BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Newcomen.com - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Newcomen.com X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.newcomen.com X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Newcomen.com REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Europe/London BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:BST DTSTART:20250330T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:GMT DTSTART:20251026T010000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:BST DTSTART:20260329T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:GMT DTSTART:20261025T010000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:BST DTSTART:20270328T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:GMT DTSTART:20271031T010000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260107T190000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260107T210000 DTSTAMP:20260430T171838 CREATED:20260102T095533Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260102T150342Z UID:16730-1767812400-1767819600@www.newcomen.com SUMMARY:'A short version of the long history of automation on the railways' by Felix Schmid DESCRIPTION:Photo Credit: Benutzer:Bukk \nJoining us IN PERSON – just turn up\, there’s no need to register\nJoining us ONLINE – click on this zoom link before the event to join in \nThis is a joint event with Thinktank\, Birmingham Science Museum \nThis lecture was originally given as the Presidential Address to the Newcomen Society in London in 2025. \nThe presentation will commence by introducing very early mechanical systems\, including some that were used on waggonways 300 years ago. These were quite primitive but reduced the labour requirement\, e.g. by automating passing loops on tramways. \nThe automatic systems that came about in response to the Regulation of Railways Act 1889\, which made the railway much safer and also improved its economy\, will be discussed\, followed by the origins of the train stop and warning systems that came into operation in the early 20th century. The electronic safety and operational management systems instigated by computerisation\, where British Rail had a leading role\, will be reviewed. \nThe presentation will finish with some reflections on fully automated railways and the role of machine learning and what is often termed artificial intelligence. Throughout the talk\, the speaker will comment on the importance of including human skill and perception in automated systems for the railway. \nAbout the Speaker\nFelix Schmid is an Emeritus Professor of Railway Systems Engineering at the University of Birmingham and\, currently\, serves as the President of the Newcomen Society. \nHe has had a long-standing interest in railway systems and\, more particularly\, the automation of activities necessary for the safe and efficient operation of railways. Some automated systems support the work of people\, others are carrying out tasks without regular interactions with humans. URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/a-short-version-of-the-long-history-of-automation-on-the-railways-by-felix-schmid/ LOCATION:BIRMINGHAM Think Tank\, Birmingham Science Museum\,\, Curzon Street\, Birmingham\, West Midlands\, B4 7XG CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - Midlands Branch ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/26-01-07_AutomationOfTheRailways_1920x1280.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - Midland Branch":MAILTO:midlands@newcomen.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260114T180000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260114T193000 DTSTAMP:20260430T171838 CREATED:20250915T142342Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250922T090546Z UID:16532-1768413600-1768419000@www.newcomen.com SUMMARY:'The Art of Engineering' by Laurence Scales DESCRIPTION:This event is both an in-person and on-line event. No need to register – just come along or click this zoom link to join on-line. \nThe Royal Society of Arts began life as the Society for the Encouragement of Arts\, Manufactures and Commerce rewarding\, among other things\, inventions and improvements relating to mechanics\, manufactures and chemistry. \nThis lecture introduces the first century of the Society\, then passes by way of some history of engineering drawing and drawing instruments to feature some of the professional draughtsmen used by the Society. Along the way\, the lecture exhibits a selection of drawings from the archive. \nAbout the Speaker\nLaurence Scales has a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering\, and subsequently worked for Lloyds Register of Shipping\, offshore engineering contractor Brown & Root\, and defence electronics manufacturer Thales. Latterly he has been an archive volunteer at both the Royal Institution of Great Britain and the Royal Society of Arts. \nLaurence devises and leads London tours themed around the history of science\, technology and medicine. His customers have included Imperial College\, King’s College London\, Purdue University\, Ove Arup & Associates\, and the FBI. URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/the-art-of-engineering-by-laurence-scales/ LOCATION:LONDON Alan Baxter Gallery\, 75 Cowcross St\, Clerkenwell\, London\, EC1M 6EL CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - London Branch ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/26-01-14_TheArtOfEngineering_1920x1280.