Soho House in Handsworth, Birmingham, was the home of Matthew Boulton for forty-three years until his death in 1809.

When Boulton acquired the house the interior was unfinished and it was not until 1766 that he and his second wife Anne made it their home.

Soho was one of the venues for meetings of the Lunar Society whose members included such famous names as James Watt, Josiah Wedgwood, Joseph Priestley and Erasmus Darwin (grandfather of Charles). The Lunar Society was so-called as it met on or near the night of the full moon, so that its members would have better light to travel home after sharing their latest scientific discoveries.

Soho House is now a museum run by Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery. It is displayed as closely as possible to its appearance c1790, and contains fine collections of ormolu, silver, furniture and other important material associated with Boulton.

The house is open Easter to the end of October, Tuesday to Sunday 11.30am – 4pm, closed Mondays except Bank Holidays. For more information visit www.bmag.org.uk or telephone 0121 554 9122.