Boulton & Watt Engines Supplied to Gloucestershire:
Compiled by Nicholas Kingsley (Formerly Birmingham City Archivist)
The Archives Division of Birmingham Central Library holds a dauntingly large archive of the firm Boulton & Watt, covering the activities of the business from its inception in the 1770s until the mid 19th century. As a pioneering firm with an important influence on the course of the Industrial Revolution, the firm has been the object of much study, but the records of individual contracts have a considerable significance for local historians and industrial archaeologists dealing with the firms for whom Boulton & Watt worked, and it is hoped that such researchers may find this listing of Gloucestershire engines useful.
Many types of records from the firm survive, including letter books, order books, incoming letters and drawings for engines, from which it would ultimately be possible to draw up a tolerably complete list of all the contracts in which the firm engaged.
The preliminary list of Gloucestershire contracts presented here, however, is based entirely on the surviving engineering drawings. References to other classes of documents are provided only if they are noted in the catalogue of engineering drawings, which was compiled as long ago as 1935.
Enquiries for further information about any of the engines listed below can be addressed to the City Archivist, Central Library, Chamberlain Square, Birminghan B3 3HQ. In many cases it will be possible for the archivist to supply photocopies of the engineering drawings, should these be wanted.
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Sun and Planet Type
Canal Engines
Side Lever (Boat) Type Engines Used on Land
Independent Engines
Small Side Lever Independent Engines
(Beam) Crank Type Engines
Sun and Planet Type
(1) Bayly & Co., lead works at Lawrence Hill, SS Philip and St Jacob, Bristol. Portfolio 50. 1789-1790. (Robert Bayly of Clifton, John Bettington, Senior and Junior, Bristol).
15 drawings. Cylinder diameter x stroke: 17½” x 4 ft. 10 h.p., later 13 h.p. Agreement Box 28/22.
(2) Anthony Amott & Co., woollen manufactory, Bristol Portfolio 191.
1799. 12 drawings. Cylinder diameter x stroke: 191/4 in x 4 ft.
12 h.p. Numbers and letters in order book: A 2.
(3) Castles & Ames, distillers, Bristol. Portfolio 101.
(Robert Castle, John Ames and Michael Castle). 1793.
16 drawings. Cylinder diameter x stroke: 22¾ in x 5 ft. Agreement Box 28/37.
Canal Engines
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(4) Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co. 1794. Portfolio 1276.
Single action. 11 drawings. Cylinder diameter x stroke: 23 in x 2 ft.
2.8 n.h.p. Boat engine. Pump 20 in.
(5) Thames & Severn Canal. 1791. Portfolio 623.
Single action. 39 drawings. Cylinder diameter x stroke: 50 in x 8 ft.
53.2 n.h.p. Lift 70 ft near Cirencester.
(6) Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co. 1796. Portfolio 1276.
Single action. 7 drawings. Cylinder diameter x stroke: 28 in x 2 ft 6 in.
5.2 n.h.p. Boat engine.
Side Lever (Boat) Type Engines Used on Land
(7) Messrs Henry Wyatt & Co., Vatch Mills, near Stroud. Portfolio 1032.
1823. (First engine of this type). 1 drawing. Stroke: 2 ft 6 in.
20 h.p. Order book: WQ 10.
(8) Messrs Edward & Thos. Neal & Co., Wotton-under-Edge. Portfolio 1033.
1823. 3 drawings. Stroke: 2 ft 6 in .
20 h.p. Order book: WR 10. [See also (14)].
(9) Richard Ford, Wotton-under-Edge. 1825. Portfolio 1060.
3 drawings. Cylinder diameter x stroke: 26¾ in x 2 ft 6 in.
20 h.p. Order book: UL 10.
(10) Samuel Long, Charfield. 1825. Portfolio 1061.
8 drawings. Cylinder diameter x stroke: 26¾ in x2 ft 6 in.
20 h.p. Order book: UK 10.
(11) William Long, Kingswood, Wotton-under-Edge. 1827. Portfolio 1057.
2 drawings. Cylinder diameter x stroke: 26¾ in x 2 ft 6 in.
20 h.p. Order book: RG 11.
(12) Edward Davies, Stonehouse. 1824. Portfolio 1030.
3 drawings. Cylinder diameter x stroke: 31½ in x 3 ft.
30 h.p. Order book: WO 10.
(13) Nathan. Driver, Peghouse Mill, near Stroud. 1825. Portfolio 1037.
3 drawings. Cylinder diameter x stroke: 31« in x 3 ft.
30 h.p. Order book: SH 11.
(14) Messrs Edward & Thomas Neal & Co., Wotton-under-Edge. Portfolio 1036.
1825. 4 drawings. Cylinder diameter x stroke: 39½ in x 3 ft 6 in.
50 h.p. Order book: SE 11. [See also (8)].
Independent Engines
(15) H.Hicks & Son, Eastington, near Stroud. 1818. Portfolio 959.
2 drawings. Cylinder diameter x stroke: 19¾ in x2 6 in .
10 h.p. Order book: DX 9. [See also (20)].
(16) Joseph Cripps & Son, Cirencester. 1820. Portfolio 974.
1 drawing. Stroke: 2 ft.
6 h.p. Order book: DB 8.
(17) W & P Playne, Minchinhampton. 1820. Portfolio 975.
3 drawings. Stroke 3 ft.
14 h.p. Order book: DS 9.
(18) Humphrey Austin & Sons Alderley. 1820. Portfolio 977.
