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