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Chief Works and Principal Events
in the life of James Brindley.

with acknowledgment to the late Dr Cyril T. G. Boucher Ph.D., A.M.I.Struct.E., A.R.I.B.A.
Chartered Engineer
formerly honorary millwright to the Brindley Mill.

Year Age Event
1716
     Born at Tunstead, Derbyshire.

1726 10
     The Brindley family moves to Leek, where James is employed on
     odd jobs and general farm work.

1733 17
     Commences seven-year apprenticeship as carpenter and millwright
     with Abraham Bennett of Gurnett, Sutton, near to Macclesfield,
     Cheshire.

1735 19
     Noticed as an excellent workman by James Milner,
     superintendent of a Macclesfield mill.

1737 21
     Takes over and completes machinery of paper-mill on the
     River Dane on behalf of his master.

1742 26
     Starts business as a millwright in Leek, Staffordshire.

1750 34
     Opens workshop at Burslem, Staffordshire.

1752 36
     Designs and executes the Clifton Hydraulic Power Scheme.
     Leek mill and workshops.

1755 39
     Wheelock corn-mill.
     Mr Kent's corn-mill at Codan.
     Ashbourne corn-mill.
     Marchant Brooks Mill.
     Congleton silk-mill.
     Trentham mill.

1756 40
     Visits Bedworth, Birmingham and Wolverhampton to see
     steam-engines.
     Steam-engine for Thomas Broad at Little Fenton.
     Abbey Hulton corn-mill.
     Bucknall flint-mill.
     Mr Philip Antrobus's corn-mill at Congleton.

1757 41
     Steam-engine for Clare Maria Broad at Fenton Vivian.
     Matherso flint-mill
     Tunstall flint-mill, for Thomas Baddeley.

1758 42
     Mr Tibbett's flint-mill.
     Inspects and overhauls pumps for Earl Gower.
     Windmill for grinding flints for J & T Wedgwood at Burslem.
     Mention in diary of work on 'Mobile water engine'; no details.
     Patents steam-engine boiler.
     Surveying for Grand Trunk (or Trent and Mersey) Canal.

1759 43
     Visits Coalbrookdale Iron Foundry and meets Abraham Darby II.
     Steam-engine at Cheadle, Staffordshire.
     Steam-engine at Bedworth.
     Steam-engine for Phineas Hussey at Little Wyrley.
     Called in for consultation by the Duke of Bridgewater:
     commences survey of Bridgewater Canal, Worsley to Manchester
     section.

1760 44
     Appears as parliamentary witness in his capacity as Engineer of
     the Bridgewater Canal.
     Mill at Tatton for Samuel Egerton.
     Work at Congleton.
     Purchases share in the Turnhurst Estate and in Golden Hill Colliery.
     Becomes partner with his brother John, the potter, in
     Longport Pottery.

1761 45
     Barton Aqueduct completed and opened to traffic.
     Surveying for Bridgewater Canal, Cheshire section.

1762 46
     Enters into association with John Henshall.
     Wilton mill.
     Survey for Chester Canal.
     Survey for the branch canal from Sale Moor to Stockport;
     (not made).
     Appears as parliamentary witness in his capacity as Engineer to
     the Bridgewater Canal..
     Surveying for navigation from Chester to Shrewsbury ('Srosbery').
     Surveying for navigation from Rotherham to Doncaster.

1763 47
     Spends ten days on the Lower Avon Navigation advising George
     Perrott on improvements.

1764 48
     Supervising construction of the Bridgewater Canal.

1765 49
     Marries and takesup residence at Turnhurst.
     Appointed Engineer to Calder and Hebble Navigation; plans and
     constructs portion from Salterhebble to Sowerby Bridge.

1766 50
     Sir John Ramsden's (Huddersfield Broad) canal surveyed.
     Grand Trunk Canal work commenced.
     Commences Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal.
     Commences Harecastle Tunnel on the Trent and Mersey Canal,
     near to Stoke-on-Trent.

1767 51
     Survey for Bradford Canal.
     Survey for Rochdale Canal.
     Survey for Stockton and Darlington Canal; (not made).

1768 52
     Birmingham Canal commenced
     Droitwich Canal commenced.
     Coventry Canal commenced
     Makes survey for Leeds and Liverpool Canal

1769 53
     Surveys proposed canal from Bristol Channel to Exeter; (not made).
     Surveys proposed canal from Langport to Exmouth; (not made).
     Surveys proposed canal from Sonning to Mortlake; (not made).
     Surveys Leeds and Selby Canal.
     Commences Oxford canal.

1770 54
     Prepares scheme for improving Thames navigation.
     Survey for Andover Canal.
     Brindley's father dies.

1771 55
     Chesterfield Canal commenced.
     Survey for Salisbury Canal..

1772 56
     Survey for Lancaster Canal.
     Surveying branch canal from Etruria to Froghall (Caldon Canal)
     during which he is taken ill
     James Brindley dies, on the 27th September 1772.

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