Budding engineers inspired by Arrol bridges at NSEW exhibition

Despite the beautiful weather, members of the public abandoned the sunshine to visit South Ayrshire Council’s National Science and Engineering Week (NSEW) events at Rozelle House in Ayr at the weekend.

Friends of Seafield House (FoSH) were there with an exhibition on Sir William Arrol, the bridges he constructed and Seafield House, which became his home at the height of his building career and which FoSH are now campaigning to save.

Sir William Arrol exhibition – display case and Meccano model of Tower Bridge

Sir William Arrol exhibition – Display case, information board and stereoscope with photographs

Display cases with photographs, books and  exhibition boards told the story of Sir William Arrol and his successes in engineering construction, including Tay Bridge, Forth Rail Bridge, Tower Bridge and the Arrol Gantry (used in construction of the Titanic).  Throughout the weekend a short film about the construction of the Forth Rail Bridge was being shown, “The River is Spanned” , courtesy of Harry Birrell, filmmaker, and Scottish Screen Archive.  The film was a prize winner at the Scottish Amateur Film Festival in 1950 and used original still photographs of the bridge being built, including 50’s special effects, to show the work involved at the different stages of spanning the River Forth.  There were also photographs of some of the bridges built by Sir William Arrol which, when seen through the Stereoscope viewer were revealed in their full 3D splendour.

Many thanks go to the Meccano Society of Scotland for their contribution, one of the highlights of the FoSH exhibition. Their meccano models brought life to examples of bridges built by Sir William Arrol: Tower Bridge built 1886-1894; and a transporter bridge similar to Arrol’s Middlesborough Transporter Bridge built 1910-1911.

Model of Tower Bridge, built by Bobby Middlemas of the Meccano Society of Scotland

Model of Transporter Bridge, built by Alistair Rennie of the Meccano Society of Scotland

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The working models were fascinating to watch and demonstrated the engineering principles behind the bridges. With the expert assistance of Alistair Rennie of the Meccano Society of Scotland, some budding engineers had a go at bridge building, helping to construct a meccano model of a bascule bridge similar to the bridge over the White Cart in Renfrew, which was completed by Sir William Arrol & Co Ltd in 1924.

Budding engineers building a meccano model of a bascule bridge

Download a copy of the FoSH Exhibition leaflet for National Science and Engineering week.

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FoSH Sir William Arrol Exhibition returns to Rozelle House

Friends of Seafield House (FoSH) are returning to Rozelle House, Ayr, for National Science and Engineering Week 2014.

The theme of this year’s event is Steps to Discovery 2014: Bicycles, Bridges and Beyond and you can read details of the programme of events on the South Ayrshire Council website.  On the weekend of the 15/16 March the event programme will focus on Bicycles and on 22/23 March on Bridges.

Representatives of Friends of Seafield House will be present on Saturday 22nd March with further activities and information on Sir William Arrol and bridge building including:

• Viewing of the film “The River is Spanned“, a reconstruction of the building of the Forth Rail Bridge using original photographs. Made in 1950 this film is shown by courtesy of the filmmaker Harry Birrell and Scottish Screen Archive.
• A chance to view stereoscopic photographs of some Arrol bridges – the 3D TV of Sir William Arrol’s time!
• Bridge building activities in partnership with the Meccano Society of Scotland with meccano models of Arrol’s Tower Bridge and Middlesborough Transporter Bridge. Plus the opportunity to try your hand at building your own meccano bridges.

If you are unable to join us at the weekend you can still see the accompanying exhibition focusing on Sir William Arrol and his bridge building, which has already opened at Rozelle House. Information will also available on FoSH and their campaign to save Seafield House in Ayr, which was Sir William Arrol’s home for many years.

Venue: Rozelle House, Rozelle Park, Monument Road, Ayr KA7 4NQ

Time: 15/16 & 22/23 March 10am – 5pm

FoSH take Sir William Arrol Exhibition to Rozelle House

Friends of Seafield House are mounting a display exhibition on Sir William Arrol in Rozelle House’s National Science & Engineering Week 2013 programme, which takes place over the weekend 16 & 17 March.

The theme of National Science & Engineering Week 2013 is Invention & Discovery and FoSH will focus its its contribution on Sir William’s engineering inventions & innovative construction techniques, which revolutionised engineering & construction in the early 20^th century.  By focusing on the Arrol Gantry, Sir William’s part in the building of building of ships including the Titanic will be explored. It is fitting that Sir William Arrol is included in this year’s programme, as we mark the Centenary of his death in Ayr on 20 February 1913.  Information will also be available on FoSH and their campaign to save Seafield House in Ayr, which was Sir William Arrol’s home for many years.

Venue: Rozelle House, Rozelle Park, Ayr KA7 4NQ

Time: 16 & 17 March 10.30 – 3.30