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George Stephenson's desk

Discussion in 'Everything Else Heritage' started by richards, Mar 15, 2016.

  1. richards

    richards Part of the furniture

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    The Institution of Mechanical Engineers has George Stephenson's desk in one of its London meeting rooms.

    All those scratches!! He was obviously agonising over the colour to paint Rocket. "Green? Maroon? Black? No! I'll surprise 'em ... YELLOW!!"

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    richards, Mar 15, 2016
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  2. flaman

    flaman Well-Known Member

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    From time to time the National Farmers Union has used the I Mech E for it's London meetings. As well as the desk and various other Stephenson memorabilia in the foyer and ante-rooms, the main hall is lined with very large portraits of past Presidents of the Institution. George and Robert face each other across the front, then you work back through all the great names in British mechanical and locomotive engineering. My visits have been in connection with farming matters, but I've always found it difficult to concentrate in such exalted company!
     
    flaman, Mar 15, 2016
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  3. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    He was a surprisingly modern man, as these extracts from his Twitter Timeline (@GeordieStephenson) show:

    @GeordieStephenson 28 October 1829
    Just seen opposition for #RainhillTrials. Ganna be #StrollInThePark

    His good mood continued as test runs continued before the formal opening of the Liverpool and Manchester:

    @GeordieStephenson 5 April 1830
    @ActressFannyK #Rocket proving to be excellent #FannyMagnet! #SnortingLittleAnimal!

    Even the events of the opening day could not dampen his mood

    @GeordieStephenson 15 September 1830
    Opening of #LMR. Good day, tempered by accident to @BillHussyMP but #Northumbrian made excellent run back to Eccles

    @GeordieStephenson retweeted @ManRoyalInfirmary's tweet 15 September 1830
    Situation grave for @BillHussyMP

    Sadly after that his timeline goes quiet - was he perhaps the victim of trolling by @TheOriginalLuddite and others who held him responsible for the rapid changes in society of the time?

    Tom
     
    Jamessquared, Mar 15, 2016
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  4. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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    On my visits to 'head office' I am always humbled by the icons of history that fill the place. Most remarkable was the old gents toilets with the glass and polished brass splashback guard to ptotect the shoes.
     
    ilvaporista, Mar 15, 2016
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  5. oldmrheath

    oldmrheath Well-Known Member

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    Fortunately Robert kept up the family's embracing of social media as his Facebook page for the new-build project 'Planet' got an excellent response at the news the chimney had been cast.


    Jon
     
    oldmrheath, Mar 15, 2016
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  6. ghost

    ghost Part of the furniture

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    What?! I thought the nameplate and livery would be first!


    Keith
     
    ghost, Mar 16, 2016
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  7. richards

    richards Part of the furniture

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    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    richards, Mar 16, 2016
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  8. John Stewart

    John Stewart Part of the furniture

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    You will probably remember urinals with a bee applied beneath the glaze as a joke that would be appreciated by Latin scholars.
     
    John Stewart, Mar 18, 2016
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  9. John Stewart

    John Stewart Part of the furniture

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    A few years ago I bought a copy of George Stephenson - Creator of Britain's Railways, by John Rowland (Odham's Press 1954) In the flyleaf was written "George Stephenson and my great great great granny were brother and sister" [presumably Nell]. There then follows a family tree through the female line ending with a lady with the surname of Perry. I would imagine that the note was made in the 1950s. The book was bought from the antique shop at Curborough Hall Farm near Lichfield and I think that it came from someone who had died in that locality.
     
    John Stewart, Mar 18, 2016
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