Celebrities of the Industrial Age

My boyfriend came back from a foray to the newsagents this weekend bearing a collection of new Royal Mail stamps themed around Pioneers of the Industrial Revolution. We have Matthew Boulton (1st class, given it's his Bicentenary year), James Watt, Richard Arkwright, Josiah Wedgwood, George Stephenson, Henry Maudsley, James Brindley and John McAdam - many connected to the Midlands and The Lunar Society.

Even Lichfield Cathedral got on a stamp last year, though I'm glad to be spared the 'letters pray' jokes (thank you, Express & Star).

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Pepys and Boulton Remembered

I saw the excellent CBSO Baroque Ensemble play an Erasmus Darwin-themed concert in Lichfield Cathedral some years ago, and loved the way in which they combined intimate chamber pieces with well-chosen readings from and about Darwin. So it’s great to see them back on Sunday – this time at the CBSO Centre in Birmingham - presenting a Pepys Portrait. This comprises music by Purcell, Locke, Mattheis and Gottfried Finger, with excerpts from the great 17th-century diarist's work, plus some authentic small cakes, served to the audience on a first come, first served basis (see the CBSO's blog for further info).

But that’s not all. This year is Matthew Boulton’s Bicentenary and the man (pictured above) – often referred to as the ‘Father of Birmingham’ – has inspired another outing from the CBSO Baroque Ensemble: Hark! I hear Musick!, performed at Birmingham Cathedral on July 4th. Billed as ‘a light-hearted evening of music that Boulton is known to have enjoyed… interspersed with readings from some of Boulton’s letters’, it's the perfect opportunity to salute the great Brummie industrialist.

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Christmas: 18th-century style

I spotted a fun event this weekend at Soho House in Handsworth called A Georgian Family Christmas (Dec 14, noon to 4pm, £5, £3 children/concs, £15 family). Soho House was the home to the great industrialist and founder member of the Lunar Society, Matthew Boulton (above), between the years 1766 and 1809. Now a museum, it's gearing up for the bicentenary of Boulton's death next year, but in the meantime there's some festive fun to be had...

Visitors will be greeted by the housekeeper who will talk about Georgian food and Christmas traditions, and give cookery demonstrations using recipes from a Regency cookbook. You can see Soho House decked out in festive greenery and monitor the butler's progress in the dining room, making preparations for a lavish dinner. Meanwhile, in the drawing room there'll be carols and live music from period-instrument outfit Diabolus in Musica, not to mention seasonal refreshments in the tea room. How civilised!

PS Also just received an email from the
Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum in Lichfield to say there will be mince pies and mulled wine available for visitors this Sunday. There's also a bit of news on the Tercentenary:

This will be a very happy new year indeed, as we all look forward to 2009: the 300th anniversary of the birth of Samuel Johnson. Lichfield will be at the centre of the national celebrations and an exciting calendar of special events has been planned. Events at the museum begin on Sunday 1st March with Intimate Theatre in ‘The Golden Moment: a family farewell to Johnson & Garrick’. Tickets cost £6.50 including a pre-show drink and will be available to buy at the museum from January 10th . Other highlights include a living history weekend when ‘Johnson’s House Comes Alive!’ in May and entertainment from celebrated actress and historian Lesley Smith in ‘An Audience with Hester Thrale’ in June - two of the many events planned in the run up to an extra special Birthday weekend in September.

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