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - London Branch":MAILTO:office@newcomen.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260124T110000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260124T170000 DTSTAMP:20260430T171838 CREATED:20251209T160939Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260119T101557Z UID:16700-1769252400-1769274000@www.newcomen.com SUMMARY:'The Locomotive Galleries at Armley Mills Museum' by Michael Bailey & John McGoldrick DESCRIPTION:Photo Credit: Chris Allen \nIn Person – Seminar\, buffet lunch and tour of Locomotive Gallery – to book tickets: click here \nOn-line – Seminar only – to book tickets: click here \nDetails of how to find Armley Mills Museum and other details can be found here \nAs we are limited to 60 in-person attendees\, booking is essential and tickets cost £16 (inclusive of a £1 booking fee charged by Ticket Source)\, which includes Museum entry to the Seminar\, the Buffet Lunch\, and the tour of the Railway Galleries. \nThis is a joint meeting with the Industrial History Section of the Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society \nThe Locomotive Galleries at Armley Mills Museum have been closed since catastrophic flooding in December 2015.  A major flood prevention scheme\, which included a flood wall around the Museum site and the rebuilding of the gallery wall adjacent to the River Aire\, has now been completed\, and the galleries will reopen to the public in 2026. \nThis meeting is an opportunity to view the newly completed gallery and to hear about the major locomotive industry in Leeds and the important railway collection held by the Museum. \nProgramme \n11:00 am Assemble\, coffee\, and welcome \n11:30 am Michael Bailey –  The Leeds Locomotive Building Industry in the 19th Century \n12:30 pm John McGoldrick – The Leeds Railway Collection \n1:30 pm – Buffet Lunch \n2:15 pm – Group 1: Accompanied tour of the new locomotive gallery \n2:15 pm – Group 2: Opportunity to explore artefacts from the Leeds Museum Railway Collection \n3:15 pm – Groups swap over \n4:15 pm to museum close at 5:00 pm\, opportunity to explore the museum collection \nAbout the Speakers\nDr. Michael Bailey is the President of the Stephenson Locomotive Society and a Past-President of the Newcomen Society. He has undertaken considerable work on the archaeology of early steam locomotives and has written extensively about early locomotive design and manufacturing progress during the 19th century. \nJohn McGoldrick is Curator of Industrial History at Leeds Industrial Museum\, constantly seeking news ways of getting people excited about history and collections (LinkedIn). URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/the-locomotive-galleries-at-armley-mills-museum-by-michael-bailey-john-mcgoldrick/ LOCATION:SHEFFIELD Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills\, Canal Rd\, Armley\, Leeds\, West Yorkshire\, LS12 2QF\, United Kingdom CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - South Yorkshire Branch ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/26-01-24_TheLocomotiveGalleriesatArmleyMillsMuseum_1920x1280.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - South Yorkshire Branch":MAILTO:meetings.syorks@newcomen.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260204T190000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260204T210000 DTSTAMP:20260430T171838 CREATED:20260203T092926Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260203T162607Z UID:16770-1770231600-1770238800@www.newcomen.com SUMMARY:'Before Valves: The Amazing Ingenuity of the "Electricians" before the Thermionic Valve' by Dr John Moyle DESCRIPTION:Photo Credit: Wellcome Collection (1911 – Copyright free) \n\nJoining us IN PERSON – just turn up\, there’s no need to register\nJoining us ONLINE – click on this zoom link before the event to join in \n\n\n\nThis is a joint event with Thinktank\, Birmingham Science Museum \n\nMan’s ingenuity before the invention of the thermionic valve was amazing! \nThis lecture will summarize the early methods of wireless transmission and reception & amplification. \nAbout the Speaker\nDr John Moyle is a Chartered Engineer\, retired physician & anaesthetist plus historian with a particular interest in telegraphy and medical technology. URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/before-valves-the-amazing-ingenuity-of-the-electricians-before-the-thermionic-valve-by-dr-john-moyle/ LOCATION:BIRMINGHAM Think Tank\, Birmingham Science Museum\,\, Curzon Street\, Birmingham\, West Midlands\, B4 7XG CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - Midlands Branch ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/26-02-04_BeforeValves_1920x1280.