Browse Times
1700 and before
1660
Foundation of the Royal Society to promote what was then called natural knowledge or natural philosophy or what we call science. Its members met weekly to conduct experiments and discuss scientific topics. It became a learned society including those who were making steps forward in knowledge and wealthy amateurs with an interest in science. Several members of the Lunar Society became fellows.
1665
Publication of Dud Dudley’s Metallum Martis; or Iron made with pit-coale, sea-coale etc. The book was the first published attempt to indicate that coal could be used to smelt iron.
1689
The government awarded its first contract for snapchance muskets giving a major boost to the gun industry in Birmingham and the Black Country. The Toleration Act enabled Quakers, Presbyterians, Baptists and Congregationalists to register their places of worship, thus enabling them to practice their religion openly.
1698
The Quaker Sampson Lloyd I moved from Wales to Birmingham and established an iron manufactory. Thomas Savery developed a steam pump for draining mines.
Articles in this time period
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 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: The Last Appearance of Mr Harper, Black singer and comedian
Watton’s Newspaper Cuttings, Volume 5 Image from: Shropshire 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
Biography of Dud Dudley
Image: Front page of Dud Dudley’s Metallum Martis (Reprint of 1665 edition) Text: Malcolm Dick Image from: Local Studies and History, Birmingham… read more »
Early Warwickshire Maps
Image: The ‘Anonymous’ map of Warwickshire Printed by John Overton of London. The date on it is… read more »
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 »
Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Gower, Marquis of Stafford (1721-1803)
Image: Trentham Hall, Staffordshire, engraved by M Burghers. Robert Plot, The Natural History of Staffordshire (Oxford, 1686). The hall served… read more »
Image and article relating to Mr Green’s ascent in a balloon
Watton’s Newspaper Cuttings, Volume 7 Image from: Shropshire Archives
North East View of Croxton Abbey in Stafford
Source: Samuel & Nathaniel Buck, Views of Ruins of Castles & Abbeys in England, Part 2, 1726-1739 (nd), Arts, Languages… read more »
South West View of Alton Castle in Stafford
Source: Samuel & Nathaniel Buck, Views of Ruins of Castles & Abbeys in England, Part 2, 1726-1739 (nd), Arts, Languages… read more »
South West View of Dudley Priory in Stafford
Source: Samuel & Nathaniel Buck, Views of Ruins of Castles & Abbeys in England, Part 2, 1726-1739 (nd), Arts, Languages… read more »
