823 decided…
The Lifeboat
As a collection of islands set in what can be treacherous seas, it is unsurprising that Britain…
The Kilt
The kilt has its roots in the Scottish Highlands, where a long tunic of thick plaid (not…
Christmas Crackers
Christmas table settings customarily include a pretty Christmas cracker next to each plate, to be pulled apart…
The Slide Rule
When a football commentator uses the term “a slide rule pass”, what is meant is that the…
The Scanning Electron Microscope
Professor Sir Charles William Oatley (1904-96) from Somerset worked on developing the scanning electron microscope (SEM) for…
The Linear Motor & Maglev
Professor Dr Eric Laithwaite (1921-97) from Lancashire was a naturally gifted lecturer and was attached firstly to…
Hip Replacement Surgery
Currently one of the most common surgical operations, the hip replacement is the legacy of Professor Sir…
The Queen’s Watch, 1770
In 1770 King William III (1738-1820) purchased a gold watch from the country’s greatest watchmaker, Devon-born Thomas…