Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham by Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell

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~Volunteers in the Olden Time.~--A meeting was held October 5, 1745, for
the raising of a regiment of volunteers to oppose the Scotch rebels, but
history does not chronicle any daring exploits by this regiment. Playing
at soldiers would seem to have been formerly a more popular (or shall we
say patriotic) amusement than of late years; for it is recorded that a
local corps was organised in August, 1782, but we suppose it was
disbanded soon after, as in 1797, when the threatening times of
revolution alarmed our peaceful sires, there were formed in Birmingham
two companies, one of horse and one of foot, each 500 strong, under the
commands of Capt. Pearson and Lord Brooke. They were called the
Birmingham Loyal Association of Volunteers, and held their first parade
in Coleshill Street, August 15, 1797. On the 4th of June following a
grand review was held on Birmingham Heath (then unenclosed) to the
delight of the local belles, who knew not which the most to admire, the
scarlet horse or the blue foot. Over 100,000 spectators were said to
have been present, and, strangest thing of all, the Volunteers were
armed with muskets brought from Prussia. The corps had the honour of
escorting Lord Nelson when, with Lady Hamilton, he visited the town in
1802. At a review on August 2, 1804, the regiment were presented with
its colours, and for years the "Loyals" were the most popular men of the
period. Our neighbours do not seem to have been more backward than the
locals, though why it was necessary that the services of the Handsworth
Volunteer Cavalry should be required to charge and put to flight the
rioters in Snow Hill (May 29, 1810) is not very clear.--See also "_Train
Bands_."

~Volunteers of the Present Day.~--The first official enrolment of
Volunteers of the present corps, was dated Nov. 25, 1859, though a list
of names was on paper some three months earlier. Unlike sundry other
movements which are now of a national character, that for the formation
of a volunteer army was so far from having a local origin, that for a
long time it was viewed with anything but favour in Birmingham; and,
though it is not pleasant to record the fact, it was not until the
little parish of Handsworth had raised its corps of the First
Staffordshire, that the Brums really stepped into the ranks. Properly
the natal day should be reckoned as the 14th of December, 1859, when a
town's meeting was held "for the purpose of adopting such measures as
might seem desirable for placing Birmingham in its proper position with
regard to the great national rifle movement." The Hon. Charles Granvllle
Scott had been previously selected by Lord Leigh (the Lord-Lieutenant of
the County) as Colonel, Major Sanders had accepted the Captaincy, Mr.
J.O. Mason been appointed Lieutenant, and 111 names entered on the roll
of members of the 1st Company, but it was not till the above-named day
that the movement really made progress, the Mayor (Mr. Thos. Lloyd), Sir
John Ratcliff, Mr. A. Dixon, and Mr. J. Lloyd each then promising to
equip his twenty men apiece, and sundry other gentlemen aiding to dress
up others of the rank and file. The money thus being found the men were
soon forthcoming too, the end of the year showing 320 names on the roll
call, a number increased to 1,080 by the close of 1860. The latter year
saw the first parade in Calthorpe Park, the opening of the range at
Bournebrook, and the formation of the twelve companies forming the first
battalion, but, notwithstanding many liberal donations (the gunmakers
giving L850), and the proceeds of the first annual ball, it closed with
the corps being in debt over L1,000. On the formation of the 2nd county
battalion, Col. Scott took command thereof, Major Sanders being
promoted. He was followed by Lieut.-Col. Mason, on whose resignation, in
February, 1867, Major Ratcliff succeeded, the battalion being then 1,161
strong. Col. Ratcliff retired in June, 1871, and was replaced by
Major-General Hinde, C.B., who held command until his death, March 1,
1881. Major Gem who temporarily acted as commander, also died the
following Nov. 4, Major Burt filling the post till the appointment of
Col. W. Swynfen Jervis. The first adjutant (appointed in 1860) was
Captain McInnis, who retired in 1870, having received bodily injuries
through being thrown from his horse; he was succeeded by the present
Adjutant-Colonel Tarte. The first uniform of the corps was a grey tunic
with green facings, and a peaked cap with cock's feathers; in 1863 this
was changed for a green uniform with red facings, similar to that worn
by the 60th Rifles, with the exception of a broad red stripe on the
trousers. The trouser stripe was done away with in 1875, when also the
cap and feathers gave place to the busby and glengarry, the latter in
1884 being exchanged for the regulation army helmet, and soon perhaps
our boys will all be seen in scarlet like their brothers of the
Staffordshire battalions. At no date since its enrolment has the
battalion been free from debt, and it now owes about L1,300, a state of
affairs hardly creditable to the town which sends out yearly, some
half-million firearms from its manufactories. The annual balls did not
become popular, the last taking place in 1864; bazaars were held October
14-17, 1863, and October 24-27, 1876; athletic displays have been given
(the first in May, 1865), and the cap has been sent round more than
once, but the debt--it still remains. At the Volunteer Review, July 24,
1861, before the Duke of Cambridge; at the Hyde Park Review, June, 1865,
before the Prince of Wales; at the Midland Counties' Review at Derby,
June, 1867; at the Royal Review at Windsor in 1868; and at every
inspection since, the Birmingham corps has merited and received the
highest praise for general smartness and efficiency; it is one of the
crack corps of the kingdom, and at the present time (end of 1884) has
not one inefficient member out of its 1,200 rank and file, but yet the
town is not Liberal enough to support it properly. The first march-out
of 720 to Sutton took place June 21, 1875, others joining at the camp,
making over 800 being under canvas, 744 attending the review. The
camping-out at Streetly Wood has annually recurred since that date; the
first sham fight took place June 20, 1877. The "coming-of-age" was
celebrated by a dinner at the Midland Hotel, January 29, 1881, up to
which time the Government grants had amounted to L26,568 14s., the local
subscriptions to L8,780, and the donations to L1,956 1s. 3d. The
Birmingham Rifle Corps is now known as the First Volunteer Battalion of
the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, having been linked to the "Saucy
Sixth," under the army scheme of 1873.--See "_Public Buildings_--_Drill
Hall_."

