Many major figures such as James Watt, Matthew Boulton and Josiah Wedgwood dominate the traditional histories of the Industrial Revolution in the West Midlands.

However, they did not work alone; many other men, women and even children, played significant roles in making the region a global centre of ideas, innovation and manufacture, during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

This special event will tell some of the stories of these often overshadowed or ignored forgotten revolutionary players.

The Event will take place in the Large Lecture Theatre on Floor 1 of the Arts Building, University of Birmingham B15 2TT.

Parking is free at the University on Saturday and we reccommend guests to park behind the Barber Institute or the multi-storey on Pritchatts Road.

Directions: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/contact/directions/getting-here-edgbaston.aspx

Map: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/university/edgbaston-campus-map.pdf

Registration will commence at 0930 hours prior to starting promptly at 1000 hours.

PROGRAMME

Hours

1000 Welcome - Malcolm Dick

Director, Centre for West Midlands History, University of Birmingham

1010 The Industrial Revolution in the West Midlands – An overview

Malcolm Dick

The forgotten workers of Soho

1030 The women and children

Caitlin Russell

1105 The Men who built the steam engines

Christopher Olive

1135 Break

The forgotten industrialists

1200 The Birmingham brassmakers: A fierce cartel

Duncan Frankis

1300 Lunch

1400 William Hazledine – Engineering change

Andrew Pattison

1445 James Keir – A forgotten industrial pioneer

Kristen Schranz

1530 Break

Forgotten Lunar women

1545 Wives and daughters of the Lunar men

Kate Croft

1630 Close