Catalogue description Bystander (pseudonym)

Poem: 'Upon the starting of the engine, at Bedlington Iron Works July 28 1819'. Fair copy of a 16-line poem, commencing 'This powerful Engine, we are told...'.

The verses refer to a steam engine used in iron forging on the river Blyth, Northumberland, almost certainly at the Bedlington Iron Works. The text refers to 'Gordon' and 'Biddulph', i.e. Gordon, Biddulph & Company, who bought the works in 1809, appointing Michael Longridge (1785-1858) as manager. The site was famous for its association with George Stephenson (1781-1848). The company manufactured iron rails to John Birkinshaw's patent of 1820. See Remarks on the comparative merits of cast metal and malleable iron rail-ways...(Newcastle, 1832), containing two illustrative plates of the Bedlington Iron Works.

A pencil annotation at the foot of the poem reads 'Almost certainly (?) a Trevithick engine'.

Manuscript, 205x106mm., 1f.

Mounted on grey paper, framed and glazed.

Gift, Harry M.Longridge, 1 January 1944