~Von Beck.~--The Baroness Von Beck was a lady intimately connected with
the chiefs of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, and appears to have been
employed by them in various patriotic services. In 1851 she visited
Birmingham and was a welcome guest until "someone blundered" and charged
her with being an impostor. On the evening of August 29, she and her
copatriot, Constant Derra de Moroda, were arrested at the house of Mr.
Tyndall and locked up on suspicion of fraud. Her sudden death in the
police-court next morning put a stop to the case; but an action
resulted, in which George Dawson and some friends were cast for heavy
damages as a salve for the injured honour of M. de Moroda.

~Wages and Work.~--In 1272 the wages of a labouring man was just 1-1/2
d. per day. In Henry VIII.'s reign labourers' wages averaged 4d. per
day; skilled workmen 5-1/2d. per day. The penny at that time was equal
to a shilling of the present day, and would, relatively, purchase as
much. In 1682, the Justices of the Peace assembled in Quarter Sessions
at Warwick fixed the rates of wages to be paid to the several classes of
artificers, labourers, and others, as enjoined by a statue of Elizabeth.
From their order then made, we find that a master carpenter, his
servants, and journeymen, were to receive 1s each per day; a master
bricklayer, a mason, a cartwright, a thatcher, a tyler, a mower, and a
reaper also 1s. per day, other workmen and labourers averaging from 4d.
to 8d. per day, but none of them to receive more than half these rates
if their meat and drink was found them. The hours of work to be from
five in the morning till half-past seven at night. Any person refusing
to work upon these terms was to be imprisoned, and anyone paying more to
forfeit L5 in addition to ten days' imprisonment, the unfortunate
individual receiving such extra wages to suffer in like manner for
twenty-one days. In 1777, there was a row among the tailors, which led
to what may be called the first local strike. The unfortunate "knights
of the thimble" only got 12s. to 14s. per week.

~Warstone Lane~ takes its name from the Hoarstone, supposed to have been
an ancient boundary mark, which formerly stood at the corner of the lane
and Icknield Street, and which is now preserved within the gateway
entrance to the Church of England cemetery. Hutton says that in 1400
there was a castle, with a moat round it, in Warstone Lane. The lane has
also been called Deadman's Lane, and considering the proximity of the
cemetery that name might even now be applicable.

~Warwick House~, as it now stands was began in 1839 or 1840; formerly it
was composted of two cottages, one with a bit of garden ground in front,
which underwent the usual transformation scene of being first covered in
then built upon.

~Warwickshire~, the county in which Birmingham is situated, has a total
area of 566,458 acres, of which 283,946 acres are permanent pasture
lands, and 210,944 acres under crops or arable land. In 1882 the live
stock in the country, as returned by the occupiers of land, included
29,508 horses, 5,503 being kept solely for breeding; 93,334 cattle;
218,355 sheep; and 41,832 pigs.

~Warwick Castle~ is open to visitors every day, except Sunday; when the
family are absent from home, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., but if they are at
home, from 9 to 10 a.m. only.

~Warwick Vase.~--The bronze copy in Aston Hall was cast by Sir Richard
Thomason.

~Warwickshire Regiment.~--The 6th Foot recruited in this county in 1778
so successfully that it was called "The Warwickshire," Birmingham
supplying the largest proportion of the men, and raising by public
subscription L2,000 towards their equipment. Under Lord Cardwell's army
localisation plan of 1873, the regiment is now called the 1st Royal
Warwickshire, and, with the Warwickshire Militia and Volunteers, forms
the 28th Brigade.

~Watch House.~--On the right hand side of Crooked Lane from High Street,
may still be seen the old Watch House, where, fifty years ago, the
"Charleys," or night watchmen, took any drunken or disorderly
characters, or night prowlers, they happened to meet with, or whom they
dare tackle.

