Shared description
James Watt Memorial Cairn, Greenock
Greenock born James Watt perfected Newcomen's steam engine by adding a separate condenser, thus paving the way for the Industrial Revolution.
The Watt Cairn in Greenock Cemetery is built of stone from around the world. A plaque attached to the cairn reads as follows...
"Projected and commenced by the Watt Club 1854. Arranged and completed on the 200th anniversary of Watt's birth 1936.
These stones, gifted from all parts of the world, speak of the universal homage accorded the great engineer, inventor and scientist.
The monument also marks the burying place of James Watt's ancestors removed from the Old West Kirk, 26th April 1927".
A second plaque details the donors of stones from around the world that were used to build the cairn...
"Malta, St Paul's Bay, Major General Sir William Reid, governor of Malta
Sebastopol Granite, Henry Innes, Secretary to the Port Admiral
Marble from Tunis, Sir Edward Baines HM Consul General
Marble from Carthage, Admiral Sir Houston Stewart
Slab from Palestine, John Currie
Stone from Peru, Alex Prentice, Lima
Stone from Ghaut of India, Bombay Mechanics Institution
Red Sandstone from Seneca Quarry, Potomac River, Gilbert Cameron
Granite Slab, Heriot Currie
Pentagonal Column from the Giant's Causeway
Stone, Mechanics Institute, St Helens
Stone from Canada, Rollo Campbell, Montreal
Foundation stones, Dougald Dove, Nitshill and Arden Quarries and
Sir Michael R Shaw Stewart Bt, A member of the Watt Club."
The Watt Cairn in Greenock Cemetery is built of stone from around the world. A plaque attached to the cairn reads as follows...
"Projected and commenced by the Watt Club 1854. Arranged and completed on the 200th anniversary of Watt's birth 1936.
These stones, gifted from all parts of the world, speak of the universal homage accorded the great engineer, inventor and scientist.
The monument also marks the burying place of James Watt's ancestors removed from the Old West Kirk, 26th April 1927".
A second plaque details the donors of stones from around the world that were used to build the cairn...
"Malta, St Paul's Bay, Major General Sir William Reid, governor of Malta
Sebastopol Granite, Henry Innes, Secretary to the Port Admiral
Marble from Tunis, Sir Edward Baines HM Consul General
Marble from Carthage, Admiral Sir Houston Stewart
Slab from Palestine, John Currie
Stone from Peru, Alex Prentice, Lima
Stone from Ghaut of India, Bombay Mechanics Institution
Red Sandstone from Seneca Quarry, Potomac River, Gilbert Cameron
Granite Slab, Heriot Currie
Pentagonal Column from the Giant's Causeway
Stone, Mechanics Institute, St Helens
Stone from Canada, Rollo Campbell, Montreal
Foundation stones, Dougald Dove, Nitshill and Arden Quarries and
Sir Michael R Shaw Stewart Bt, A member of the Watt Club."
Created: Sun, 1 Feb 2026, Updated: Sun, 1 Feb 2026
13 images use this description: (all images taken in 2024)
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