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Home , Matthew Boulton, Midlands Enlightenment, Soho Foundry

INDUSTRIES & TRADES Foundations of the

Powerhouse: An illustration of ’s impressive in Birmingham, 1808.

What all the world desired to have, according to the pioneering Birmingham manufacturer, Matthew Boulton, was ‘power!’. With his entrepreneurial friends, Boulton helped to fuel the Industrial Revolution, transforming the lives of our ancestors. Mike Sharpe explores Birmingham’s trade and industrial heritage, which left its mark on the world.

Industrial pioneer: Matthew What all Boulton, by Carl Breda. ocated at the geographical heart of , Birmingham has always been a centre for industry Land commerce. In 1186 a charter for the world a market was granted and the town’s position at the hub of a network of medieval roads attracted traders from all around. Textiles, leather working and iron working were desires… established and Birmingham became www.family-tree.co.uk April 2016 FamilyTree 31 BIRMINGHAM INDUSTRIES & TRADES The friends who made the future... Foundations of the Industrial Revolution At the heart of the of the mid-18th an important centre for the wool gunmakers accounted for two-thirds allowing them to improve their century was a group of intellectuals trade. Visiting the area in 1538, the and thinkers who met in Birmingham of the firearms used by the British standard of living considerably. In antiquarian John Leland wrote of on or around the full moon, and Army, with around 1.7 million guns 1840, George Elkington developed a seeing ‘many smithies in the towne hence became known as the Lunar being delivered to the Board of new method of electroplating silver that make knives and all maner of Society. They included manufacturer Ordnance. Large numbers of swords at his works in Newhall Street. His cuttynge tooles’. Leland explained Matthew Boulton (1728-1809), Scottish and cutlasses were also supplied for patented process opened up new that, ‘The smithies have yren [iron] engineers (1736-1819) the Army and Navy. By the end of the markets among the Victorian middle out of and Warwikeshire and (1754-1839), 18th century, Birmingham was the class for affordable gold- and silver- and see coale out of Staffordshire’. master potter Josiah foremost arms producer in the world, plated jewellery and brought the (1730-1795) and Access to raw materials and skilled (1731-1802), grandfather of Charles. manufacturing a million more items company great success. craftsmen – ingredients that would Over the four decades from 1760 the than London, its nearest rival. play a critical part in Birmingham’s society’s members were responsible Other industries future success – were already in place. for pioneering advances in many The jewellery trade Alongside high-value items, The breakthrough came with the fields. Foremost among these Lunar The precious metals industry started Birmingham was a centre for the so-called Midlands Enlightenment Men was Matthew Boulton, a - to flourish around 1660, when Charles manufacture of all manner of metal of the mid-18th century. Inspired maker from Soho in Handsworth. He II introduced fancy and shoe by a spirit of inventiveness and introduced many improvements in buckles from France. These items the manufacturing process, including innovation, enterprising industrialists soon became fashionable and opened installing one of Watt’s new steam and entrepreneurs, such as Matthew engines. Recognising the potential up markets for Birmingham craftsmen Boulton and James Watt, began to of the technology, he then went into who specialised in the manufacture apply scientific knowledge to the business with Watt and others to of small metal goods. After a slump way things were made (see panel bring it to fruition. When the diarist during the early 19th century, Queen opposite). This, in turn, brought toured Soho, Boulton Victoria’s accession brought jewellery the advent of mechanisation and boasted: ‘I sell here, sir, what all the back into fashion. Many poorly paid -scale and world desires to have – power!’ industrial workers set up their own laid the foundations of the Industrial The achievements of Boulton, Watt peg (workshop), often from home, and their contemporaries changed our Revolution. world forever and put Birmingham on a course to become the world’s first Boulton & Fothergill plate Where there’s brass town with an economy dominated beer tankard, made at Boulton’s Soho Brass was one of the first industries to by manufacturing. They also left a Manufactory in the late . become established in Birmingham commitment to philanthropy and and underpinned many others with social reform. which the city became associated The achievements of the Lunar (see www.oldcopper.org). Most Society are described in ’s award-winning book brass goods were made in a foundry The Lunar Men (2002) and at two by casting, which involved pouring websites: Revolutionary Players the molten alloy into sand moulds. (revolutionaryplayers.org.uk) and Braziers, a separate trade, wrought Soho (sohomint.info). goods by hand from sheet brass. Later, demand was for more specialised products such as fittings for carriages, cabinets, furniture, keys and bolts. In the 19th century, huge new markets opened up in supplying brass fittings for steam engines, railway carriages and gas lamps. The brass trade was highly skilled, requiring both manual dexterity and technical knowledge. The production of an eagle for a church lectern, for example, involved a mould made up of 25 separate ; all other images via Wikimedia published under Creative Commons or in the public domain. ; all other images via Wikimedia published under Creative pieces. The gun trade Gun-making was another of Birmingham’s traditional industries. It is said that during the English Civil War, Birmingham merchants supplied weapons to both sides before backing Thomas Fattorini & Sons, in the , is a 189-year-

