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- The Enlightenment
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Chemical Philosophers of the Present Day: Dr Priestley
Image from: Joseph Priestley Collection by Samuel Timmins, Birmingham City Archives.
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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 »
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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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Culpepper Compound Microscope in case
The Culpepper company was one of the greatest producers of early microscopes. The first compound microscope was… read more »
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Culpepper Compound Microscope in case
A tapered, square-based oak case houses the Culpepper Compound Microscope. At its base is a drawer which… 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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Enlightenment and Dissent: A Poem
By Roi Ankhkara Kwabena, Poet, Writer and Cultural Activist Roi was born in the Caribbean island of… 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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Epistle to Nathaniel Lister Esq. of Lichfield by Anna Seward
“[From “”Poetical Works of Anna Seward, Vol 2″”] [333] EPISTLE TO NATHANIEL LISTER, ESQ. OF LICHFIELD ON… read more »
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Floyer and the Medical Importance of Bathing
Image: Stowe Pool, Lichfield from John Jackson, History of the City and Cathedral of Lichfield (London, 1805). In front of… read more »
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Frontispiece: View of Birmingham from Bordesley Fields, near the Coventry Road
Image from: William Hawkes Smith, Birmingham and its Vicinity as a Manufacturing and Commercial District (London and… read more »
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Holt Castle on the banks of the Severn
From Picturesque Views of the Severn, 1824 by Thomas Harral
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Illustrations of the Black Country Landscape
Though these 16 images date from the 1870s, they represent a long-established view of the Black Country,… read more »
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Image and article relating to Mr Green’s ascent in a balloon
Watton’s Newspaper Cuttings, Volume 7 Image from: Shropshire Archives
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Introduction
Image: Print of Joseph Priestley Image from: Birmingham City Archives, Priestley Collection by Samuel Timmins Two hundred years ago,… read more »
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Introduction: Between Enlightenment and Romanticism
Alchymist in Search of the Philosopher’s Stone, (exhibited 1775, reworked 1795). Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797), Oil on… 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 Baskerville and Benjamin Franklin: A Trans-Atlantic Friendship
Image: Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790). The Hundred Greatest Men: Portraits of the One Hundred Greatest Men, Vol VII Politics, (Sampson… 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 Charles Darwin to Matthew Boulton, 1777/01/13
Charles Darwin was Dr. Darwin’s son and studied medicine at Edinburgh University. Dr. Joseph Black was a… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1788/11/18
Darwin writes to Watt concerning Watt’s health, with advice on treatments and remedies and various theories of… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1794/11/17
Darwin writes to Watt concerning their efforts to raise money for Dr. Beddoes’ Pneumatic Institute. Darwin also… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1794/11/30
Darwin’s second letter to Watt concerning raising funds for Dr. Beddoes’ pneumatic institute. Nov. 30-94 Derby Dear… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1795/04/02
Darwin writes to Watt about his continuing experiments with the use of gases in medicine. Darwin mentions… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1795/04/28
Darwin writes to Watt of his experiments with gases and now seems to be treating patients with… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1795/07/09
Darwin writes to Watt about one of the various law suits over the patents of Watt’s steam… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to James Watt, 1795/12/28
Darwin writes to Watt on behalf of a patient requesting apparatus for making oxygen gas. —————————————- Derby… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to Matthew Boulton, 1762
Darwin writes to Boulton about the experiments of Dr. Petit and Dr. Franklin —————————————- Dear Boulton Dr… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to Matthew Boulton, 1763/07/01
Darwin asks Boulton to help him with some apparatus for his scientific experiments. —————————————- Lichfield Jul. 1.… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to Matthew Boulton, 1764[?]
A detailed letter in which Darwin explains to Boulton his theory of a mechanically propelled car. —————————————-… 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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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to Matthew Boulton, 1784/01/17
Darwin writes to Boulton to request repayment of a loan and of the attempt of the Derby… read more »
Letter from Erasmus Darwin to Matthew Boulton, 1793/01/05
Darwin writes to Boulton to say he regrets being unable to visit Soho and enquire after an… read more »
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Letter from Erasmus Darwin to Matthew Boulton, 1794/10/08
Darwin requests Boulton help in obtaining aerated water for the treatment of a patient. —————————————- Derby Oct… read more »
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Lilleshall Abbey
Image from: Bayliss, Rev J C, Views in Shropshire (c. 1839). Shropshire Archives. THIS venerable ruin now forming so picturesque… 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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Moreton Corbet
Image from: Bayliss, Rev J C, Views in Shropshire (c. 1839). Shropshire Archives. MORETON CORBET, on account of its castle,… read more »
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On the Lledr
David Cox (1783-1859, b. Deritend, Birmingham – d. Harborne, near Birmingham)