The First Newcomen Engine - Why 1712 FREE

A lecture by John Allen and Jim Andrew.

2012 sees the 300the anniversary of the first recorded Newcomen steam engine. Like all such events, which later became more significant, the evidence for the date is a bit sparse. John Allen has carried out considerable research on the engine and advised the Black Country Living Museum on the replica built in the 1980s. That research has identified many events around 1712 that support this date's selection, while a small research project of Jim Andrew's looked at the Thomas Barney engraving of the engine which carries the date 1712. These details will be given with some reasons why the speakers are satisfied that 2012 is being treated as the tricentenary.

Everybody's welcome to this Newcomen Society event. Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month (October to April) in the Thinktank Theatre, which is on level 2 in Thinktank, the Birmingham Science Museum at Millennium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham B4 7XG. Doors open at 6.30pm for the meetings at 7pm. There is a pay-bar which may be serving snacks and drinks in the building before the meeting. Visitors are welcome and admission is free.

Please note that there are currently street closures in the vicinity of Millennium Point. The new Millennium Point multi-storey car park, operated by Birmingham City Council, is accessed from Jennens Road. Pedestrians from the City Centre should also approach via the Jennens Road entrance.