After the civil war Birmingham rapidly grew and overtook the population of nearby Coventry. It was now the largest town in Warwickshire,

Approaching 15,000 in numbers towards the turn of the 1700's, William Westley drew up the first town plan. By 1730 this number had reached over 23,000. Birmingham's iron trade was well established and goods were being exported to Europe. Birmingham imported iron from Europe and made steel in its factories around Birmingham. Birmingham was rapidly establishing a reputation for quality goods at prices that undercut industry elsewhere. Gunmaking, toymakers and button makers were sending their wares around the world. The town of Birmingham already had a rich cultural mix of settlers from Europe and beyond. It also suffered from dissenters and Birmingham erupted in violence in 1791. Called the Priestley riots due to the fact that Joseph Priestley had upset the church and some of the establishment with his then radical ideas which resulted in him having to leave the town after his house was ransacked and looted on 14th July 1791. Priestley never returned to Birmingham. Political and religious disputes were common in these times. A military barracks was constructed in 1793 in Ashted to ensure that law and order could prevail.

The Lunar Society

Despite the rioting, Birmingham was expanding and experiencing something of a golden age. Around 1765 a group of Midlands intellectuals formed a society that would set the pace for the Industrial Revolution. Called the Lunar Society it brought geologists, chemists, scientists, engineers and theorists together to discuss inventions and ideas. Erasmus Darwin, Boulton, Watt, Priestley and Wedgewood all contributed to the ideas and vision of the times. The Lunar Society gathered at Matthew Boulton's house in Soho. Most frequent attendees were those living in the town which included Boulton, Watt, Murdock, Small, Withering and previously Priestley. The Lunar Society was held together through the keen interest of its members and to some extent the personal friendship that developed as a result. Matthew Boulton, born in 1728 and the son of toy manufacturer did not have a university education. However, history would dictate that he became one of the pioneers of the Industrial Revolution.

Matthew Boulton

Matthew Boulton's business empire grew from toymaking to buckles and buttons. Liaisons with the ambassadors soon had many international figures touring his factories in Birmingham. The house that Boulton purchased called Soho House is now a museum dedicated to his memory and achievements. In 1765, the soho manufactory on Handsworth Heath was built. Housing workshops and showrooms it was different from the normal sweat shops in and around the West Midlands. Using modern techniques to produce his goods the age of mass production had begun. It was the first factory to be lit by gas. It was one of Birmingham's first tourist attractions. Boulton's manufactory started producing silver plate and Boulton was instrumental in pressing Birmingham's case for an assay office so that gold and silver could be hallmarked in the region. By 1773, with an assay office in place Boulton's silver goods were being hallmarked in Birmingham.

Enter James Watt - The Steam Age begins

James Watt, inventor of the newly patented device increasing the efficiency of steam and fuel in fire engines. In 1769, Boulton, realising the potential of this new innovation approached Watt with his proposition to build a factory for the production of steam engines. Watts existing partner James Roebuck was in financial difficulty and progress on Watt's steam engine had been painfully slow. An extension of the existing patent with assistance from Boulton ensured the partnerships success and the first two Watt engines were produced in 1776. By 1800 450 steam engines had been produced. Meanwhile William Murdock, the pioneer of gas lighting had invented steam driven transport. The Industrial Revolution was in full steam.

The Age of Transport

Turnpike roads across the length and breadth of England were in a poor state in the winter months and slow at the best of times. James Brindley had been busy organising an alternative that would enable Birmingham to ship heavy goods to London and the ports. After a slow start and some initial problems pumping the water required, the canals began to branch out across Birmingham. Transporting the materials was no longer costly. The brass and coal industry amongst others seized the opportunity. The Birmingham and Fazeley Canal, Worcester and Birmingham, Warwick and Birmingham joined with others and by the turn of the 1800's over a hundred boats a day were shipping cargo in and out of the town. Thomas Telford provided the solution for the need for more water with the Edgbaston Reservoir. The waterways now enabled Birmingham goods to be shipped round the world with ease. Another development however was just around the corner.

The arrival of the Railway

The Great Railway race had already started and Birmingham's Industrial Importance ensured that the town was high on the agenda for a railway link. In 1837 the first carriages arrived at Vauxhall from Liverpool. In 1839 the new railway terminus at Curzon Street had been completed. The London and Birmingham Railway was up and running. More Railway companies followed and New Street Station opened in 1854. Birmingham's Industrial might was now well established. In 1831 census records show the population at 112,000 and rising. Factories were springing up all over the town and the surrounding area. This was Britains Industrial Heartland.

Birmingham's Cultural Heritage - a city is born.

Immigrants arrived from Poland, Russia, Germany and Italy. A Jewish quarter quickly established itself and many families from Ireland settled in the town. Thomas Attwood a leading Birmingham Politician had helped pass the reform bill of 1832 and by 1889 Birmingham was a city. 1834 had seen the opening of the town hall and future years would see visitors such as Charles Dickens, Cardinal Newman and Midlands home grown composer, Elgar.