| Study Trip - April 2004 |
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Study Visit to the Black Country,Birmingham, Coventry and Redditch24th to 26th April 2004 Briefing notesContents:
The sites visited are on O.S. Landranger Sheets 139 Birmingham, 140 Leicester and Coventry, 151 Stratford upon Avon. National Grid References are given reasonably accurately. All reference material, shown in italics, is available in the “Travelling Library” IntroductionWest Midlands, the largest of the metropolitan counties in terms of population is dominated by the city of Birmingham, though it also embraces the area known as the Black Country. Though this region has long been the industrial heart of England , the continuing prosperity of much of it’s industry has led to the continuous redevelopment of working sites with the consequent destruction of earlier installations. The West Midlands therefore is not particularly rich in monuments to it’s heavy engineering industries and most of it’s monuments derive from it’s transport systems, or craft industries such as jewellery, gun making, glass making. “Guide to Englands Industrial Heritage” Keith Falconer The Black CountryIt is an area between Birmingham and Wolverhampton. It was developed in the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It’s growth was fuelled by the metal trades: nail making and chain making, locksmithing and gunsmithing, and the production of brassware, screws, nuts and bolts together with high quality heavy engineering. As the factories grew so did the demand for transport. Partly because of the lack of suitable natural waterways, canals were developed in the area to an extent not seen elsewhere and much of the network remains in use today. Birmingham was also served by two major trunk railways, the London and Birmingham and the Grand Junction. As far as roads, the area was served by the Holyhead Road which Thomas Telford improved in the early nineteenth century. Civil Engineering Heritage Roger CraggSoho FoundryFoundry Street, Smethwick (SP 035 888) Born the son of a silver-stamper Matthew Boulton (1728 – 1809) left a huge legacy to Birmingham. On inheriting his father’s business he moved out to Handsworth Heath, then in Staffordshire, to establish the Soho Manufactury. Initially producing buttons and buckles, Boulton moved on to manufacturing goods of silver and gilded bronze. On meeting James Watt he became fascinated by the development of steam power and produced steam engines which sold all over the world. He established the first steam powered mint at Soho and lobbied parliament for an Assay Office to be set up in Birmingham. This site was made famous by Boulton and Watt who opened their works here in 1796. Here they conducted much of their pioneer work on steam engines. “Guide to Englands Industrial Heritage” Keith Falconer Since 1895 the premises have been occupied by W T Avery of weighing machine fame. Most of the early buildings have gone. The Pen MuseumThe volume manufacture of steel pen nibs was the most significant step to takeover from the quill pen. There were several attempts but eventually in 1822 a John Mitchell moved from Sheffield to Birmingham and set up a factory in 48 Newhall Street. He used small hand operated fly presses to mass produce steel nibs. Similar machines can be tried out in the Museum which is located in the factory built for W. E. Wiley in 1863. “Birmingham’s Industrial Heritage 1900 – 2000 Ray Shill The Jewellery QuarterThe quarter began in private houses spreading out from St. Paul’s Square and developed around Vyse Street, Warstone Lane and Frederick Street. During the 1840’s cheap gold from Australia and California increased their trade. Separate houses worked on different materials so there were goldsmiths, silversmiths and gem-setters. In the area there were also refiners, founders and metal rollers. After surviving the tribulations of two world wars, Birmingham City Council were keen in the 50’s and 60’s to clear away bombed out properties and slum properties. Some companies moved out but others were relocated in the Hockley Centre which is a collection of small industrial units. “Birmingham’s Industrial Heritage 1900 – 2000 Ray Shill The Birmingham Canal Navigations.The first canal in the area was built by the Birmingham Canal Company and opened in 1772. It ran 22.5 miles from a junction with the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal at Aldersley, west of Wolverhampton, to wharves in Birmingham near to Broad Street and Summer Row. It ran at three distinct “levels”: 453 feet above sea level from Birmingham to Smethwick, 491 feet over the high ground at Smethwick, and 473 feet from Smethwick to Wolverhampton. The levels were connected by flights of locks and at Wolverhampton the canal descended to its junction with the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal by a flight of 20 locks, now 21. The Engineer was James Brindley. Improvements included lowering the summit at Smethwick, first in 1789 to 473 feet, then in 1829 to 453 feet by Thomas Telford. The Birmingham Canal was the focus of many “narrow” canals and branch canals serving industry along their banks. In total over 200 miles of canal were built, more than in the city of Venice. “Civil Engineering Heritage” Roger CraggPeugeot Ryton PlantThis started life as a Shadow Factory just before the last war. After the war the Rootes Group had it as their primary car plant producing Hillman Minx, Humbers and Sunbeam Talbots. In later years it produced the Peugeot 309, 405 and 306. Today it is assembling the 206. Warwick Gasholder Buidings Saltisford (SP 278653)The attractive stuccoed street façade of the now demolished early part of the gasworks in Saltisford is an industrial monument of exceptional significance. The octagonal towers at either end with their louvred lanterns are in fact gas holder houses and date from 1822. “Guide to Englands Industrial Heritage” Keith Falconer RedditchThe town derives its name from “Red Ditch”, the Arrow brook which flows into the River Arrow and whose clay soil runs red after heavy rain. Redditch became a centre for needle making, with the skill being passed on to local people before Henry VIII closed the abbey in 1538. Industry was slow to grow but great strides were made in the 18th century, by which time over 500 local people were involved in making needles and in the parallel trade of producing fish hooks and tackle. The 19th century saw even greater development and during that period the population of Redditch grew from just over 1,000 to 13,000. By the 1820’s the town was the acknowledged centre of the needle making industry. Improved transport boosted local factories, a turnpike road was opened to Birmingham in 1826 and the railway reached Redditch in 1868. During the 20th. century industry diversified with cycle and spring making coming to the town, and by 1964 Redditch became a New Town. The main employer was the metal manufacturing industry. Since 1964 90 miles of new roads have been built. The Forge Mill Museum has the only surviving water driven needle-scouring mill in the world. Edstone Aqueduct (SP 674131)4 miles north of Stratford on Avon. The towpath is carried alongside the water and not over it. The canal was opened in 1816. It is not very high but is in length second only to Pontcysyllte. The Stratford canal was authorized in 1793 under the direction of Josiah Clowes. The southern section including the aqueduct was built by William James. The G.W.R. built the Alcester branch railway which ran under the aqueduct. They also owned the canal so they installed a pipe and stop valve in the trough to feed their locomotives. “Guide to Englands Industrial Heritage” Keith Falconer Travelling LibraryMain books used were:
In addition for reference :
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