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - Midland Branch":MAILTO:midlands@newcomen.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260211T180000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260211T193000 DTSTAMP:20260430T171838 CREATED:20250915T144057Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250922T090709Z UID:16537-1770832800-1770838200@www.newcomen.com SUMMARY:'The Mercenary River' by Nick Higham DESCRIPTION:This event is both an in-person and on-line event. No need to register – just come along or click this zoom link to join on-line. \nToday we take water for granted. Turn a tap and the stuff gushes out. But for centuries London struggled to supply its citizens with reliable\, clean drinking water. \nNick Higham tells the story of London’s water from the Tudor era to the 20th century. It’s a tale of remarkable technological\, scientific and organisational breakthroughs\, but also one of greed and complacency\, high finance and low politics. London’s 19th century water companies operated a cartel which worked in their interests\, not their customers’. The water they supplied was overpriced\, deficient in quantity and frequently filthy – described by one scientist as “diluted sewage”. It took the best part of a century of campaigning to bring the water companies to heel. \nAbout the Speaker\nNick Higham is a writer and former journalist who is passionate about history. His first book\, The Mercenary River\, a history of London’s water supply\, was published to excellent reviews in 2022: The Telegraph gave it five stars\, The Mail called it “fascinating”\, Andrew Marr found it “original and gripping”. The book has made a timely contribution to the current debate about Britain’s water industry and the scandal of untreated sewage discharges\, and has been praised by figures as diverse as the campaigner Feargal Sharkey and the chairman of Thames Water. \nHis second book\, Mavericks: Empire\, Oil\, Revolution and the Forgotten Battle of World War One\, is published by Bloomsbury in October 2025. \nNick spent nearly 30 years as a BBC correspondent\, whenever possible smuggling history onto the airwaves in the guise of news. URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/the-mercenary-river-by-nick-higham/ LOCATION:LONDON Alan Baxter Gallery\, 75 Cowcross St\, Clerkenwell\, London\, EC1M 6EL CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - London Branch ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/26-02-11_TheMercenaryRiver1920x1280.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - London Branch":MAILTO:office@newcomen.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260223T183000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260223T200000 DTSTAMP:20260430T171838 CREATED:20260128T152803Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260128T152803Z UID:16758-1771871400-1771876800@www.newcomen.com SUMMARY:'Building the Shadow Factories' by Jonathan Aylen DESCRIPTION:Joining us IN PERSON – just turn up\, there’s no need to register\nJoining us ON-LINE – click this zoom link (Passcode 888336) \nBritain’s military effort during World War 2 required a massive investment in manufacturing. Government-funded “Shadow factories” and “Agency Factories” were a key part of this huge capacity expansion.  The Government spent at least a quarter of a billion pounds at the time on new buildings\, new machinery and training\, often in locations far away from conventional manufacturing centres\, on factories run by 175 private firms.  These factories brought new technology and new production processes\, thereby accelerating the pace of wartime innovation. \nYet these new factories are themselves in the shadows.  Shadow factories are typically equated with new sites for building aircraft\, such as Yeadon in Yorkshire.  But shadow factory schemes spread much more widely across industry\, covering hidden sectors such as chemical warfare\, oil refining and ordnance manufacture\, as well as more obvious sectors such as aircraft components and aeroengines. \nThere is very little research on the selection\, design\, procurement and operation of these factories. Here we look at the broad shadow factory scheme\, using archive sources\, and then examine a factory for forging aircraft parts built in 1940 on a remote greenfield site at Distington\, Cumberland\, employing 3\,000 workers.  