SHOWELL'S
Dictionary of Birmingham.
Baby Show.—Let Mr. Inshaw, of the "Steam
Clock," have the honour of being recorded as the first to
introduce the Yankee notion of a "baby show," which took
place at his Music Hall, May 15, 1874.
Bachelors.—In 1695, bachelors over 24 had to pay a tax of
1s., if "a common person," the scale running as high as
£12 10s. for a duke! Judging from the increase of the population
about that time, we doubt if even a "common" bachelor paid
here. The married folks had not much to laugh at though, for they had
to pay duty on every child that was born. Funny time, those!
Balloons.—A Mr. Harper was the first to scale the clouds
in a balloon from this town, January 4, 1785. He rose again on the 31,
from the Tennis Court, in Coleshill Street, and is said to have sailed
a distance of 57 miles in 80 minutes. Mr. Sadler went up from
Vauxhall, October 7th, 1811, and again on October 20th, 1823. Mr.
Green rose from Newhall Hill, July 17th, 1827, and several times
after.
Balsall Heath.—In some ancient deeds called "Boswell
Heath." The land round Mary street, known as the Balsall Heath
estate, was sold in building lots (234) in 1839, the last day's
sale being August 26, and the auctioneers, Messrs. E. & C. Robins.
Edwardes-street takes its name from the last owner of the estate, who,
if he could now but glance over the property, would be not a little
astonished at the changes which have taken place in the last forty
years, for, like unto Aston, it may be said to really form but a
portion of the ever-extending town of Birmingham. Balsall Heath, which
is in the parish of King's Norton, has now a Local Board (with its
offices in Lime Grove, Moseley Road) several Board schools, chapels,
and churches, a police court, and that sure mark of advancement, a
local newspaper. One thing still wanting, however, is a cemetery.
Though an appropriate and convenient spot near Cannon Hill Park was
chosen for the last resting-place, the ratepayers, at a meeting held
July 21, 1879, decided that they could not yet afford the required
outlay of some £17,000 necessary for the purpose,
notwithstanding that the annual rateable value of the property in the
neighbourhood is something like £70,000, and increasing by three
to four thousand a year.
Banks and Bankers.—The Birmingham Branch Bank of England
(drawing on the parent Bank of England), is in Bennett's Hill.
The local Branch of the National Provincial Bank of England (Lim.),
Bennett's Hill, also draws on its headquarters. It commenced
business here on New Year's Day 1827.
The Birmingham Banking Company (Lim.), also in Bennett's Hill,
draws on the London and Westminster. It opened its doors Sept. 1,
1829, with a nominal capital of £500,000, in £50 shares,
£5 being paid up at starting. An amalgamation took place in the
year 1880 with the Stourbridge and Kidderminster Bank (established in
1834) the united company having a paid-up capital of £286,000
and a reserve of £312,000.
The Birmingham and Midland Bank (Limited) opened in Union Street,
August 23, 1836, removing to New Street in 1869. London agents, the
Union Bank of London. Authorised capital, £2,400,000.
The Birmingham, Dudley, and District Banking Co. (Limited) was
commenced in Colmore Row July 1st, 1836, as the Town and District
Bank, with a capital of £500,000, in £20 shares. London
agents, Barclay and Co., and Williams and Co.
The Birmingham Joint Stock Bank (Limited) opened in Temple Row West,
Jan. 1st, 1862, with a capital of £3,000,000, in £100
shares, £10 paid. Agents, London Joint Stock. Has branches in
New Street and Great Hampton Street.
Lloyds' Banking Co. (Limited) Colmore Row, dates from June 3rd,
1765. when it was known as Taylor and Lloyds, their first premises
being in Dale End [hence the name of Bank Passage]. This old
established firm has incorporated during its century of existence a
score of other banks, and lately has been amalgamated with Barnetts,
Hoares, and Co., of London, the present name being Lloyd, Barnett,
Bosanquet, and Co. (Limited). There are sub-offices also in Great
Hampton Street, Deritend, Five Ways and Aston. In this and adjoining
counties, Lloyds' number about 40 branch establishments.
The Worcester City and County Banking Co. (Limited), drawing on Glynn
and Co., removed from Cherry Street to their newly-built edifice in
Colmore Row, June 1, 1880.
The Union Bank of Birmingham (Limited), Waterloo Street, commenced
business with a nominal capital of £1,000,000, in £20
shares, £5 paid. London agents, the City Bank. It has since been
taken over by the Midland Bank.
Banks.—A popular Penny Bank was established in 1851, but
came to grief in 1865, closing March 16, with assets £1,608, to
pay debts £9,448. Another penny bank was opened in Granville
Street, April 13, 1861, and is still carried on at the Immanuel
Schools, Tennant Street, with about 5,000 depositors at the present
time.
A Local Savings Bank was opened in May, 1827, and legalised in the
year after, but ultimately its business was transferred to the Post
Office Savings Bank, which opened its doors in Cannon Street, Dec. 1,
1863. By a Government return, it appeared that at the end of 1880 the
total amount to the credit of depositors in the Post Office Savings
Banks of the Kingdom stood at £30,546,306. After the
Metropolitan counties of Middlesex, Surrey, and Kent, Warwickshire
comes next with a deposit of £1,564,815, the average for the
whole of the English counties being but little over £500,000.
