The Golden Boys

Today's the day ................... to have a look at Birmingham

As far as I know, I have never been to Birmingham. I don't know what I was expecting - but it certainly was not what I found. We moored up in Gas Street Basin, right in the heart of Birmingham. Now that is quite an amazing thing in itself - that you can be in the middle of a city surrounded by busy comings and goings, restaurants, pubs etc - and feel quite safe.

The following morning, we didn't have time to do it justice, but we had a quick look round the city centre and marvelled at the abundance of art galleries, museums, architecture of buildings old and new, statues, markets and much else to do and see.

This is a statue of three pioneers of the industrial revolution in late 18th century England. James Watt's improvements to the steam engine and William Murdoch's invention of gas lighting have made them famous throughout the world. Matthew Boulton, entrepreneur and industrialist, harnessed their talents in a company that made everything from tableware and copper coinage to steam engines. His home, Soho House, is now a museum. All three men are buried in St Mary's Church Handsworth, known as 'the Westminster Abbey of the Industrial Revolution'.

It is the work of William Bloye, formerly head of sculpture at Birmingham School of Art and was unveiled in 1956, although preliminary designs were drawn up in 1938. The larger than life size figures are in bronze, with a gold finish, on a pedestal of Portland stone and are depicted discussing engine plans.