This was developed by a private firm\, High Duty Alloys\, on behalf of the Government. \nAbout the Speaker\nJonathan Aylen is an academic researcher who now specialises in the history of technology. He has written on the development of computer guidance systems for Cold War missiles\, the development of the first British atomic bomb and on computer control in the steel industry. His approach is to integrate oral history with unorthodox archive sources. Jonathan’s first exposure to computing was writing FORTRAN programmes for an ICL mainframe to support his research in economics. \nJonathan is a recent past President of the Newcomen society for the History of Engineering and Technology and his research output across a range of disciplines can be found here. URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/building-the-shadow-factories-by-jonathan-aylen/ LOCATION:SHEFFIELD Kelham Island Museum\, Alma Street\, Sheffield\, South Yorkshire\, S3 8RG CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - South Yorkshire Branch ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/26-02-23_BuildingtheShadowFactories_1920x1280.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - South Yorkshire Branch":MAILTO:meetings.syorks@newcomen.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260225T170000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260225T180000 DTSTAMP:20260430T171838 CREATED:20250826T140342Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250901T091034Z UID:16501-1772038800-1772042400@www.newcomen.com SUMMARY:'Newcomen Society Annual General Meeting' DESCRIPTION:This is an online meeting only open to all Newcomen members. Click on this zoom link to join. \nAnnual General Meeting for Newcomen Society members only. URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/newcomen-society-annual-general-meeting/ LOCATION:South Yorkshire CATEGORIES:All Regions,Shed Talks (Newcomen Online) ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Newcomen_Logo_Colour_1080x608-v2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260304T190000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260304T210000 DTSTAMP:20260430T171838 CREATED:20260302T154257Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260303T091016Z UID:16817-1772650800-1772658000@www.newcomen.com SUMMARY:'Housing the Great Exhibition in 1851' by Dr. Jim Andrew DESCRIPTION:Image Credit: The Original Crystal Palace in Hyde Park – Painted for H. R. H. Prince Albert by Messrs Nash\, Haghe & Roberts R.A. \nJoining us IN PERSON – just turn up\, there’s no need to register\nJoining us ONLINE – click on this zoom link before the event to join in \nThis is a joint event with Thinktank\, Birmingham Science Museum \nThe Great Exhibition planned for the summer of 1851 was languishing in a committee until\, in June 1850\, Joseph Paxton was asked for a design of a building to go in Hyde Park\, London. \nThe temporary building was possibly the largest single constructed building anywhere in the World\, yet it was designed within a month and opened in ten months. \nAbout the Speaker\nDr Jim Andrew is a former museum manager at Birmingham Science Museum\, and is currently Chairman of Newcomen Midlands. URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/housing-the-great-exhibition-in-1851-by-dr-jim-andrew/ LOCATION:BIRMINGHAM Think Tank\, Birmingham Science Museum\,\, Curzon Street\, Birmingham\, West Midlands\, B4 7XG CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - Midlands Branch ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/26-03-04_HousingTheGreatExhibitionin1851-V3_1920x1280.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - Midland Branch":MAILTO:midlands@newcomen.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260311T180000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260311T193000 DTSTAMP:20260430T171838 CREATED:20250915T150907Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250922T090837Z UID:16540-1773252000-1773257400@www.newcomen.com SUMMARY:'Vernacular Practice: Joseph Whitworth’s papers on Flatness & Threads' by John Gardner DESCRIPTION:This event is both an in-person and on-line event. No need to register – just come along or click this zoom link to join on-line. \nThis lecture examines the relationship between workshop practice and standards for threads and flatness by analysing two influential papers by Joseph Whitworth\, which achieved a broad readership after being published in the 6d Mechanics’ Magazine in 1841. These papers are: \n1. “Plane Metallic Surfaces and the Proper Mode of Preparing Them” (read at the British Association meeting in Glasgow in 1840\, published in Mechanics’ Magazine\, no. 910\, 16 January 1841\, pp. 39-42).\n2. “A Uniform System of Screw Threads” (read to the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1841\, published in Mechanics’ Magazine\, no. 951\, 30 October 1841\, pp. 340-344). \nThe argument is that these papers remain relevant in modern engineering standards. Whitworth’s proposal for standard screw threads significantly contributed to the construction of the Crystal Palace in 1851\, which was completed in just 190 days using approximately 30\,000 nuts and bolts. This was achieved despite there being no standardized thread form until 1905. The contemporary engineer James Nasmyth highlighted the chaos and expense caused by the lack of a standardized thread form\, where each bolt and nut was unique\, leading to confusion and inefficiency: \n‘No system was observed as to “pitch”\, i.e.