It is not much known that in his early career James Watt made and sold musical instruments. He was also, reputedly, tone-deaf. Hear about his instrument making, from violins, guitars and flutes to small chamber organs.

FULLLY BOOKED. Designed by Samuel Wyatt, Heathfield House was completed in 1790. Join Rita McLean to hear about the influential Wyatt dynasty and their many connections with Boulton and Watt enterprises.

Harper’s Hill was James Watt’s first family home in Birmingham. This illustrated talk reveals its history using maps and archive material from the James Watt and Family Papers.

NEW DATE Meet model maker David Hulse and hear how he built the scale model steam engine on display in the exhibition.

Join Ben Russell, curator of Mechanical Engineering, as he explores the contents of James Watt’s workshop preserved at the Science Museum London

A rare opportunity to join archivist Fiona Tait behind the scenes at Birmingham Archives and view original documents from the James Watt Archive Collection.

This talk will look at James Watt not just as an engineer but as a friend, an inventor, a father, a husband, and a sometimes anxious genius.

This talk will provide an insight into the problems encountered with some of Watt’s early commercial steam engines. Hear about troubles at Ecton Copper Mine (Staffordshire) and Chester flour mill.

To commemorate James Watt’s life, Etruria Industrial Museum will be offering a series of James Watt lectures on Wed 31 July, Thu 1 Aug and Fri 2 Aug

FULLY BOOKED. Harper’s Hill was James Watt’s first family home in Birmingham. This illustrated talk reveals its history using maps and archive material from the James Watt and Family Papers.

Hear about the life of James Watt Jnr; his work for the Boulton and Watt firm, how he protected his father’s legacy and the task of furnishing Aston Hall.

This talk is an introduction to James Watt's life, his family and his social/intellectual networks

Research into the Watt family papers has shed some light on James Watt’s private life. This talk will look at relationships with his wives Peggy and Ann, his son Gregory and daughter Margaret.

FULLY BOOKED. This talk will examine the Lunar Society in the context of the wider European Enlightenment movement

Hear about the development of Victorian cemeteries and the memorials erected for James Watt in Birmingham and beyond.

Find out how Matthew Boulton and James Watt used contemporary newspapers and other print to promote their steam engine business.

James Watt Junior lived at Aston Hall for nearly 30 years and made it a comfortable home. This talk is an introduction to James Watt Jnr followed by a guided tour of the Hall.

Hundreds of people worked for James Watt and Matthew Boulton. Hear about everyday workers’ experiences and relationships with their employers.

Hear how James Watt’s pioneering work on improving steam engines led to a highly successful partnership with the industrialist and entrepreneur Matthew Boulton.

In 1785 Chester Flour Mill installed a Watt engine and became the first steam driven flour mill. Hear about the mill and the 2002 archaeological excavations which exposed the engine house.

This talk will look at James Watt’s early engines which were used to pump water out of mines and up canals, focus will be on the Smethwick Engine and Birmingham Canal System.