The Tipton Chemical Works of Mr James Keir: Networks of Conversants, Chemicals, Canals and Coal Mines

Abstract

The development and growth of James Keir’s chemical works at the close of the eighteenth century can be attributed to its advantageous positioning within networks of intense scientific communication, practical chemical materials and rich geographic resources. First of all, an extensive intellectual and scientific network supported Keir’s chemical industry. Fruitful correspondence and frequent meetings wove together the skills of the Lunar Society of Birmingham and its peripheral members, fomenting scientific, industrial and legal dialogues that definitively shaped the birth and growth of Keir’s alkali and soap-making pursuits at Tipton. Furthermore, Keir’s industry was situated at the heart of a material web of chemical reagents and products. The development of his synthetic soda process rendered useful the industrial waste from nearby factories. The resulting ‘soda of commerce’ was then employed in saponification and glassmaking, signifying that Keir’s manufactory was just one point on a larger interrelated web of chemical industry in the West Midlands. Finally, the physical location of Keir’s chemical works epitomized the necessity of carving out prime territory in a burgeoning industrial landscape. His chemical manufactory was situated at the heart of an ideal network of expanding transport canals and rich coal seams. This case study will expose the necessary overlap of human, material and geographic networks that stimulated Keir’s chemical operations. While it is meant to be a slice within the greater historical landscape of this era, Keir’s extensive networks will invite a teasing out of wider social, scientific and economic themes.