\, the number of threads to the inch\, nor was any rule followed as to the form of these threads. Every bolt and nut was thus a specialty in itself […] all bolts and their corresponding nuts had to be marked as belonging to each other; and any mixing of them together led to endless trouble\, hopeless confusion\, and enormous expense.’ (James Nasmyth\, Engineer: An Autobiography (1883)\, p.131.) \nWhitworth’s proposal advocated for a practical\, workshop-based method to promote his thread form\, rather than relying solely on theoretical principles. \nResearch for this talk has involved working with the London Science Museum and the Crystal Palace Museum. Original bolts from the Crystal Palace and towers were examined\, measured\, and remanufactured establishing that Whitworth’s vernacular thread form was used to build the Palace. The plane metallic surfaces standard that Whitworth helped achieve\, which relied on hand-scraping\, initially annoyed his workers who thought hand work a retrograde step after using machines. Nevertheless\, the method he published on stands to this day as process through which to achieve a high degree of flatness. In this talk\, John Gardner will discuss Whitworth’s papers on flatness and threads\, their origins in workshop practice\, and their legacy in engineering standards. \nAbout the Speaker\nJohn Gardner is Dean of the Doctoral School at Anglia Ruskin University. \nJohn’s recent publications include: ‘Thread form at the Crystal Palace’ (Journal for the History of Engineering and Technology\, 2024); The 1830s\, with David Stewart (CUP\, 2024); ‘Waterloo to Peterloo‘ in The Oxford Handbook to Romantic Prose\, ed. by Robert Morrison (OUP\, 2024); ‘Liberalism’ in The 1820s\, Innovation and Diffusion ed. by Matt Sangster and Jon Mee. (Edinburgh University Press\, 2023); ‘Shelley’s Steamship’ Keats-Shelley Journal 71 (2022); and ‘A Dangerous Education; the Early Mechanics’ Institutes’ in Institutions as Networks (CUP\, 2022). \nJohn is currently working on a monograph entitled ‘Engineering Romanticism’. URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/vernacular-practice-joseph-whitworths-papers-on-flatness-threads-by-john-gardner/ LOCATION:LONDON Alan Baxter Gallery\, 75 Cowcross St\, Clerkenwell\, London\, EC1M 6EL CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - London Branch ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/26-03-11_VernacularPracticeJosephWhitworth_1920x1280.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - London Branch":MAILTO:office@newcomen.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260323T183000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260323T200000 DTSTAMP:20260430T171839 CREATED:20250922T103829Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260128T150440Z UID:16575-1774290600-1774296000@www.newcomen.com SUMMARY:'W. G. Fearnsides FRS: a geological model of vision and versatility' by Duncan Hawley DESCRIPTION:Joining us IN PERSON – just turn up\, there’s no need to register\nJoining us ON-Line – click this zoom link (Passcode 114394) \nW. G. Fearnsides (1879–1968) was born in West Yorkshire. He was a first-class scholar in geology at the University of Cambridge and following an interesting interlude in the USA\, he returned to Cambridge\, initially as a freelance geologist\, then working in the Geology Department\, contributing to their focus of research on the rocks of north and central Wales. In 1913\, he was appointed the first occupant of the Sorby Chair of Geology at the University of Sheffield\, establishing the Geology Department at Sheffield and deciding to follow similar veins of research to Sheffield geologist H.C. Sorby. \nIn his time\, Fearnsides was an outstanding geologist of remarkable versatility\, especially in the fields of applied science. One of his key legacies was a better understanding of how to apply geology and the importance of research on resources\, especially coal\, iron ore and local refractory materials. Another legacy is in highlighting the importance of ‘home geology’ for national resilience and security. Arguably\, the raw-material-based industries of Sheffield and beyond would not have been so productive and resourceful in two world wars without the efforts of W. G. Fearnsides. \nW. G. Fearnsides was honoured by many scientific and professional societies. He received the gold medal of the Surveyors’ Institution in 1913 and the Greenwell Medal from the North of England Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. He was an honorary member of the Institute of Mining Engineers. \nAbout the Speaker\nDuncan Hawley is a native of Sheffield\, born and brought up in Wadsley on the northern edge of the city\, overlooking the industry in the