1850s and 1860s: First IMechE meetings and activities

The Institution’s first meetings were held at the Queen’s Hotel in Birmingham before growing membership numbers led to a series of rented meeting venues across Birmingham including at the Midland Institute, Philosophical Institution, Temple Buildings and Newhall Street.

Initially there were four meetings a year held on the fourth Wednesday of January, April, July and October. By 1848 there were over 162 members.

1851, the year of the Great Exhibition, saw the Institution hold its first meeting in London, in the Society of Arts’ Adelphi Rooms.

From the mid 1850s it was decided to hold Summer meeting away from Birmingham. Informal visits to works in the region and papers presented related to local industry. Elaborate programmes and tickets were produced.