Sparks fly as Lincolnshire marks first steps towards Newton’s 300th anniversary

A curious contraption on wheels is rolling through Lincolnshire - and it’s all the county’s most famous sons, Sir Isaac Newton.

The Newton-O-Matic, a mobile science experiment, stopped in Lincoln earlier this week and is now in Grantham, aiming to spark curiosity and inspire young people in the run-up to the 300th anniversary of Newton’s death in 2027.

Creative Director Simon Hollingworth admits it’s a striking sight:

“It’s a very, very odd-looking structure on wheels. We encourage people to come up, chat to us and have a go."

Newton, born in Woolsthorpe near Grantham, transformed the world of science with his discoveries. But Hollingworth says his Lincolnshire roots are often overlooked.

“Not everybody knows that Newton was actually from Lincolnshire. He’s a massive figure who changed the world of science.

"People like the BBC and Apple will be making a big deal about it, so we figured Lincolnshire needs to get a bit of that reflection.”

The Newton-O-Matic is just the beginning of what organisers hope will be a series of creative projects building up to 2027.

“This is a very small way of starting that process. By the time we get to 2027, we hope there are lots of things going on - and lots more people know about Newton’s legacy.”