Don Valley. One of his abiding memories of his youth is the sound of regular thumps from drop forges that drifted up from the valley. As Ken Hawley’s son you might expect him to be well-versed on tools – but he readily admits he knows ‘nowt’ about tools\, although he probably imbibed more about Sheffield tools and its industrial history than most. He always refers to a turnscrew\, never a screwdriver (which is an American term). \nDuncan attended High Storrs School\, then studied geology at UCL\, Aberystwyth and Oxford\, then followed a varied career as a geography and geoscience educator in schools\, field centres\, universities\, curriculum development and teacher education. He is known for his work on teaching physical geography. Throughout\, he maintained an interest in the history of geology\, and probably inherited something of his father’s collecting trait as he now holds a collection of early geological maps and other artefacts. \nDuncan is a Fellow of the Geological Society of London and Chairperson of the History of Geology Group and regularly publishes on the history of geology. Additionally\, he is active in geoheritage and geoconservation as Chairperson of the Sheffield Area Geology Trust and he keeps his hand in with local industrial heritage as a trustee of the Ken Hawley Collection Trust. URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/w-g-fearnsides-frs-a-geological-model-of-vision-and-versatility-by-duncan-hawley/ LOCATION:SHEFFIELD Kelham Island Museum\, Alma Street\, Sheffield\, South Yorkshire\, S3 8RG CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - South Yorkshire Branch ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/26-02-23_WGFearnsidesFRS_1920x1280.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - South Yorkshire Branch":MAILTO:meetings.syorks@newcomen.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260415T180000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260415T193000 DTSTAMP:20260430T171839 CREATED:20250915T152940Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250922T091014Z UID:16543-1776276000-1776281400@www.newcomen.com SUMMARY:'A plain substantial piece of workmanship: the marine compound engine & the tramp ship in 19C Britain' by Dr Oliver Carpenter DESCRIPTION:This event is both an in-person and on-line event. No need to register – just come along or click this zoom link to join on-line. \nThe ‘tramp’ ship was created and constructed as a distinct type of merchant vessel in the 1870s and 1880s by shipbuilders and shipowners operating predominantly out of ports and rivers in the North East of England. \nTo explain the construction of tramp shipping in this period\, this lecture explores the key technology that really made ‘tramping’ across the oceans a viable\, economical and profitable venture. \nDr Oliver Carpenter‘s argument is that the adoption and use of the marine compound engine by shipowners created the ‘tramp’ class of merchant steam ships for the first time in a new and rapidly-growing sector in British shipping. \nAbout the Speaker\nDr Oliver Carpenter is Curator of Infrastructure & Built Environment at the Science Museum in London. He is responsible for the national collections of Building Construction; Civil Engineering; Docks & Diving; Electricity Supply; Firefighting; Gas Industry; Heating\, Cooling & Ventilation; Lighting; Locks & Fastenings; Nuclear Energy and Sewerage & Sanitation. \nOliver was Lead Curator of Energy Revolution at The Adani Green Energy Gallery – a major new permanent gallery about the low-carbon energy transition\, which opened at the Science Museum in 2024. Before joining the Science Museum in 2015\, he was a Collections Research Volunteer at Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust and Associate Lecturer in History of Science\, Technology and Medicine at University of Kent. \nOliver has a PhD in History of Technology and has published on the history of the British merchant shipping industry in the late-19th and early 20th centuries. He is a member of the Newcomen Society Council. URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/a-plain-substantial-piece-of-workmanship-the-marine-compound-engine-the-tramp-ship-in-19c-britain-by-dr-oliver-carpenter/ LOCATION:LONDON Alan Baxter Gallery\, 75 Cowcross St\, Clerkenwell\, London\, EC1M 6EL CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - London Branch ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/26-04-15_MarineCompoundEngineAndTrampShip_1920x1280.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - London Branch":MAILTO:office@newcomen.