How Britain Worked (2012)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Guy takes on the challenge of restoring the pioneering piston engine, the Newcomen Beam Engine, the first effective steam-powered device that ignited the Industrial Revolution by enabling large-scale coal mining. These engines were vital across Britain and Europe, primarily for pumping water out of mines, allowing for deeper coal extraction than ever before. If Guy and the restoration team at the Black Country Museum can bring their Beam Engine back to life, it will stand as the sole operational example of this revolutionary technology worldwide. Achieving this would mean witnessing one of the most remarkable inventions of the Industrial Revolution in action, just as it was 300 years ago. Guy works on replacing the decaying timber above the shaft, refurbishing worn components, and cleaning the boiler, while also crafting fire bricks using traditional Victorian methods to rebuild the crumbling brickwork. During the process, he dives into the history of the men, women, and children who toiled in the mines. Together with his girlfriend Steph, Guy