History

The group comprised some of the outstanding minds of the day. It was jointly founded by two extraordinary polymaths: metalware manufacturer and steam engine pioneer Matthew Boulton (who founded the Birmingham Assay Office in 1773), and physician and poet Dr Erasmus Darwin. Other members included Unitarian minister and discoverer of oxygen Joseph Priestley; physician and mathematics tutor to US President Thomas Jefferson, Dr William Small; steam engineer and inventor James Watt; pottery manuf…

A clear trend emerges from the records. Most of the staff in the book worked here for many years - a pattern which has continued today. Take, for example, Alice Edge, a kitchen maid who worked from December 1894 to August 1923 giving 29 years service and Elizabeth Hemming, who started work in March 1882 aged just 15. She retired in December 1934 aged 67 after 52 years with the company. Other people worked here for shorter periods. William Haynes, for example, arrived in December 1916 as Nigh…