Stourbridge and Steam

Abstract

It is well documented that the first public Newcomen engine was built in 1712 near Dudley Castle. Less well known is that Thomas Newcomen first visited Stourbridge in 1694 and maintained social and economic connections in Worcestershire. This paper describes the range and progression of relationships centred on Newcomen, which proved conducive to his and John Calley’s later deployment of the atmospheric engine in the neighbouring South Staffordshire coalfield, culminating in the construction of the 1712 engine.

Keywords:

• Thomas Newcomen
• Stephen Coley
• Richard Lowbridge
• John Eckles
• volcanic winter

Acknowledgments

The author would like to express his thanks to the following people for their support: Neil Cole, Yarnold family historian; Dr Peter King, University of Birmingham, School of History and Cultures, iron historian; John Weston, President of The Bromsgrove Society; the staff of Dudley Archives and of the Staffordshire Record Office; and David Perrett and Steve Grudgings for their painstaking editorial work and proofreading

Notes

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