Banks Defunct.—The old-established concern known so long
as Attwood and Spooner's closed its doors March 10, 1865, with
liabilities amounting to £1,007,296. The Joint Stock Bank took
the business, and paid 11s. 3d. in the £.
Bank of Deposit stopped Oct. 26, 1861.
The Borough Bank, a branch of Northern and Central Bank of England,
stopped Feb. 24, 1840.
The Commercial (Branch) Bank, closed July 27, 1840.
Coates, Woolley and Gordon, who occupied the premises at corner of
Cherry Street and Cannon Street in 1814, was joined to Moilliet's,
and by them to Lloyds.
Freer, Rotton, Lloyds and Co., of 1814, changed to Rotton, Onions and
Co., then Rotton and Scholefield, next to Rotton and Son, and lastly
with its manager transferred to National Provincial.
Galton, Galton and James, of 1814, retired in 1830.
Gibbins, Smith, and Co. failed in 1825, paying nearly 20s. in the
£.
Gibbins and Lowell, opened in 1826, but was joined to Birmingham
Banking Co. in 1829.
Smith, Gray, Cooper and Co., of 1815, afterwards Gibbins, Smith, and
Goode, went in 1825.
Banknotes.—Notes for 5/3 were issued in 1773. 300
counterfeit £1 notes, dated 1814, were found near Heathfield
House, January 16, 1858. A noted forger of these shams is said to have
resided in the immediate neighbourhood about the period named on the
discovered "flimsies." When Boulton and Watt were trying to
get the Act passed patenting their copying-press the officials of the
Bank of England opposed it for fear it should lead to forgery of their
notes, and several Members of Parliament actually tried to copy
banknotes as they did their letters.
Bankrupts.—In the year 1882 (according to the Daily
Post) there were 297 bankruptcies, compositions, or liquidations
in Birmingham, the total amount of debts being a little over
£400,000. The dividends ranged from 2d. to 15s. in the £,
one-half the whole number, however, realising under 1s. 6d. The
estimated aggregate loss to creditors is put at £243,000.
Baptists.—As far back as 1655, we have record of meetings
or conferences of the Baptist churches in the Midland district, their
representatives assembling at Warwick on the second day of the third
month, and at Moreton-in-the-Marsh, on the 26th of the fourth month in
that year. Those were the Cromwellian days of religious freedom, and
we are somewhat surprised that no Birmingham Baptists should be among
those who gathered together at the King's Head, at Moreton, on the
last named date, as we find mention made of brethren from Warwick,
Tewkesbury, Alcester, Derby, Bourton-on-the-Water, Hook Norton,
Moreton-in-the-Marsh, and even of there being a community of the same
persuasion at Cirencester. The conference of the Midland Counties'
District Association of Baptist Churches met in this town for the
first time in 1740.—For Chapels see "Places of Worship."
Barr Beacon.—A trial was made on January 10, 1856, as to
how far a light could be seen by the ignition of a beacon on Malvern
Hills. It was said to have been seen from Snowdon in Wales (105
miles), and at other parts of the country at lesser distances, though
the gazers at Worcester saw it not. The look-out at Dudley Castle (26
miles) could have passed the signal on to Barr Beacon, but it was not
needed, as the Malvern light was not only seen there, but still away
on at Bardon Hill, Leicester.—Many persons imagine that Barr
Beacon is the highest spot in the Midland Counties, but the idea is
erroneous, Turners Hill, near Lye Cross, Rowley Regis, which is 893
ft. above mean sea level, being considerably higher, while the Clee
Hills reach an altitude of 1,100 ft.
Barber of Birmingham, The.—The knights of the pole (or
poll) have always been noted for getting into mischief, and it is not
therefore so very surprising to find that in March, 1327, a royal
pardon had to be granted to "Roger, the barber of
Birmingham," for the part he had taken in the political
disturbances of that time. Was he a Con., or a Lib., Tory or Rad.?
Baron of Birmingham.—One of the titles of Lord Ward.
Barracks.—Built in 1793, at a cost of £13,000, as a
consequence of the riots of 1791.
Barring Out—On the 26th of Nov. 1667, the scholars of the
Grammar School "barred out" the Master, and then left the
school for a time. When they returned they found the worthy pedagogue
had obtained admission and intended to keep his young rebels outside.
Whereupon, says an old chronicler, they, being reinforced by certain
of the townsmen "in vizards, and with pistolls and other
armes," sought to re-enter by assault, threatening to kill the
Master, and showering stones and bricks through the windows. When the
fun was over the Governors passed a law that any boy taking part in
future "barrings-out" should be expelled from the School,
but the amusement seems to have been rather popular, as an entry in
the School records some ten years later show that a certain Widow
Spooner was paid one shilling "for cleansinge ye Schoole at
penninge out."
