1 The PLAN of BIRMINGHAM Survey'd in the Year 1731
The first printed map of Birmingham, The Plan of Birmingham, surveyed by William Westley in 1731, is dedicated to Warwickshire’s two Members of Parliament, the Honourable Edward Digby and William Peyto ...
1. Handsworth Today
Text: Malcolm Dick
Handsworth represents many of the features of contemporary Birmingham:
• A change in the local economy from manufacturing to service industries. As local manufacturing has ...
100 Soho Hill
The Royal British Legion Club stands to the right of the picture.
100 Soho Hill, Handsworth
107 Edward Rd
This section of the road has since been demolished. At one time Edward Road had dozens of local shops offering a wide range of goods. Today only a few remain - mostly around the junction with Cannon Hill ...
117 Great Colmore Street
Alfred Kilby's butcher's shop at 117 Great Colmore Street, decked out for Christmas. Although this was a butcher's shop for some years it only traded under Mr Kilby's name from 1895 to 1897, so the photograph ...
170 Belgrave Road
A yard area identified as the above but covering several addresses. The washing drying on the line and the open windows attest to a sunny day.
1731 map detail
A section of the 1731 map surveyed by William Westley, showing the manor house and St Martins church.
1770s Atmospheric Pumping Engine at Chelsea Water Works
General Section of atmospheric pumping engine at Chelsea Water Works, London, 1770s.
This engine was replaced by the Boulton & Watt engine in the previous illustration. It was built to the basic ...
1770s Pumping Engine & Pump for the 'Paris Water Works'
Sketch section of pumping engine and pump for the 'Paris Water Works' Chaillot, France.
This sketch clearly shows the arrangement of the engine and the pump descending into the River Seine. This drawing ...
1770s Pumping Engine and Pump for the 'Paris Water Works'
General section of pumping engine and pump for the 'Paris Water Works' Chaillot, France.
This drawing is of a single-acting engine with a 63 inch cylinder and 8 foot stroke, ordered by the Frenchman ...
1770s Pumping Engine for 'Ale & Cakes Mine', Cornwall
Section of pumping engine house and sections of the boiler, for the 'Ale & Cakes Mine' Cornwall.
Ale & Cakes Mine was part of the group of Cornish mines known as United Mines. This single-acting ...
1770s Pumping Engine for Birmingham Canal Co. Smethwick
Plan of pumping engine, Birmingham Canal Co., Smethwick.
A rare drawing of the 'Smethwick Engine' which is now housed in the Thinktank museum. The engine was the second Boulton & Watt that the Birmingham ...
1770s Pumping Engine for Chacewater Mine, Cornwall
General section of pumping engine for Chacewater Mine, Cornwall.
This was the first Boulton & Watt engine erected in Cornwall, although it was actually the second one ordered. It started work in 1777. ...
1770s Pumping Engine for Hawkesbury Colliery, Bedworth
General section of pumping engine for Hawkesbury Colliery, Bedworth, Warwickshire.
When it was set to work in 1777, this single-acting engine with a 58 inch cylinder and 8 foot stroke was the largest ...
1770s Pumping Engine for Les Mines du Nord, Nantes
General Section of pumping engine for Les Mines du Nord, Nantes, France.
This single-acting 44 inch engine with an 8 foot stroke was the first Boulton & Watt engine erected in mainland Europe, less ...
1770s Pumping Engine for Wheal Chance, Cornwall
Beam of pumping engine for Wheal Chance, Cornwall.
This drawing illustrates a massive timber beam for a single-acting engine with a 63 inch cylinder and 9 foot stroke. Several trees were often used ...
1780s 3 Horse Power Engine for the Birmingham Canal Co.
Reverse general section of small engine for the Birmingham Canal Co.
In the late 1780s, Boulton & Watt began to make small engines, of 3 horses power and under. They were encouraged in this by John ...