RSS

Tag Archives: William Murdock

Washing, Walking and Murdoch Day

1   It pleases me greatly to see baby clothes on the washing line and these are very beautiful baby clothes!

Baby leggings

Baby leggings

2   We walked through the park to town today for Murdoch Day, the day when Redruth celebrates one of its famous sons, William Murdoch. Grandbaby B loved marching off feeling independent but safely held on the reins on her backpack.

Off I go!

Off I go!

3   William Murdoch invented gas lighting and used it first in his own house here in Redruth.  Murdock also made important improvements in the steam engine. He was the first to devise an oscillating engine, of which he made a model about 1784.  You can read more about him here. Our little town was buzzing on this beautiful sunny day as the parade went by, stalls were doing great business and the music was keeping everyone entertained. Two of the musicians have stopped here to take a look.

The Murdoch Flyer

The Murdoch Flyer

 

 

Tags: , ,

Murdoch House, Cherry Blossom and Bark

1    After some bitterly cold shopping in the town, I called into Murdoch House for a warming coffee.  William Murdock,whose house this was, made the first locomotive and tested it here in 1784. He also invented gas lighting and used it first in this house. According to The Encyclopaedia Britannica ,  ‘he was sent to Cornwall to superintend the fitting of Watt’s steam engines. At his home in Redruth, Cornwall, he experimented in distilling coal and in 1792 lighted his cottage and offices with coal gas.’Murdoch House

Murdoch House
William Murdoch, inventor of gas lighting

William Murdoch, inventor of gas lighting

2   There is a beautiful cherry tree on the walk back up the hill.

Cherry tree

Cherry tree

Cherry blossom

Cherry blossom

3   The delicate pastel patterns on this piece of bark which had fallen onto the pavement caught my attention as the pink echoed the pink of the cherry blossom.

Beautiful pastel bark

Beautiful pastel bark

 

Tags: , , , , , , ,