James Watt College facts for kids
| Type | Public college |
|---|---|
| Established | 1908 |
| Undergraduates | Diploma and Certificate |
| Location | , , |
| Campus | 17 urban/suburban |
The James Watt College was a college in Greenock, Scotland. It helped students learn skills for jobs. The college is now part of a bigger group called West College Scotland.
Some parts of the college, like those in Largs and Kilwinning, joined with other colleges. They are now part of Ayrshire College. This happened when James Watt College merged with Kilmarnock College and Ayr College.
Contents
A Look at the College's History
The first James Watt Memorial College building opened on June 1, 1908. It was called the Watt Memorial Engineering and Navigation School. This building was very close to where James Watt was born. James Watt was a famous Scottish inventor.
How the College Started
A rich Scottish businessman named Andrew Carnegie gave money to build the college. He even came to the opening ceremony. Mr. Carnegie unveiled a statue of James Watt at the building. The original building was made of red sandstone. It had a special Scottish castle-like design.
The building had a tall tower at the corner. One side had a stepped roof. The other side had a round tower with a cone-shaped roof. The roof facing Dalrymple Street was flat. This flat roof was used by students to study the sun and learn about navigation.
New Locations and Learning
Over the years, the college needed more space. It also needed to teach new subjects. So, in 1973, the college moved to a new building on Finnart Street. This new building was eight stories tall.
In the 1970s, many old industries changed. The college also changed what it taught. It started to offer education for new types of jobs.
Growing and Merging Colleges
In the 1990s, the college grew even more. It added campuses in other places. These included the Greenock waterfront, Kilwinning in Ayrshire, and Largs.
In 2013, the campuses in Ayrshire became part of the new Ayrshire College. This was a big change for the college. The last principal of the college was Sue Pinder.
Images for kids
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The Finnart Campus seen from Nelson Street
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James Watt Memorial College building.
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The Waterfront Campus in Greenock.