Baskerville (John).—This celebrated local worthy was a
native of Wolverley, near Kidderminster, having been born in the year
1706. He came to this town in early life, as we find that he kept a
writing school in 1726. In 1745 he built himself a residence at
Easy-hill, and carried on the business of japanner afterwards adding
to it that of printer and typefounder. His achievements in this line
have made his name famous for ever, though it is said that he spent
£600 before he could produce one letter to his own satisfaction,
and some thousands before he obtained any profits from his printing
trade. He was somewhat eccentric in personal matters of dress and
taste, his carriage (drawn by cream-coloured horses) being a wonderful
specimen of the art of japanning in the way of pictured panels, etc.,
while he delighted to adorn his person in the richest style of dress.
The terms of his peculiar will, and his apparent renunciation of
Christianity, were almost as curious as his choice of a place of
sepulture. He was buried in his own grounds under a solid cone of
masonry, where his remains lay until 1821, at which time the canal
wharf, now at Easy Row, was being made. His body was found in a good
state of preservation, and for some short period was almost made a
show of, until by the kindness of Mr. Knott the bookseller, it was
taken to Us present resting-place in one of the vaults under Christ
Church. Mr. Baskerville died January 8, 1775, his widow living till
March 21, 1787, to the age of 80 years.
Baths.—Ladywell Baths were said by
Hutton to be the most complete in the island, being seven in number,
that for swimmers 36 yards long by 18 wide, and cost £2,000. The
place is now occupied by a timber yard, the old spring being covered
in, though fitted with a pump for public use. For many years a tribe
of water carriers procured a living by retailing the water at a
halfpenny per can. The red sand from the New Street tunnels was turned
to account in tilling up the old baths, much to the advantage of Mr.
Turner, the lessee, and of the hauliers who turned the honest penny by
turning in so near at hand.
Baths and Wash-houses.—The local movement for the
establishment of public Baths first took practical shape at a meeting
held Nov. 19,1844, within a week of which date subscriptions amounting
to £4,430 were received for the purpose. The Association then
formed purchased a plot of land in Kent Street in June, 1846, and
presented it to the Town Council in November following, though the
Baths erected thereon were not opened to the public until May 12,
1851. It was at that time imagined that the working classes would he
glad of the boon provided for them in the convenient wash-houses
attached to the Baths proper, and the chance given them to do away
with all the sloppy, steamy annoyances of washing-day at home, but the
results proved otherwise, and the wash-houses turned out to be not
wanted. The Woodcock Street establishment was opened August 27, 1860;
Northwood Street, March 5, 1862; Sheepcote Street in 1878, and
Ladywood in 1882. Turkish Baths are now connected with the above, and
there are also private speculations of the same kind in High Street,
Broad Street, and the Crescent. Hardy swimmers, who prefer taking
their natatory exercises in the open air, will find provision made for
them at the Reservoir, at Cannon Hill Park, and also at Small Heath
Park. The swimming-bath in George Street, Balsall Heath, opened in
1846, was filled up in 1878, by order of the Local Board of Health.
Bath Street takes its name from some baths formerly in Blews
Street, but which, about 1820, were turned into a malthouse.
Battle Of the Alma.—A disturbance which took place at a
steeplechase meeting at Aston, Monday, March 26, 1855, received this
grandiloquent title.
Battles and Sieges.—It is more than probable that the
British, under their gallant Queen Boadicea, fought the Romans more
than once in the near vicinity of this district, and very possibly in
those happy days of feudalism, which followed the invasion of the
Normans, when every knight and squire surrounded himself with his
armed retainers, sundry skirmishes may have taken place hereabouts,
but history is silent. Even of the battle of Barnet (April 14, 1471),
when the Earl of Warwick and 10,000 men were slain, we have not
sufficient note to say, though it can hardly be doubted, that many
Birmingham citizens went down. But still we have on record one real
"Battle of Birmingham," which took place on the 3rd of
April, 1643. On that day our town was attacked by Prince Rupert, with
some 2,000 horse and foot; being pretty stoutly opposed, his soldiers
slew a number of inhabitants, burnt nearly 80 houses, and did damage
(it is said) to the extent of £30,000. It took five days for the
news of this exploit to reach London. In the week following Christmas
of the same year, a number of townspeople, aided by a party of the
Commonwealth soldiers, laid siege to, and captured, Aston Hall.
Bazaars.—When originated none can tell. How much good
done by means of them, nobody knows. But that immense amounts have
been raised for good and charitable purposes, none can deny—and
then, "they are such fun!". "Grand Bazaars"
have been held for many an institution, and by many different sects
and parties, and to attempt to enumerate them would be an
impossibility, but the one on behalf of the Queen's Hospital, held
in April, 1880, is noteworthy, for two reasons:—first, because
the proceeds amounted to the munificent sum of £5,969, and,
secondly, from the novelty of the decorations. The body of the Town
Hall was arranged to represent an English street of the olden time, a
baronial castle rising tower upon tower at the great gallery end, and
an Elizabethan mansion in the orchestra, with a lawn in front,
occupied by a military band. The sides of the Hall constituted a
double row of shops, the upper storeys (reaching to the galleries)
being filled with casements and balconies, from whence the doings in
the street could be witnessed.
Bean Club.—The first anniversary we read of was that held
July 17, 1752, at which meeting Lord Fielding gave £120 to erect
an altarpiece in St. Bartholomew's.