3 drawings. Stroke: 3 ft.
14 h.p. Order book: FK 9. [see also (22)].
(19) Davies, Beard & Davies, Leonard Stanley. Portfolio 978.
1821. 3 drawings. Stroke: 3 ft.
14 h.p. Order book: GL 9.
(20) Henry Hicks & Son, Eastington, nr Stroud. Portfolio 979.
1821. 1 drawing. Stroke: 3 ft.
14 h.p. Order book: GM 8. [See also (15)].
(21) E & J Wallington, Dursley 1821. Portfolio 980.
2 drawings. Stroke: 3 ft.
14 h.p. Order book: GN 9.
(22) H Austin & Sons, Alderley. 1821. Portfolio 983.
2 drawings. Cylinder diameter x stroke: 19¾ in x 2 ft 6 in.
10 h.p. Order book: GQ 9. [See also (18)].
(23) Thomas Mercer, Kingswood, near Wotton. 1821. Portfolio 985.
2 drawings. Cylinder diameter x stroke: 19¾ in x 2 ft 6 in.
10 h.p. Order book: GR 9.
(24) J & W Strange, Wotton-under-Edge. 1822. Portfolio 986
2 drawings. Cylinder diameter x stroke: 19¾ in x 2 ft 6 in.
10 h.p. Order book: FX 9.
(25) W & P Playne & Co., Minchinhampton 1823. Portfolio 987.
3 drawings. Cylinder diameter x stroke: 19¾ in x 2 6 in .
10 h.p. Order book: GT 9.
(26) Robt & Wm Helme & Co., New Mill, Stroud. Portfolio 1001.
1823. 3 drawings. Stroke: 3 ft.
14 h.p. Order book: HC 9.
Small Side Lever Independent Engines
(27) H & G Austin, Wotton-under-Edge. 1802. Portfolio 732.
6 h.p. Order book: A 3.
(Beam) Crank Type Engines
(28) Edward Sheppard, woollen manufactory, Uley. Portfolio 373.
Dec. 1805. 8 drawings. Cylinder diameter x stroke: 20¾ in x 4 ft.
14 h.p. Order book: S 6.
(29) Stone Pipe Co., Guyton [sic], near Stow on the Wold. Portfolio 414.
May 1809. Nos 1 & 2. 4 drawings. Cylinder diameter x stroke: 20¾ in x 4 ft.
14 h.p. 2 Engines. Order book: EE, QQ 7.
(30) William Purnell & Co., rolling tinplate, Fromebridge, near Framilode. Portfolio 343.
October 1803. 5 drawings. Cylinder diameter x stroke: 23¾ in x 5 ft.
20 h.p. Order book: V 5.
(31) W & P Playne, & Co., Minchinhampton. Portfolio 454.
December 1814. 5 drawings. Cylinder diameter x stroke: 20¾ in x 4 ft.
14 h.p. Order book: G 8.
(32) R P & G A Smith, Walbridge, Stroud. Portfolio 471.
March 1821. 2 drawings. Stroke: 5 ft.
24 h.p. Order book: WB 9.
(33) David Lloyd & Co., Uley. Portfolio 472.
Sept. 1821. 6 drawings. Stroke: 5 ft.
20 h.p. Order book: XZ 9.
(34) Harris Stephens & Co., Stanley Mill, near Stroud. Portfolio 473.
(Later MacStephens & Co.). March 1822. 5 drawings.
Cylinder diameter x stroke: 32½ in x 6 ft. 40 h.p. Order book: WX 10.
(35) H Hicks & Sons, (Hicks Bros), Churching dye mills, Portfolio 474.
Eastington near Stroud. Mill by Mr Hewes, 1822. 5 drawings. Stroke: 5 ft.
24 h.p. Order book: WT 10.
(36) H & E Austin, Wotton-under-Edge. Feb 1823. Portfolio 480.
3 drawings. Stroke: 6ft.
32 h.p. Order book: H 8.
(37) William Overbury & Co., Avening, Dec. 1822. Portfolio 479.
5 drawings. Stroke: 5 ft. 14 h.p. Order books: YZ 9 and AA 7.
The Foundry old 14 h.p. engine 1796 repaired for this contract.
Ordered for Lightmore Co., transfered to this contract.
(38) Henry Wyatt & Co., Vatch Mills near Stroud. Portfolio 497.
Oct. 1825. 4 drawings. Cylinder diameter x stroke: 29 in x 5 ft.
30 h.p. Order book: UR 10.
(39) Thomas Castle & Co., Bristol. Portfolio 483.
April 1823. No. 2. 3 drawings. Stroke: 6 ft.
40 h.p. Order book: VF 10.
(40) Clarke, Maze & Co., Great Western Cotton Works, Bristol. Portfolio 516.
August 1837. 38 drawings. 2 engines each with 7 ft stroke.
80 h.p. Order books: MT & MZ 12. Ordered by J B Clarke.
(41) Clarke, Maze & Co., Great Western Cotton Works, Bristol. Portfolio 521.
June 1839. 12 drawings. 2 engines, each with 7 ft stroke.
60 h.p., 80 h.p. Order books: LU, LW 12.
(42) Hicks Bros, Eastington near Stroud. Portfolio 500.
November 1826 No. 2. 4 drawings. Stroke: 5 ft.
30 h.p. Order book: US 10.
(43) N S Marling, Lodgemore Mills, Stroudwater
40 h.p. Order book: UG 10