He was here to build the midlands railway. When he dug the clay cross tunnel he struck coal and iron which started a boom for neighbouring villages. My dad worked for his company until 1998 and I grew up about a mile from the tunnel.

Later, he died at Tapton House - I can see it from my window now, it's also the place where I wrote my first computer program.

The town museum is in the Stephenson Memorial hall and a statue of him is outside the railway station.

https://www.theregister.com/2019/03/18/geeks_guide_to_britai...

That is some serious steampunk.