Beardsworth (John).—Founder of the Repository, began life
as driver of a hackney coach, in which one night he drove a beautiful
young lady to a ball. John went home, dressed, procured admission to
the ball, danced with the lady, handed her to the coach, drove her
home, and some time after married her. The lady's cash enabled him
to acquire an ample fortune, being at one time worth nearly a quarter
of a million, most of which, however, was lost on the turf. The
Repository was the largest establishment of the kind in the kingdom,
and Beardsworth'a house adjoining was furnished in most splendid
style, one centre table (made of rich and rare American wood) costing
£1,500.
Beelzebub.—Watt's first steam engine was so
christened. It was brought from Scotland, put up at Soho, and used for
experimenting upon. It was replaced by "Old Bess," the first
engine constructed upon the expansive principle. This latter engine is
now in the Museum of Patents, South Kensington, though Mr. Smiles says
he saw it working in 1857, seventy years after it was made.
Beer.—Brewers of beer were first called upon to pay a
license duty in 1784, though the sellers thereof had been taxed more
or less for 250 years previously. The effect of the heavy duties then
imposed was to reduce the consumption of the national and wholesome
beverage, which in 1782 averaged one barrel per head of the then
population per annum, down to half-a-barrel per head in 1830, its
place being filled by an increased consumption of ardent spirits,
which from half-a-gallon per head in 1782, rose by degrees to
six-sevenths of a gallon per head by 1830. In this year, the statesmen
of the day, who thought more of the well-being of the working part of
the population than raising money by the taxation of their
necessaries, took off the 10s. per barrel on beer, in the belief that
cheap and good malt liquors would be more likely to make healthy
strong men than an indulgence in the drinking of spirits.
Notwithstanding all the wild statements of the total abstainers to the
contrary, the latest Parliamentary statistics show that the
consumption of beer per head per annum averages now only
seven-eighths of a barrel, though before even this moderate quantity
reaches the consumers, the Government takes [see
Inland Revenue returns, 1879, before alteration of
malt-tax] no less a sum than £19,349 per year from the good
people of Birmingham alone. Of this sum the brewers paid £9,518,
the maltsters £425, beer dealers £2,245, and beer
retailers £7,161.
Bells.—There was a bell foundry at
Good Knave's End, in 1760, from whence several neighbouring
churches were supplied with bells to summon the good knaves of the day
to prayers, or to toll the bad knaves to their end. There was
also one at Holloway Head, in 1780, but the business must have been
hollow enough, for it did not go ahead, and we find no record of
church bells being cast here until just a hundred years back (1732),
when Messrs. Blews & Son took up the trade. Birmingham bells have,
however, made some little noise in the world, and may still be heard
on sea or land, near and far, in the shape of door bells, ship bells,
call bells, hand bells, railway bells, sleigh bells, sheep bells, fog
bells, mounted on rockbound coasts to warn the weary mariner, or
silver bells, bound with coral from other coasts, to soothe the
toothless babbler. These, and scores of others, are ordered here every
year by thousands; but the strangest of all orders must have been that
one received by a local firm some fifteen years ago from a West
African prince, who desired them to send him 10,000 house bells (each
3/4 lb. weight), wherewith to adorn his iron "palace." And
he had them! Edgar Poe's bells are nowhere, in comparison with
Such a charm, such a chime,
Out of tune, out of time.
Oh, the jangling and the wrangling
Of ten thousand brazen throats.
Ten bells were put in St. Martin's, in 1786, the total weight
being 7 tons, 6 cwt. 2 lbs.
The peal of ten bells in St. Philip's were first used August 7,
1751, the weight being 9 tons 10 cwt. 22 lbs., the tenor weighs 30
cwt.
A new peal of eight bells were put up in Aston Church, in May, 1776,
the tenor weighing 21 cwt. The St. Martin's Society of Change
Ringers "opened" them, July 15, by ringing Holt's
celebrated peal of 5040 grandsire triples, the performance occupying 3
hours 4 minutes.
Eight bells and a clock were mounted in the tower of Deritend Chapel,
in 1776, the first peal being rung July 29.
The eight bells in Bishop Ryder's Church, which weigh 55 cwt., and
cost £600, were cast in 1868, by Blews and Sons, and may be
reckoned as the first full peal founded in Birmingham.
There are eight bells in Harborne Parish Church, four of them bearing
date 1697, two with only the makers' name on, and two put in
February, 1877, on the 24th of which month the whole peal were
inaugurated by the ringing of a true peal of Stedman triples, composed
by the late Thomas Thurstans, and consisting of 5,040 changes, in 2
hours and 52 minutes. The St. Martin's ringers officiated.
The six bells of Northfield Church were cast by Joseph Smith, of
Edgbaston, in 1730.
St. Chad's Cathedral has eight bells, five of which were presented
in 1848 as a memorial to Dr. Moore; the other three, from the foundry
of W. Blews and Sons, were hung in March, 1877 the peculiar ceremony
of "blessing the bells" being performed by Bishop Ullathorne
on the 22nd of that month. The three cost £110. The bells at
Erdington Catholic Church were first used on February 2, 1878.