Brass ingot casting, c1883. the Parliamentary forces. During http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 old family-run business making badges and insignia.

the Napoleonic Wars, Birmingham Commons Attribution only licence CC BY London, copyrighted work available under Creative Library, Birmingham © Wellcome Images: Soho Manufactory, 4.0

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articles, collectively referred to as toys. Lucas, began to appear, supplying Cadbury, which started in a grocery This saved the town’s jewellers the panel, page 36). There are three the fees. Others, known as parish These included metal tools, domestic components and assemblies to shop in Bull Street in the 1820s. time and expense of sending their main sources for family historians to apprenticeships, were linked to the utensils, and household fittings of all fledgling motor manufacturers. Thus, wares to London or for consider: Poor Law: pauper children would be kinds. The manufacture of steel pen Birmingham’s reputation as Motor Prosperity through assaying. It also helped to change the l Trade and business directories: apprenticed either by the overseers of nibs was another important trade on City was born. collaboration perception of the Birmingham trade, The (LoB) the poor or by the trustees of charities which many fortunes were built. As As Britain grew into more of a Manufactured goods were often which had acquired a reputation for has a large collection of trade established for that purpose. Trade products became more sophisticated, consumer society, new industries highly intricate, requiring many shoddy workmanship. In 1813 the and commercial directories for apprenticeships for the area are listed engineering-based industries grew developed. Foods such as Bird’s skillsets. The production of a Birmingham Gun Barrel Proof House Birmingham and the Midlands dating in the national series, which is widely up manufacturing everything from Custard, HP Sauce and Typhoo firearm, for example, involved provided similar assurance for the back to 1767. There is also a pseudo- available online. Staffordshire Name bicycles to locomotives. In the early Tea all had their origins in the city. numerous stages, from the forging town’s gunmakers. Still situated in its directory for 1663 based on other Indexes has around 12,500 entries, years of the 20th century a separate Probably the best known Birmingham and manufacture of components original premises in Banbury Street, it sources. Digitised trade mainly parish apprenticeships tier of companies, such as Dunlop and food business is the chocolate maker, to the assembly, finishing and is the only official proof house outside directories are available online in the period prior to 1838 decorating of completed weapons. of London. (specialcollections.le.ac.uk) and (www.staffsnameindexes.org.uk). Initially, all operations were carried to purchase on CD-ROM (www. Worcestershire Archives has an index out by individual gunsmiths, but Key sources midlandshistoricaldata.org); to county apprenticeships (tinyurl. as production methods changed Records relating to industry and l Apprenticeship records: com/lpu2js9); and different styles of weapons commerce in the city can be found Apprenticeship has long been a l Trade Union records: The Modern were introduced, workers began to mainly in public archives. In addition, feature of Birmingham’s economy. Records Centre (MRC) at the specialise in the manufacture of the the area’s many industrial museums So-called trade apprenticeships University of Warwick has substantial various component parts. These were provide valuable insights into how were arranged privately, where a collections of trade union and labour then passed on to others for assembly our ancestors lived and worked (see young person’s parents could afford movement archives. These files may and finishing. Each finished gun went include details such as membership through about 50 pairs of hands. lists, contributions books, minutes of Jewellery production, too, relied on branch meetings, wage rates, company many different trades and skills. As files and accident and mortality craftsmen clustered together in order reports. Part of this collection is now to collaborate effectively distinctive available online via Findmypast. quarters developed. The area around St Mary’s Church, Whittall Street Other business records (long since demolished), became US Patent for Solicitors’ records of their business known as the Gun Quarter. Jewellery photographic clients are a valuable source for the trades congregated in the Hockley equipment family historian. There are collections district, now famous around the world granted to at the LoB and other Midlands as Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. Bernard archives. Locating these records can Wheelwright, a be difficult however, as you need Safeguarding quality relative of the to know which firm of solicitors a With vast markets at stake, author, 1946. business engaged and where they Birmingham industrialists became were situated. The National Archives increasingly concerned about forgery (TNA) Discovery catalogue at and counterfeiting. To safeguard discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk is against this and protect their the best way in. reputations, they came together Running a business could be a risky to set up institutions providing undertaking: unforeseen events, such independent verification of the as a customer defaulting on a debt, quality of manufactured goods. price rises as a result of war or bad The first such institution was the weather, or simply changes in fashion, , established led many businesses to go to the wall, in 1773 to assay jewellery and other with their owners declared bankrupt. goods comprising precious metals. Notices of bankruptcy were published regularly in the London Gazette and other newspapers, and original case files may survive at county record The Gillott’s No offices or TNA. Birmingham 291 ‘Mapping The LoB has a substantial Assay mark. Pens’ with collection of trade catalogues for their holder. Midlands businesses since the mid- 19th century and a separate index of sales catalogues of properties and Writing tables, electroplated dinner services and horse harnesses were just businesses. The LoB’s Birmingham some of the goods made in Birmingham, as shown by these advertisements from Collection contains many published Birmingham Illustrated, Cornish Brothers, 1851. company histories, including some

