Announcing IEEC4 at Bristol in 2026

19th May 2025 /

The Fourth International Early Engines Conference (IEEC4), Kingswood Heritage Museum, Bristol. 20-22 March 2026

Conference Details and Call for Papers

Following our previous successful conferences, we are delighted to confirm our fourth event, (IEEC4) will be hosted by the Kingswood Heritage Museum in Warmley, near Bristol in South Gloucestershire, from 20-22 March 2026.

DATES, TIMES AND VISITS?

The event will run from noon Friday 20th until noon on Sunday 22nd March 2026 and it is our intention to arrange group visits to a number of surviving Newcomen Engine Houses on Thursday 19th and to other significant stationary engine sites on Monday 23th. Please note these visits are not covered by the conference ticket and detailed logistics have still to be confirmed

FORMAT, CULTURE AND WHAT ABOUT PAPERS?

We remain committed to ensuring our events culture is inclusive, co-operative and non-elitist. If you haven’t attended previously, we will ensure you feel welcomed and included. The format will be similar to previous ones, including publication of Conference Transactions.

As this is our “home patch” you can expect coverage of local engines and engine builders. We already have proposals for papers on the Coster Family, Bristol’s Engine Builders and Bristol as the Industrial Revolutions catalyst. We also have proposals on CO Becker’s Engine Survivors, The Beginning and End of the Coal Fuelled economy, Engine builders and Engine Wrights and Early Engines around Ripley to name but a few. We seek further proposals for papers as early as possible and no later than end October 2025.

WHAT IS DIFFERENT FROM PREVIOUS IEECs?

The Museum is one of the area’s key heritage sites and in addition to engine and mining displays, features models of metal smelting and the largest collection of Douglas Motor Bikes. We don’t have large engine sites locally that can accommodate delegates but do have a special location planned for Saturday Evening. The variety of engine and IA sites locally precludes any opportunity for boredom.

Booking

Attendee numbers are limited to 70 so we encourage you to book early.

COSTS

Full Ticket £120, day tickets also available

IEEC4 BOOKING FORMDownload

For further details, please see the IEEC4 2026 Conference information page