Bellows to Mend.—Our townspeople bellowed a little over
their losses after Prince Rupert's rueful visit, but there was one
among them who knew how to "raise the wind," for we find
Onions, the bellows-maker, hard at work in 1650; and his descendants
keep at the same old game.
Bennett's Hill.—There was a walled-in garden (with an
old brick summer-house) running up from Waterloo-street to Colmore-row
as late as 1838-9.
Benefit and Benevolent Societies.—See "Friendly Societies."
Bellbarn Road, or the road to Mr. Bell's barn.
Bermingham.—The Irish family of this name descended from
Robert, son of Peter de Bermingham, who left here and settled in
Connaught about the year 1169.
Bibles and Testaments.—In 1272 the price of a Bible, well
written out, was £30 sterling, and there were few readers of it
in Birmingham. The good book can now be bought for 6d., and it is to
be hoped there is one in every house. The Rev. Angell James once
appealed to his congregation for subscriptions towards sending a
million New Testaments to China, and the Carrslaneites responded
promptly with £410 8s., enough to pay for 24,624
copies—the publisher's price being 4d. each. They can be
bought for a penny now.—A local Auxiliary Bible Society was
commenced here May 9, 1806.
Bingley Hall—Takes its name from Bingley House, on the
site of which it is built. It was erected in 1850 by Messrs. Branson
and Gwyther, at a cost of about £6,000, the proprietary shares
being £100 each. In form it is nearly a square, the
admeasurements being 224 ft. by 212 ft., giving an area of nearly one
acre and a half. There are ten entrance doors, five in King
Edward's Place, and five in King Alfred's Place, and the
building may be easily divided into five separate compartments. The
Hall will hold from 20,000 to 25,000 people, and is principally used
for Exhibitions and Cattle Shows; with occasionally "monster
meetings," when it is considered necessary for the welfare of the
nation to save sinners or convert Conservatives.
Bird's-eye View of the town can be best obtained from the
dome of the Council House, to which access may be obtained on
application to the Curator. Some good views may be also obtained from
some parts of Moseley Road, Cannon Hill Park, and from Bearwood Road.
Birmingham.—A horse of this name won the Doncaster St.
Leger in 1830 against 27 competitors. The owner, John Beardsworth,
cleared £40,000. He gave Connolly, the jockey, £2,000.
Birmingham Abroad.—Our brethren who have emigrated do not
like to forget even the name of their old town, and a glance over the
American and Colonial census sheet shows us that there are at least a
score of other Birminghams in the world. In New Zealand there are
three, and in Australia five townships so christened. Two can be found
in Canada, and ten or twelve in the United States, the chief of which
is Birmingham in Alabama. In 1870 this district contained only a few
inhabitants, but in the following year, with a population of 700, it
was incorporated, and at once took rank as a thriving city, now
proudly called "The Iron City," from its numerous ironworks,
furnaces, and mills. Last year the citizens numbered over 12,000, the
annual output of pig-iron being about 60,000 tons, and the coal mines
in the neighbourhood turning out 2,000 tons per day. The city is 240
miles from Nashville, 143 miles from Chattanooga, and 96 miles from
Montgomery, all thriving places, and is a central junction of six
railways. The climate is good, work plentiful, wages fair, provisions
cheap, house rent not dear, churches and schools abundant, and if any
of our townsmen are thinking of emigrating they may do a deal worse
than go from hence to that other Birmingham, which its own
"daily" says is a "City of marvellous wonder and magic
growth," &c., &c.
Birmingham Begging.—Liberal to others as a rule when in
distress, it is on record that once at least the inhabitants of this
town were the recipients of like favours at the hands of their
fellow-countrymen. In the churchwardens' books of Redenall,
Norfolk, under date September 20, 1644, is an entry of 6s. paid
"to Richard Herbert, of Birmingham, where was an hundred fifty
and five dwelling house burnt by Pr. Rupert."
Birmingham Borough, which is in the hundred of Hemlingford, and
wholly in the county of Warwick, includes the parish of Birmingham,
part of the parish of Edgbaston, and the hamlets of
Deritend-and-Bordesley, and Duddeston-cum-Nechells, in the parish of
Aston. The extreme length is six miles one furlong, the average
breadth three miles, the circumference twenty-one miles, and the total
area 8,420 acres, viz., Birmingham, 2,955; in Edgbaston, 2,512; and in
Aston, 2,853. Divided into sixteen wards by an Order in Council,
approved by Her Majesty, October 15, 1872. The mean level of
Birmingham is reckoned as 443 feet above sea level.
Birmingham Heath.—Once an unenclosed common, and part of
it may now be said to be common property, nearly 100 acres of it being
covered with public buildings for the use of such as need a common
home. There is not, however, anything commonplace in the style of
these erections for sheltering our common infirmities, as the
Workhouse, Gaol, and Asylum combined have cost "the Commons"
something like £350,000. The Volunteers in 1798 made use of part
of the Heath as a practice and parade ground.
Birmingham Bishops.—The Rev. John Milner, a Catholic
divine and eminent ecclesiastical antiquary, who was educated at
Edgbaston, was appointed Bishop Apostolic in the Midland district,
with the title of "Bishop of Castaballa." He died in 1826,
in his 74th year.—Dr. Ullathorne was enthroned at St.
