Harper’s Hill c1872. Reproduced with permission of the Library of Birmingham

Harper’s Hill was James and Annie Watt’s First Family Home in Birmingham. In this illustrated talk, researchers George Demidowicz and John Townley will use maps, photos and archive sources to piece together the history of James Watt’s first family home in Birmingham, in the area that was to become the Jewellery Quarter.

About the speakers:
After a long career in building conservation, George Demidowicz retired as Head of Conservation and Archaeology at Coventry City Council in 2011. He continues research and is an Honorary Research Fellow in the department of History at the University of Birmingham.

John Townly started in 1984 as a member of a University of Birmingham extramural research class working on Birmingham's industrial revolution and eventually became the course tutor. After retiring he has worked as an independent researcher studying Birmingham's cartographic and building history. He is an Honorary Research Associate in the Department of History at the University of Birmingham.

Cost: free

This talk also featured in July but was quickly fully booked. If you missed it, this is your chance to hear it. The talk is repeated as part of Birmingham Heritage Week 2019 and the booking link below will divert to the event page on the Birmingham Heritage Week website.