Things you didn't know about... Falkirk

The Falkirk Wheel is unique
Falkirk is home to the world's only rotating boat lift. It provides a link between the Forth and Clyde Canal and the Union Canal, making it possible to go by barge between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Thanks to cunning engineering, a whole rotation only consumes the same amount of electricity as the boiling of eight kettles.

The Romans stopped at Falkirk
Falkirk was the northernmost point of the Roman Empire, and the Antonine Wall, part of which you can still see in the town today, marked this. The Government has nominated the wall for a World Heritage site.

Mel Gibson was here
The Hollywood star's 1990 film, Hamlet, was filmed at Blackness Castle in the Firth of Forth near Falkirk.

William Wallace was defeated at Falkirk
Talking of Mel Gibson... we all remember Braveheart, but the Battle of Falkirk in 1298 was one that William Wallace actually lost. King Edward I won the battle, but was weakened so badly by the whole campaign that he was forced to retreat.

Falkirk's famous ironworks
The Carron Company in Falkirk was famous for two reasons: first, it was where James Watt started to develop a full-scale steam engine. Second, it provided the cannons (known as "Carronades") that helped to defeat Napoleon. In fact, by 1814, it was the largest ironworks in Europe.

Forget the gherkin—check out Falkirk's pineapple
London may have its gherkin but Falkirk has a pineapple. This exotic fruit-shaped summer house folly in the gardens of Dunmore House near Falkirk has been described as one of the "architectural wonders of Scotland".

The unluckiest horse in the world?
When Falkirk Steeple was struck by lightning in 1927, the top 12 m (40 ft) was blown off. The only casualty was a delivery horse who was standing below. The name of the horse was Irn Bru.

The Indiana Jones of the plant world
One of Falkirk's most interesting sons was George Forrest (1873-1932). The botanist and plant collector, who has been dubbed "the Indiana Jones of the plant world", faced malaria, attacks by warrior monks, rickety bridges and sheer cliffs to bring back 30,000 plants from China and elsewhere.