Browse Times
1724-1740
1730
The first mechanically-produced cotton hose (stockings) was made in Nottingham.
1733
John Kay invented the Flying Shuttle to speed up the weaving process in textile manufacturing. It was not widely adopted until after 1750. An estimate suggests that 20 Newcomen pumping engines were operating in the West Midlands out of a total of 110 for England and Wales.
1738
John Wyatt and Lewis Paul developed a roller spinning device for use in cotton spinning.
1740
Introduction of enamel box manufacturing in Birmingham, Wednesbury and Bilston.
Articles in this time period
A Biography of Robert Bage
Image: The Mill House, Elford, near Lichfield. The home of Robert Bage in the late 18th century. Robert… read more »
A Perspective View of Ludlow Castle for the European Magazine, and article on The Late Storms
Watton’s Newspaper Cuttings, Volume 5 Image from: Shropshire Archives
A Philosopher, Conduit Street
Image from: Joseph Priestley Collection by Samuel Timmins, Birmingham City Archives.
A Portrait of Dr William Small
Pencil sketch of Dr William Small, member of the Lunar Society and a prominent physician in Birmingham during… read more »
A Portrait of Dr. Erasmus Darwin
Erasmus Darwin: Doctor, Inventor, Poet and Educationalist Erasmus Darwin was born at Elston, near Nottingham, in 1731… read more »
A Portrait of Dr. William Small
William Small: Teacher, Scientist and Mentor William Small was born in Forfarshire, Scotland, in 1734, the son… read more »
A Portrait of James Keir
James Keir: Chemist, Geologist, Industrialist and Inventor James Keir was born in Stirlingshire, Scotland in 1735. He… read more »
A Portrait of James Watt
James Watt: Inventor James Watt was born in Greenock, Scotland in 1736. His father was an instrument… read more »
A Portrait of Jedediah Strutt
Jedediah Strutt: Industrialist and Philanthopist Text: Olga Baird Jedediah Strutt (1726-1797) was one of leading pioneer industrialists of… read more »
A Portrait of John Whitehurst
John Whitehurst: Clockmaker, Engineer and Geologist John Whitehurst was born in Congleton, Cheshire in 1713, the son… read more »
A Portrait of Rev. Joseph Priestley
Joseph Priestley: Scientist, Philosopher and Reformer Born into a Yorkshire wool manufacturing family in 1733, Priestley was… read more »
A Sorry End: The Priestley Riots of 1791
Image: Ticket for the French Revolution Dinner, Birmingham 14 July 1791. The Dinner began the chain of events… read more »
A View of Shrewsbury from the South-West
Watton’s Newspaper Cuttings, Volume 5 Image from: Shropshire Archives
Advertisement: Batty’s Circus, Shrewsbury, including the ascent of Mr Hughes on his head on top of a balloon
Watton’s Newspaper Cuttings, Volume 4 Image from: Shropshire Archives
Advertisement: Mrs Graham’s Ascent: the first ascent of the Only English Female Aeronaut
Watton’s Newspaper Cuttings, Volume 2 Image from: Shropshire Archives
Advertisement: Opening of Hughes’ s Great Mammoth Equestrian Establishment, Shrewsbury
Watton’s Newspaper Cuttings, Volume 5 Image from: Shropshire Archives
Advertisement: The Last Appearance of Mr Harper, Black singer and comedian
Watton’s Newspaper Cuttings, Volume 5 Image from: Shropshire Archives
An “ever-open door”: Erasmus Darwin and Lichfield
Samuel Johnson described Lichfield as a “city of philosophers” where Erasmus Darwinwas the most prominent of an outstanding group of… read more »
Apparatus
Image from: Joseph Priestley Collection by Samuel Timmins, Birmingham City Archives.
Apparatus
Image from: Joseph Priestley Collection by Samuel Timmins, Birmingham City Archives.
Article from The Salopian Journal, 10 October 1838, on Mrs Graham’s ascent in a balloon
Watton’s Newspaper Cuttings, Volume 2 Image from: Shropshire Archives
Belisarius receiving Alms (1775)
Image: Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797), Pen, ink and brown wash over pencil. Image from: Derby Museum & Art… read more »
Chemical Philosophers of the Present Day: Dr Priestley
Image from: Joseph Priestley Collection by Samuel Timmins, Birmingham City Archives.
Colebrook Dale
Image:The Iron Bridge, near Coalbrookdale Shropshire. Thomas Harral, Picturesque Views of the Severn (1824). Harral’s views were largely based… read more »
Cottage in Needwood Forest
Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797). Image from: Derby Museum & Art Gallery
Cromford: A Factory Community
Image: Housing in North Street, Cromford, Derbyshire. Richard Arkwright built houses to attract people to work in his… read more »
Detail of Landscape with a Rainbow
Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797). Image from: Derby Museum & Art Gallery
East View of Tutbury Castle in Stafford
Source: Samuel & Nathaniel Buck, Views of Ruins of Castles & Abbeys in England, Part 2, 1726-1739 (nd), Arts, Languages… read more »
Fire in Rome
Originally called Fire in Rome, this image is probably one of Wright’s drawings of the Girandola firework… read more »
Floyer’s Pioneering Medical Publications
Image: St John’s Hospital, Lichfield. Floyer based much of his evidence in his book, The Physician’s Pulse-Watch, from evidence… read more »
Girandola with St Peter’s Rome (1774/5)
Image: Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797). Sepia wash with brown ink. Image from: Derby Museum & Art Gallery This… read more »
Gunpowder Joe: Priestley’s Religious Radicalism
Image: Cartoon: The Friends of the People, showing Joseph Priestley on the left Image from: Birmingham City Archives, Priestley… read more »
Holt Castle on the banks of the Severn
From Picturesque Views of the Severn, 1824 by Thomas Harral
Industry and Genius; or, the Origin of Birmingham. A Fable
Image: Portrait of John Baskerville (1706-1775), Type Founder and Printer, painted by James Millar in 1774. Oil on canvas. Industry… read more »
Introduction
Image: Print of Joseph Priestley Image from: Birmingham City Archives, Priestley Collection by Samuel Timmins Two hundred years ago,… read more »
Introduction
Image: Portrait of Joseph Priestley. Image from: Birmingham City Archives, Priestley Collection by Samuel Timmins Joseph Priestley’s importance as… read more »
Introduction: Interpretations
The “Priestley” Riots of July 1791 are one of the best-documented episodes in Birmingham history. The initial… read more »
Joseph Priestley: Trail-blazing Experimenter
Image: Print of Joseph Priestley, 1782, showing examples of scientific equipment beneath the portrait. Image from: Joseph Priestley Collection… read more »
Joseph Wright of Derby and his Visit to Italy 1773 – 1775
Image: Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797), Eruption of Mount Vesuvius (1774). Gouache on paper. Image from: Derby Museum &… read more »
Landscape with a Rainbow
Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797). Image from: Derby Museum & Art Gallery
