INVERCLYDE is exporting a new tartan in honour of world famous inventor James Watt.

Council bosses commissioned the design to mark the 200th anniversary of the death of the Greenock engineer who powered the Industrial Revolution.

It will now be making its way to Canada and other places with close links to James Watt.

As part of a series of events to mark his significant place in history there will be a whole range in his name.

The tartan, recently worn by Provost Martin Brennan at the opening of a James Watt art exhibition, is dark grey to represent industry and tools, light grey for steam, orange for the James Watt Institution and teal for the council.

Provost Martin Brennan, a retired history teacher, said: "We are delighted to be able to share our new James Watt Commemorative tartan with local residents and the wider world.

"It is great to be able to celebrate James Watt’s birth place in such a creative way.

"We have been able to gift tartan ties and rosettes to a wide range of people associated with James Watt from as far as Birmingham, London and Canada.

“James Watt is one of Inverclyde’s most famous citizens.

"His impact on Britain and the world was enormous.

"He was a hugely accomplished scientist and inventor and we felt it was appropriate that there should be a tartan named after him.”

Merchandise featuring the newly created James Watt Commemorative tartan is now on sale.

Ties, rosettes, umbrellas, travel mugs and pens are already available with the potential to expand the range to include kilts.

Watt improved on Thomas Newcomen’s 1712 steam engine, creating his own version in 1781 which brought about the Industrial Revolution.

He also developed the concept of horsepower, and the SI unit of power, the watt, is named after him.

The tartan is now available through the council’s suppliers, Ingles Buchan, and it’s expected local shops will be stocking items featuring it.

A similar range of products will be available from the James Watt Institution, which includes the McLean Museum and Watt Library, when it reopens later this year having undergone a £2 million pound refurbishment.

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