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Geology
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A Biography of Joseph Wright
Joseph Wright of Derby: Painter of the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution Text: Olga Baird Joseph Wright… read more »
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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 »
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A Portrait of John Whitehurst
John Whitehurst: Clockmaker, Engineer and Geologist John Whitehurst was born in Congleton, Cheshire in 1713, the son… read more »
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Birmingham and the Country Around, 1798
Image: ‘A MAP OF UPWARDS OF 25 MILES ROUND THE TOWN OF BIRMINGHAM. To his most sacred MAJESTY… read more »
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Birmingham in 1751
Image: This is a street plan from 1751, surveyed by Samuel Bradford and engraved by Thomas Jefferys. Samuel… read more »
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Birmingham in 1810
TO THE COMMISSONERS OF THE STREET ACTS, THIS MAP OF THE TOWN AND PARISH OF Birmingham, Showing… read more »
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Canal Maps
Image: ‘PLAN of the intended NAVIGABLE CANAL from the TOWN of BIRMINGHAM into the RIVER SEVERN near the… read more »
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Cartouches
Image: Cartouche from 1772 map of Worcestershire. Fruit is important to the agriculture of Worcestershire, and fruit of… read more »
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Conclusion: Classical Order versus Romantic Nature
Virgil’s Tomb (1782), Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797), Oil on Canvas. Derby Museum & Art Gallery. Wright painted several… read more »
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Darwin, Priestley and Romantic Materialism
Image: Bridge through a Cavern, Moonlight (1791). Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797), Oil on Canvas. Derby Museum & Art Gallery.… read more »
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Early Warwickshire Maps
Image: The ‘Anonymous’ map of Warwickshire Printed by John Overton of London. The date on it is… read more »
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Entrance to the Great Cavern at Castleton
This is an example of the type of limestone cavern that impressed visitors and potential visitors to… read more »
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James Keir and the Geology and Industry of the Black Country: Mineralogy of the South-west part of Staffordshire, 1798
Image: The Wren’s Nest from The Black Country – Sixteen Etchings of Scenes in the Coal and Iron… read more »
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John Whitehurst and 18th Century Geology
John Whitehurst (1713-1788) was the oldest member of the Lunar Society. Born in Congleton in Cheshire he moved… read more »
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Joseph Wright of Derby: Art, the Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution
Image: Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797), Self Portrait in a Black Feathered Hat(c1767-1770). Oil on canvas. Summary Joseph Wright… read more »
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Joseph Wright’s Journey to Italy
Image: Joseph Wright of Derby (1734- 1797), Self Portrait (c1767-70). Charcoal on paper. Image from: Derby Museum… read more »
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Keys and Explanations
Image: One of the earliest keys, from the late seventeenth century copy of the 1603 ‘Anonymous’ map. This… read more »
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Keys and Explanations
Image: Key from map of Staffordshire, Phillips & Hutchings, 1832. Image from: Local Studies and History, Birmingham Central Library… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to Matthew Boulton, 1767/07/29
Darwin writes to Boulton of various financial matters and a recent visit to Derbyshire. —————————————- Lichfd Dear… read more »
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Map of the Mining and Manufacturing District of South Staffordshire, Warwickshire, etc.
William Hawkes Smith, Birmingham and its Vicinity as a Manufacturing and Commercial District (London and Birmingham, 1836).… read more »
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Maps and Map Making: the West Midlands Experience
Image: Cartouche from James Sherriff’s map of the area for 25 miles around Birmingham, 1798. Image from:… read more »
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The First Road Maps, John Ogilby, 1697
Image:The road-map showing part of the route between London and Welshpool, from John Ogilby’s Britannia, published in… read more »
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The Lime Strata Near Dudley: The Wren’s Nest, Dip East
William Hawkes Smith, Birmingham and its Vicinity as a Manufacturing and Commercial District (London and Birmingham, 1836).
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Tithe Maps
Image: Tithe Map of Smethwick Image from: Birmingham City Archives Tithe maps mark the end of an era. From… read more »
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Virgil’s Tomb (1782)
Image: Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797). Oil on canvas. Image from: Derby Museum & Art Gallery Virgil was a… read more »
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William Westley’s Plan of Birmingham, 1731
Image: The 1731 town plan of Birmingham bears this dedication: To the Honourable Edwd. Digby & Willm. Peyton… read more »