Exploring the Lunar Society and their connections to slavery during the eighteenth century.
This tour starts at Soho House Museum, which was once the home of Mathew Boulton, a revolutionary member of the Lunar Society and founder of the Soho Factory. Matthew Boulton’s most successful business was selling steam engines. These engines were sold to support the slave trade, but not until after 1800 when Boulton and Watt had retired from the business and their son’s had taken over.
Different characters within the Lunar Society took different views on slavery. Some of these views were contradictory and did not reflect the 'Enlightenment' period
This tour explores sites and monuments relating to the Lunar Society around Birmingham, including:
- Soho House Museum
- James Watt Gatehouse - Boulton, Watt and Murdoch statue (currently in storage)
- James Watt statue (currently in storage)
- Joseph Priestley statue (currently in storage)
- Moonstones
This tour was developed in partnership with Legacy West Midlands and is delivered by our Associate Researcher, Rachel West