Chad's, August 30th, 1848, as Bishop of the present Catholic
diocese.—The Rev. P. Lee, Head Master of Free Grammar School in
1839, was chosen as the first Bishop of Manchester.— The Rev. S.
Thornton, St. George's, was consecrated Bishop of Ballarat, May 1,
1875.—The Rev. Edward White Benson, D.D., a native of this town,
was nominated first Bishop of Truro, in December, 1876, and is now
Archbishop of Canterbury.—The Rev. Thomas Huband Gregg resigned
the vicarage of East Harborne in March, 1877, and on June 20 was
consecrated at New York a Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church.
Birmingham (Little).—In a record of the early date
of 1313 there is mention of a place called Little Birmingham (parvam
Birmingham), as being in the hundreds of North and South Erpyngham,
Norfolk.
Birmingham in the Future.—It has been proposed that the
Borough should be extended so as to include the Local Board districts
of Harborne and Handsworth, Balsall Heath, Moseley, King's Heath,
part of King's Norton parish, the whole of Yardley and Acock's
Green, part of Northfield parish, all Aston Manor, Saltley, Witton,
Little Bromwich, and Erdington, covering an area of about 32,000
acres, with a present population of over half a million.
Blind Asylum.—See "Philanthropic Institutions."
Blondin made his first appearance at Aston Park, June 8, 1861;
at the Birmingham Concert Hall, December, 1869, and March, 1870; at
the Reservoir September, 1873, and September, 1878. Mrs. Powell, who
was known as the "Female Blondin," was killed at a
fête in Aston Park, July 20, 1868, by falling from the high
rope.
Bloomsbury Institute.—Opened in 1860. The memorial stones
of the lecture-hall in Bloomsbury Street were laid August 6, 1877, the
£750 cost being given by Mr. David Smith. Seats 500.
Blue Coat School.—See "Schools."
Blues.—The United Society of True Blues was founded in
1805 by a number of old Blue Coat boys (formerly known as "The
Grateful Society") who joined in raising an annual subscription
for the School.
Board Schools.—See "School Board."
Boatmen's Hall, erected on Worcester Wharf, by Miss Ryland,
was opened March 17, 1879.
Bonded Warehouses.—Our Chamber of Commerce memoralised
the Lords of the Treasury for the extension of the bonded warehouse
system to this town, in December, 1858, but it was several years
before permission was obtained.
Books.—The oldest known Birmingham book is a "Latin
Grammar, composed in the English tongue," printed in London in
1652, for Thomas Underhill, its author having been one of the masters
of our Free School.
Book Club (The).—Commenced some few years previous to
1775, at which time its meetings were held in Poet Freeth's,
Leicester Arms, Bell-street. As its name implies, the club was formed
for the purchase and circulation among the members of new or choice
books, which were sold at the annual dinner, hence the poet's hint
in one of his invitations to these meetings:—
"Due regard let the hammer be paid, Ply the glass gloomy care to
dispel; If mellow our hearts are all made, The books much better may
sell."
In these days of cheap literature, free libraries, and halfpenny
papers, such a club is not wanted.
Books on Birmingham.—Notes of Birmingham were now and
then given before the days of that dear old antiquary Hutton, but
his "History" must always take rank as the first.
Morfitt's was amusing as far as it went; Bissett's was ditto
and pictorial; but it remained till the present period for really
reliable sketches to be given. The best are Langford's
"Century of Birmingham Life," Harman's "Book of
Dates," Dent's "Old and New Birmingham,"
Bunce's "Municipal History," and the last is
"Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham."
Botanical Gardens.—See "Horticultural Societies."
Borough Members.—See "Parliamentary Elections."
Boulton (Mathew).—The son of a hardware manufacturer of
the same name, was born here on September 3, 1728 (old style) and
received his education principally at the academy of the Rev. Mr.
Anstey, Deritend. He is accredited with having at the early age of
seventeen invented the inlaying of steel buckles, buttons and
trinkets, which for many years were in great request. These articles
at first were exported to France in large quantities, being afterwards
brought from thence and sold in London as the latest Parisian fashion.
In 1762 (his father having left him a considerable property) Mr.
Boulton leased a quantity of the land then forming part of Birmingham
Heath, where at a cost of over £10,000 he erected the famous
Soho Works, and later on (in 1794) he purchased the freehold of that
and a considerable tract of the adjoining land. In 1767 steam was
first brought into use to supplement the power derived from the water
wheels, and in 1769 he became acquainted with James Watt, with whom he
afterwards went into partnership to make steam engines of all kinds,
sinking £47,000 before he had any return for his money. Mr.
Boulton lived to the patriarchal age of fourscore and one, leaving
this life on August 7, 1809. He was buried at Handsworth, 600 workmen,
besides numberless friends, following his remains; all of whom were
presented with hatbands and gloves and a silver medal, and regaled
with a dinner, the funeral costing altogether about
£2,000.—See "Coinage," &c.
Bourne College, erected by the Primitive Methodists and their
friends, at Quinton, at a cost of nearly £10,00, was formally
opened on October 240 [Transcriber's note: as original] 1882. When
completed there will be accommodation for 120 students.
