Travel

The Boulton & Watt era was a time before trains and other forms of post industrialization transport. Horses and carriage was the only way to travel across land but with roads being little more than dirt tracks journeying was hazardous and slow. However, travel was an event which featured heavily to the lives of Boulton and Watt. Due to the extent and interest in Watts steam engine and other business pursuits the pair travelled widely. This is shown throughout the collection as there are several references to travel. Their business exploits took them often to London , Cornwall and even Europe . From this collection, Matthew Boulton's diaries and Watts notebook (held in Birmingham City archives {link}) a great deal can be learnt about travel at this time.

Matthew Boulton's diaries give detailed descriptions about his travel to and around Cornwall . In one extract he details his journey from Birmingham to Cornwall :

“Tues 16. Set out in my own chaise to Cornwall Wm Handerson accomp me to Bromsgrove.

Wednesday 17. Arrived Bristol and slept there

Thursday 18. Set out from Whiteheart in Broad Street in the post coach with an old Wom[an] and Mr Blewett of Taunton . I arrived at the hotel at Exeter ½ past 9.

Friday 19. Breakfasted with Wm Flood …and set out about 11 o'clock to Oakhampton arrived there between 2&3…tea at Lifton and slept at 5 lanes

Sat 20. Breakfasted at Bodmin, changed at Mitchel arrived at Mr Wilsons at Chasewater.” [Taken from Matthew Boulton 's Diaries ref: MS3782/12/107/11,12 held at Birmingham City archives].

James Watt also keeps records of journeys a good example of which can be found in the notebook he kept whilst in Cornwall in 1778:

“ 31 st . Came to Mitchel by 6 o'clock – set out for Bodmin by 7 but proved a most exceeding stormy night…got to Bodmin by ½ past 1 o'clock .

New years day left Bodmin at eleven, got to Oakhampton by 8 o'clock at night” [Taken from James Watt 's notebook ref: MS3219/4/139 ehld at Birmingham city archives].

News of Watts engine traveled far and wide obtaining interest from all over Europe . This interest took the men to many places, meeting many people. One such trip took the them France to see the king and dine with many notable people. In a fantastic letter to Wilson in 1787 the trip is described in detail including how they traveled around France .

“ I cannot in this letter enter into any of our Cornish business and only write it to tell you that we returned from France about a week ago that we have had a very pleasant and satisfactory journey, free from accidents and that we have enjoyed good health every moment during our abscence.

We are to re erect the Marly Machine, and do some other works for the King in that line. We are to give the King better Air at Versailles and take away the Stinking Water. We dined with all the french Ministers repeatedly and received the Kings thanks for coming over with something else more substantial. We made a journey at the Kings expence of 500 Miles and always traveld in a Coach and Sixhorses. We were presented with honorary Medals, were constantly pressed to dine with most of ye Principal members of the Royal Academy and received, par toute, more respect and attention than we had any right to expect.” [Ref: AD1583/2/33]

Boulton's pursuit of the coinage took him to London on several occasions and he spent a considerable time there. “ If I stir from here till the coinage is settled its lost to Cornwall” [Ref: AD1583/2/57] but his perseverance paid off as is evident in this letter “ I have pleasure to tell you that I have this day receivd his Majestys Warrent to which is annexed his sign Manual & ye great Seal empowering me to execute the present intended Copper Coinage & for that purpose I shall return home at ye end of the present week & set about it with Spirit” [Ref AD1583/9/78]

However, it was not just Boulton & Watt who traveled greatly in pursuit of their business. Mining adventurers traveled down to Cornwall to view Watts engine including many form abroad. There are references to adventurers traveling from France , Spain , Holland Prussia and even Siberia to view Watts engines. A notable character was a Polish General, Count Komarzewski . Boulton writes to Wilson in August 1790 to deliver this new and advise him to treat the count with courtesy.

“ This letter will be deliverd to you by Count Komarzewski a General in the Service of his Polish Majesty who is travilling merely for his Pleasure & the gratificataion of his Curiosity.
I beg you will either accompany the General to some of the principal Mines or give him a proper conductor.  He particularly wishes to see the great Engine at Wh[ea]l Maid & all other Cornish objects worthy the attention of a traviler.
As I can assure you, of my own knowledge, that the Generals own personal Merits & amiable Character entitle him to the greatest respect I cannot help recommending him to the attention & civilities of my Cornish friends & assure them & you that any favour shewn the General I shall feel as confird upon my Self” [Ref: AD1583/4/29]

Not all of this it seems was for the good of Boulton & Watt business, however. One particular worry appears to have been Baron Stein In a letter to Wilson in January 1787 Boulton informs him that the King of Prussia has sent over Baron Stein who is director to the King's mines in Silecia. He warn that “ His errand is to learn to make the improved Fire Engines, that he may erect them upon the Copper Mines in Silecia.  This s[ai]d Baron is a rascaly Character and quite suitable for ye dirty business he is come upon. ” [Ref: AD1583/2/33]. Several letters ensue and a couple of months later Boulton reports to Wilson that “ Baron Stein is in Birmingham but I have not seen him this week he is disappointed in seeing all he wanted to see. He goes too Cornwall soon where I recommend that he is treated civily but don't shew him any Engines or Pitt work”. [Ref: AD1583/2/42/1]

The letters themselves are evidence of travel. Given that journeying could only be done on horse drawn transport, we might consider journey time to be slow. However as the letters often contain both date of writing and date of arrival they demonstrate that it took on average five or six days for correspondence to reach Cornwall from Birmingham. Not bad considering horses pulling mail coaches were only able to travel a distance of 10 miles in any one stretch and their top speed was 10mph.