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260427T183000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260427T200000 DTSTAMP:20260430T171839 CREATED:20250922T105046Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260222T083508Z UID:16579-1777314600-1777320000@www.newcomen.com SUMMARY:'The Anatomy of an Iron Works. A detailed exploration of the Park Gate Iron Works between 1847 & 1859' by David Boursnell DESCRIPTION:Photo Credit: Matt Buck | Creative Commons \nJoining us IN PERSON – just turn up\, there’s no need to register\nJoining us ON-LINE – click this zoom link (Passcode 221294) \nThe Park Gate Iron Works in Rotherham started in 1823 as a tin plate works. In 1833\, a group of Birmingham businessmen took over and renamed it the Birmingham Tin Plate Company. In 1838\, the company recruited new investors to expand the business and built a blast furnace to produce their own iron. \nIn 1844\, Charles Geach and Samuel Beale bought the business\, and the company was renamed Samuel Beale and Co. In order to manage the business from their head office in Birmingham\, they collected detailed monthly information about the production process\, including the amount and cost of the raw materials as well as all the operational costs. The figures were recorded in four small pocket books covering the years 1847 to 1859 and transferred to the head office.\nAt the peak\, the notebooks record the figures from xx coal mines\, xx ironstone mines\, 5 blast furnaces on 4 sites\, puddling furnaces\, three rolling mills and various forges. These figures enable us to draw a detailed picture of the process of making iron at Park Gate. \nRails remained the company’s biggest product\, but the company diversified into ship plates and supplied all the plates for Brunel’s SS Great Eastern\, including the largest plates ever rolled at that time. Based on this experience\, they made rolled armour plates for the Crimean War and were the first company to overcome the technical difficulties of this process. \nAbout the Speaker\nDavid Boursnell is a published author & researcher of Naval Armour – both manufacturers & manufacturing\, and a consultant to Kelham Island Industrial Museum\, Sheffield URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/the-anatomy-of-an-iron-works-a-detailed-exploration-of-the-park-gate-iron-works-between-1847-1859-by-david-boursnell/ LOCATION:SHEFFIELD Kelham Island Museum\, Alma Street\, Sheffield\, South Yorkshire\, S3 8RG CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - South Yorkshire Branch ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/26-04-27_TheAnatomyofanIronWorks_1920x1280.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - South Yorkshire Branch":MAILTO:meetings.syorks@newcomen.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260513T180000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260513T193000 DTSTAMP:20260430T171839 CREATED:20260209T142551Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260428T131342Z UID:16777-1778695200-1778700600@www.newcomen.com SUMMARY:'The Dickinson Memorial Lecture' by Bridget Eickhoff DESCRIPTION:Photo Credit: Image courtesy of the Julia Elton Collection \nThis event is both an in-person and on-line event. No need to register – just come along or click this zoom link to join on-line. \n The Historical & Current Challenges of Gauging & their Impact on the Operations of Railways & Canals \nBridget Eickhoff will start this presentation with some of the concerns regarding tunnels for the early railway builders and look at some of the magnificent structures that these engineers produced. \nShe will then consider the challenges that have emerged in more recent times\, from 1970s to the present day\, both in Great Britain and internationally\, and how railway gauging engineers have been continually innovating to rise to these challenges. \nBridget will also look briefly at the different but related issues with gauging of canals. \nAbout the Speaker\nBridget Eickhoff is Principal Infrastructure Engineer at Rail Safety and Standards Board and Honorary Professor of Railway Interface Engineering at the University of Birmingham (Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education) where she supports the MSc programmes. \nShe has extensive experience in railway vehicle-track interaction and wheel-rail contact\, including the study of derailment mechanisms\, track forces and deterioration\, gauge clearance methods\, related standards and approval processes. \nBridget has been involved in the development of GB and international standards in associated areas as well as supporting a number of research and innovation projects. She is also a past Chair of the IMechE Railway Division. URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/the-dickinson-memorial-lecture-the-historical-current-challenges-of-gauging-their-impact-on-the-operations-of-railways-canals-by-bridget-eickhoff/ LOCATION:LONDON Alan Baxter Gallery\, 75 Cowcross St\, Clerkenwell\, London\, EC1M 6EL CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - London Branch ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/26-05-13_HistoricalAndCurrentChallengesofGauging_1920x1280.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - London Branch":MAILTO:office@newcomen.com END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR