Our Heritage

Martineau’s roots date back to Birmingham in 1828, a time when the West Midlands was busy turning itself into the manufacturing centre of the world. Much of the credit for Birmingham’s rise to prominence goes to three great men - Matthew Boulton, James Watt and William Murdock – famously depicted in the three-man statue on Broad Street, Birmingham.

In 1749, Birmingham born Matthew Boulton joined his father in their silver stamping business at their Soho factory, two miles north of Birmingham, which manufactured a variety of metal products, including steel buttons.

Scottish engineer James Watt in 1769 patented the separate condenser for steam engines, massively increasing their power and flexibility. The development of Watt’s steam engine was financed by John Roebuck, but he was declared bankrupt in 1772. Boulton accepted a two thirds share in Watt’s patent as satisfaction of the debt he was owed by Roebuck.

Watt entered into a partnership with Boulton and developed steam engines to pump water out of mines. They were joined by another Scottish engineer William Murdock, who in 1774 constructed a high pressure steam engine to run on wheels. He began distilling coal gas and in 1803 the factory was lit by coal gas burners.

By 1824, Boulton and Watt had produced hundreds of steam engines, used not only in mines but also rail and sea transport. Watt’s steam engine sparked the industrial revolution and as any school pupil knows the universal unit of power (the watt) was named after him.

It would be difficult to lay blame for climate change entirely at Birmingham’s door, but the consequences of global industrialisation are now evident. It is perhaps no surprise to find Birmingham has risen to the challenge with ambitious plans to reduce its contribution to the causes of climate change and help adapt to the changes already taking place. For more information on Birmingham’s climate change activities, see www.birminghamcuttingco2.org

We are amongst many businesses and organisations in Birmingham who are rightly proud of the region’s heritage, but equally determined to help the city realise its ambition to lead by example and combat climate change.