Bowling Greens.—These seem to have been favourite places
of resort with our grandfathers and great-grandfathers. The completion
of one at the Union Tavern, Cherry Street, was announced March 26,
1792, but we read of another as attached to the Hen and Chickens, in
High Street, as early as 1741. There is a very fine bowling-green at
Aston Hall, and lovers of the old-fashioned game can be also
accommodated at Cannon Hill Park, and at several suburban hotels.
Boys' Refuge is at corner of Bradford Street and Alcester
Street, and the Secretary will be glad of help.
Boyton.—Captain Boyton showed his life-preserving dress,
at the Reservoir, April 24, 1875.
Bracebridge.—A very ancient family, long connected with
this neighbourhood, for we read of Peter de Bracebrigg who married a
grand-daughter of the Earl of Warwick in A.D. 1100, and through her
inherited Kingsbury, an ancient residence of the Kings of Mercia. In
later days the Bracebridges became more intimately connected with this
town by the marriage in 1775 of Abraham Bracebridge, Esq., of
Atherstone, with Mary Elizabeth, the only child and heiress of Sir
Charles Holte, to whom the Aston estates ultimately reverted. Many
articles connected with the Holte family have been presented to
Birmingham by the descendants of this marriage.
Bradford Street takes its name from Henry Bradford, who, in
1767, advertised that he would give a freehold site to any man who
would build the first house therein.
Breweries.—In the days of old nearly
every publican and innkeeper was his own brewer, the fame of his house
depending almost solely on the quality of the "stingo" he
could pour out to his customers. The first local brewery on a large
scale appears to have been that erected in Moseley Street in 1782,
which even down to late years retained its cognomen of the Birmingham
Old Brewery. In 1817 another company opened a similar extensive
establishment at St. Peter's Place, in Broad Street, and since
then a number of enterprising individuals have at times started in the
same track, but most have come grief, even in the case of those whose
capital was not classed under the modern term "limited." The
principal local breweries now in existence are those of Messrs.
Holder, Mitchell, and Bates, in addition to the well-known Crosswells
Brewery of Messrs Walter Showell and Sons, noted in next paragraph.
The principal Vinegar Brewery in Birmingham is that of Messrs. Fardon
and Co. (Limited), in Glover Street, which was formed in 1860, and is
well worthy of the stranger's visit. The annual output is about
850,000 gallons, there being storage for nearly a million gallons, and
36,000 casks to send the vinegar out in.
Brewery at Crosswells.—Though by far the most extensive
brewery supplying Birmingham, the Crosswells cannot claim to be more
than in the infancy of its establishment at present, as only twelve
years ago the many acres of ground now covered by its buildings formed
but part of an unenclosed piece of waste land. Nevertheless, the spot
was well-known and often visited in ancient times, on account of the
wonderful and miraculous cures said to have been effected by the free
use of the water gushing up from the depths of the springs to be found
there, and which the monks of old had christened "The Wells of
the Cross." Be its medicinal qualities what they might in the
days before Harry the Eighth was king, the Cross Wells water retained
its name and fame for centuries after the monks were banished and the
burly king who drove them out had himself turned to dust. It has
always been acknowledged as one of the purest waters to be found in
the kingdom; but its peculiar and special adaptability to the brewing
of "good old English cheer" was left to be discovered by the
founder of the firm of Messrs. Walter Showell and Sons, who, as stated
before, some twelve years back, erected the nucleus of the present
extensive brewery. Starting with the sale of only a few hundred
barrels per week, the call for their ales soon forced the proprietors
to extend their premises in order that supply should meet demand. At
first doubled, then quadrupled, the brewery is now at least ten times
its original size; and a slight notion of the business carried on may
be gathered from the fact that the firm's stock of barrels tots up
to nearly 60,000 and is being continually increased, extensive
cooperages, blacksmiths' shops, &c., being attached to the
brewery, as well as malthouses, offices, and storehouses of all kinds.
The head offices of the firm, which are connected by telephone with
the brewery, as well as with the stores at Kingston Buildings,
Crescent Wharf, are situated in Great Charles Street, and thus the
Crosswells Brewery (though really at Langley Green, some half-dozen
miles away as the crow flies) becomes entitled to rank as a Birmingham
establishment, and certainly not one of the least, inasmuch as the
weekly sale of Crosswells ales for this town alone is more than 80,000
gallons per week.
Brickkiln Lane, now called the Horse Fair, gives its own
derivation.
Bright.—The Right Hon. John Bright, though not a
Birmingham man, nor connected with the town by any ties of personal
interest or business, has for the last quarter-century been the
leading member returned to Parliament as representing the borough, and
must always rank foremost among our men of note. Mr. Bright is the son
of the late Jacob Bright, of Greenbank, near Rochdale, and was born
November 16, 1811. He and his brother, Mr. Jacob Bright, M.P. for
Manchester, began business as partners in the affiliated firms of John
Bright and Brothers, cotton spinners and manufacturers, Rochdale, and
Bright and Co., carpet manufacturers, Rochdale and Manchester. At an
early age Mr. Bright showed a keen interest in politics, and took part
in the Reform agitation of 1831-32. In those days every householder
was compelled by law to pay the Church-rates levied in his parish,
whatever his religious creed might be, and it is said that Mr.
