• Cambridge Museum of Technology (map)
  • Cheddars Lane
  • Cambridge, CB5 8LD
  • United Kingdom

Cambridge Industrial Archaeology Group’s November lecture will be given by Professor Helen Weinstein who will be sharing her research on Headly, a local foundry and engineering company. The firm’s Eagle Foundry was originally based on Cambridge Market Place from the 1830s, later moving to a site off Mill Road before finally relocating to Cheddars Lane in the 1890s.

Professor Weinstein will chart the social and industrial history of this important local company whose products included bridges, boilers, railings, garden ornaments, gas-works and brewery fittings, a steam locomotive and stationary engines. Headly also ran a coprolite mining and milling company. The talk will give insights about the skilled Victorian workers who lived in the streets nearby, such as the foundry managers, turners and moulders. Helen will also show how the Headly foundry and coprolite mill contributed to the local business economy.

This will be a richly illustrated talk with photos taken by Helen of objects and documents in archives not only at the Cambridge Museum of Technology, but also in the Cambridgeshire Archives at Ely and the Cambridgeshire Collection, and in some watery outdoor environments!

Helen Weinstein is the Director of HistoryWorks and started research about Headlys in her role as the Community Historian for the Sturton Town local history project telling the stories in and around the new development called 'Ironworks'.

The talk will take place in the Pye Building at Cambridge Museum of Technology. Entrance on the night is via the Museum’s Cheddars Lane gate.

Tickets for the talk are available on the door for £3 a head.

Cambridge Industrial Archaeology group organises a programme of talks on industrial heritage at Cambridge Museum of Technology. Talks usually take place at 7.30pm on the second Monday of each month. For further information about Cambridge Industrial Archaeology Group contact Robin Chandler robin.chandler@btinternet.com

Helen Weinstein is the Director of HistoryWorks, a Cambridge-based media company, which promotes public engagement with history through educational programmes and cultural partnerships. To find out more visit http://historyworks.tv/about_us/people/helen_weinstein/

Cambridge Museum of Technology is the home of Cambridge’s industrial heritage. For further information on the Museum contact Nick Plaister nick.plaister@museumoftechnology.com