International Early Engines Conference

Celebrating the pioneers of power generation and its uses in the early industrial revolution

About us

Back in 2014, at the official opening of the newly restored atmospheric engine at Elsecar, South Yorkshire, a number of Newcomen engine aficionados discussed the need for a forum for exchanging information relating to such early engines. These conversations developed over the next year; the idea of a dedicated conference was discussed and resulted in the inaugural International Early Engines Conference (IEEC) at Elsecar Heritage Centre (May 2017). The facilities were kindly made available by Barnsley Museums. We received sponsorship and support from a number of organisations.

The shape of IEEC drew heavily on that of the Early Railways Conference, particular thanks are due to Andy Guy and Helen Gomersal for freely sharing their experiences and standards with us. This greatly facilitated the process of calling for papers, arranging and running the conference and the subsequent publication of the papers in the Conference Transactions.

It quickly became clear that there remained much research underway relating to early engines on a broad range of topics and there was demand for another conference. IEEC2 was duly held in October 2021 at the Black Country Living History Museum Dudley (BCLM). Due to the impact of Covid postponements, we were able to publish the first volume of that conference’s Transactions ready for attendees when they arrived.

IEEC3 (held at Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life, Coatbridge) and IEEC4 (Kingswood Heritage Museum, Bristol) followed rapidly - March 2024 and 2026 respectively. Both attracted good attendance and excellent feedback, We adjusted the format by adding in a variety of early engine related excursions, before and after the event itself and again the feedback on these was positive.

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