Dunbar lies on the east coast of Scotland in East Lothian, around 30 miles east of Edinburgh. By the harbour there is an enormous four ton ships propeller, unveiled in September 2003, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Robert Wilson who is credited with the invention of the screw propeller for ships. Wilson lost his Father in a marine accident when he was aged seven and is believed to have been inspired by watching a windmill turning.

The Propeller at Dunbar harbour

However when I did a Google search to find out more about Robert Wilson it appears that there are several contenders for the title of “Inventor of Screw Propellor”. Could this all end in a court battle for the official accolade?

Dunbar harbour is still a working harbour. At one end of the harbour lies the crumbling Dunbar Castle, a defensive stronghold since the Romans entered Scotland.