Bright's first flights of oratory were delivered from a tombstone
in Rochdale church-yard in indignant denunciation of a tax which to
him, as a member of the Society of Friends, appeared especially
odious. It was not, however, till 1839, when he joined the Anti-Corn
Law League, that Mr. Bright's reputation spread beyond his own
immediate neighbourhood; and there can be no doubt but that his fervid
addresses, coupled with the calmer and more logical speeches of Mr.
Cobden, contributed in an appreciable degree to the success of the
movement. In July, 1843, he was returned as M.P. for the city of
Durham, which he represented until the general election of 1847, when
he was the chosen of Manchester. For ten years he was Manchester's
man in everything, but the side he took in regard to the Russian war
was so much at variance with the popular opinions of his constituents
that they at last turned on him, burnt his effigy in the streets, and
threw him out at the general election in March, 1857. At the death of
Mr. G.F. Muntz, in July following, Mr. Bright was almost unanimously
selected to fill his place as M.P. for this town, and for 25 years he
has continued to honour Birmingham by permitting us to call him
our member. (See "Parliamentary Elections.") Mr. Bright has been
twice married, but is now a widower, and he has twice held office in
the Cabinet, first as President of the Board Of Trade, and more lately
as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Bristol Road.—Trees were first planted in this road in
the spring of 1853.
Britannia Metal.—A mixed metal formed of 90 parts of tin,
2 copper, and 8 antimony, brought into use about 1790, and long a
favourite with manufacturers and public alike. The introduction of
electroplating did much towards its extended make at first, but
latterly it has been in great measure, replaced by German silver and
other alloys.
British Association for the Advancement, of Science first met
in this town Aug. 26, 1839. They were here again Oct. 12, 1857, and
Sep. 6, 1865.
Brittle Street formerly ran from Livery Street to Snow Hill,
about the spot where now the entrance gates to the Station are.
Broad Street.—150 years ago part of what is now known as
Dale End was called Broad Street, the present thoroughfare of that
name then being only a pathway through the fields.
Brunswick Buildings.—Erected in New Street, by Mr. Samuel
Haines in 1854. A funny tale has been told about the original lease,
which included a covenant that at the expiration of the term of 100
years for which it was granted, the land was to be delivered up to the
Grammar School "well cropped with potatoes." In 1760 New
Street was a new street indeed, for there were but a few
cottages with gardens there then, and the potatoe proviso was no doubt
thought a capital provision; but fancy growing that choice edibie
there in 1860!
Buck.—Henry Buck, P.G.M., and Sec. of the Birmingham
district of the Manchester Order of Oddfellows for twenty-five years,
died Jan. 22, 1876, aged 63. A granite obelisk to his memory in St.
Philip's churchyard was unveiled Sep. 17, 1877.
Building Societies took early root here, as we find there were
several in 1781.—See "Friendly Societies."
Buckles were worn as shoe fasteners in the reign of Charles
II.—See "Trades."
Buttons.—Some interesting notes respecting the
manufacture of buttons will be found under the head of
"Trades."
Bulgarian Atrocities, 1876-7.—A considerable amount of
"political capital" was made out of these occurrences, but
only £1,400 was subscribed here for the relief of the
unfortunates; while merely £540 could be raised towards helping
the thousands of poor Bosnian refugees driven from their homes by the
Russians in 1878, and of this sum £200 was given by one person.
Bullbaiting was prohibited in 1773 by Order in Council, and an
Act was passed in 1835, to put a stop to all baiting of bulls,
badgers, and bears. At Chapel Wake, 1798, some law-defying reprobates
started a bullbaiting on Snow Hill, but the Loyal Association of
Volunteers turned out, and with drums beating and colours flying soon
put the rebels to flight, pursuing them as far as Birmingham Heath,
where the baiters got a beating, the Loyals returning home in triumph
with the bull as a trophy. The last time this "sport" was
indulged in in this neighbourhood appears to have been early in
October, 1838, at Gib Heath, better known now as Nineveh Road.
Bull Lane was the name once given to that part of the present
Colmore Row between Livery Street and Snow Hill, though it has been
better known as Monmouth Street.
Bull Street.—Once called Chapel Street, as leading to the
chapel of the ancient Priory; afterwards named from the old inn known
as the Red Bull (No. 83).
Burial Grounds.—See "Cemeteries."
Burns.—Excisemen, when Robert Burns was one of them, were
wont to carry pistols, and those the poet had were given him by one of
our gunmakers, Mr. Blair. They were afterwards bought by Allan
Cunningham, who gave them back to Burns' widow.—Birmingham
lent its rill to the great river of homage to the genius of Burns
which flowed through the length and breadth of the civilised world on
the occasion of the Burns' centenary in January, 1859. The most
interesting of the three or four meetings held here was one of a
semi-private nature, which took place at Aston Hall, and which
originated, not with Scotchmen, but with Englishmen. Some forty-five
or fifty gentlemen, only some half-dozen of whom were Scotch, sat down
to an excellent supper in the fine old room in which the Queen lunched
the previous year. The chairman was Mr. Samuel Timmins, and the
vice-chairman was Mr. Ross.