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self-published studies not available Exploring Birmingham’s industrial museums elsewhere. Grace’s Guide is a database of historical information on industry For a better understanding of your ancestors’ working lives, visit one of Birmingham’s and manufacturing with profiles many museums of industry and commerce. Some have their own libraries and of industries and firms, as well as archives: obituaries of prominent engineers l Birmingham Gun Barrel Proof House has a museum dedicated to the area’s gun and (www.gracesguide.co.uk). ammunition trades (by prior appointment only, www.gunproof.com); Like households, businesses paid l Cadbury World, a heritage centre-cum-factory tour at the company’s Bournville rates and will be recorded in the site, tells the story of the Cadbury family, their business and philanthropy rate books, many of which are now (www.cadburyworld.co.uk); available as part of the Library of l The Coffin Works, in the Jewellery Quarter, offers insights into the Victorian Birmingham Collection on Ancestry. way of death. It is located in the restored premises of Newman Brothers, coffin If your ancestors sold jewellery to the manufacturers (www.coffinworks.org); public, they may have had their own l Evans Silver Factory, a workshop maintained by English Heritage, displays working hallmark. The Assay Office maintains life in a 19th century silver workshop (by prior appointment only; visit the register of all hallmarks issued tinyurl.com/znn2lm8); in Birmingham and is able to answer l The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter tells the story of Birmingham’s renowned enquiries (www.theassayoffice.co.uk). jewellery and metalworking heritage and is housed in the artisan jewellery factory of If your ancestor had an invention Smith & Pepper (www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/jewellery); patented then their design will still l The Pen Museum, operated by the Birmingham Pen Trade Heritage Association, be on record. The LoB’s Science celebrates pen-making in the city (www.penroom.co.uk); Department holds historical patents l , Boulton’s former home, has been restored as a museum describing dating back to the 17th century and his life and work (www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/soho); has access to specialist databases. l The Avery Historical Museum was a private museum devoted to WT Avery Ltd, Under an ongoing project, patents a leading manufacturer of weighing equipment, and stood on the site of Matthew of historic interest are being added Boulton’s in . It is now closed and seeking a new home to the espacenet database (at (see tinyurl.com/z59hzb7). ep.espacenet.com). Virtually every industry or trade had an association, some of them highly The Custard Factory in Gibb specialised, and their records may list Street was formerly the factory individual or company members, or of Alfred Bird & Sons and is now provide insights into company history. a business incubator and arts In addition to those at the LoB, centre. MRC holds the records of many UK trade associations, trade unions and employers; there is an online guide listing available sources by occupation (www.warwick.ac.uk/services/ The Library of Birmingham. library/mrc).

About the author Mike Sharpe is a professional genealogist, writer and lecturer specialising in Birmingham and the Midlands, and runs the Writing the Past research service. He is a member of the Society of Genealogists and several family history societies. His book, Tracing Your Birmingham Ancestors, is published by Pen & Sword. Visit Mike’s website at www.writingthepast.co.uk.

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