~Waterloo Veterans.~--John McKay was born in November, 1792, and entered
the army as a drummerboy in 1803; he died here in July, 1879. He served
41 years, and was for the last 25 years of his life office keeper of the
Royal Engineers' Office in this town. Another "Waterloo man," George
Taylor, died here, November 6, 1880, aged 98.

~Water Pipes.~--In 1810 Mr. Murdoch started a Company for manufacturing
stone pipes for water-works, and they made a large quantity, which were
laid down in London and Manchester, but they had to come up again, as
the pipes split--and the Company burst.

~Waterspouts and Whirlwinds~ are not of common occurrence hereabouts.
One of the former burst over the Lickey Hills, April 13, 1792, the
resulting flood reaching to Bromsgrove. A whirlwind at Coleshill, April
4, 1877, played havoc with some hay-ricks, hedges, trees, &c.

~Water Street~, formerly Water Lane, had a brook running down one side
of it when houses were first built there.

~Weather Cocks.~--Mention is made of Weather Cocks as early as the ninth
century, and it has been supposed that the Cock was intended as an
emblem of the vigilance of the clergy, who irreverently styled
themselves the Cocks of the Almighty, their duty being, like the cock
which roused Peter, to call the people to repentance, or at any rate to
church. These are the longest-lived birds we know of. The one which had
been perched on the old spire of St. Martin's for a hundred years or
more was brought down July 22, 1853, and may still be seen at Aston
Hall, along with the old bird that tumbled off Aston church October 6,
1877. The last was made of copper in July, 1830, and contained, among
other articles, a copy of Swinney's _Birmingham Chronicle_ of June 29,
1815, with a full account of the Battle of Waterloo.

~Weighing Machines~ were introduced by John Wyatt, in 1761, and the
first was purchased by the Overseers in 1767, so that the profits might
reduce the poor rates. It was situated at the top corner of Snow Hill,
and so much did the Overseers value it, that they gave notice, (Feb.
18th, 1783) of their intention of applying to Parliament for the
monopoly of securing "the benefit of weighing out coals to the town."

~Welsh Cross.~--One of the Old-time Market-houses at the corner of Bull
Street, the bottom portion of the edifice being used by country people
as a butter market. The upper room was for meetings and occasionally
used for the detention of prisoners who came (it has been said) through
the window on to a small platform for the pillory or cat-o'-nine-tails,
according to their sentence.

~West Bromwich~, if we are to credit "Britannia Depicto," published in
1753, was originally West Bromicham, or West Birmingham.

~Wheeley's Lane~, though one of the quietest thoroughfares in Edgbaston,
was formerly used as part of the coach-road to Bristol, those vehicles
passing the Old Church and down Priory Road.

~Windmill.~--The old windmill that used to be on Holloway Head is marked
on the 1752 map, and it has been generally understood that a similar
structure stood there for many generations, but this one was built about
1745. The sails might have been seen in motion forty or forty-five years
ago, and probably corn was then ground there. After the departure of the
miller and his men it was used for a time as a sort of huge summer
house, a camera obscura being placed at the top, from which panoramic
views of the neighbourhood could be taken. It was demolished but a few
years back.

~Woman's Rights.~--A local branch of the Women's Suffrage Association
was formed here in 1868: a Women's Liberal Association was instituted in
October, 1873; a branch of the National Union or Working Women was
organised January 29th, 1875; and a Woman Ratepayers' Protection Society
was established in August, 1881. With ladies on the School Board, lady
Guardians, lady doctors, a special Women's Property Protection Act, &c.,
&c., it can hardly be said that our lady friends are much curtailed of
their liberty. We know there are Ladies' Refreshment Rooms, Ladies'
Restaurants, and Ladies' Associations for Useful Work and a good many
other things, but we doubt if the dear creatures of to-day would ever
dream of having such an institution as Ladies' Card Club, like that of
their Edgbaston predecessors of a century back.

~Women Guardians.~--The introduction of the female element in the choice
of Guardians of the Poor has long been thought desirable, and an
Association for promoting the election of ladies was formed in 1882.
There are now two women Guardians on the Birmingham Board, and one on
the King's Norton Board. Taking lesson of their political brothers, the
members of the Association, experiencing some difficulty in finding
ladies with proper legal qualification to serve on the Board, "purchased
a qualification," and then run their candidate in. The next step will
doubtless be to pay their members, and, as the last year's income of the
Association amounted to L12 4s. 11d., there can be no difficulty there.

~Yeomanry Cavalry.~--The last official report showed the Warwickshire
regiment could muster 213 on parade; while the Staffordshire had 422.

~Y.M.C.A. and Y.W.C.A.~--See "_Philanthropic Institutions_."

~Zoological Association.~--Early in 1873 a provisional committee of
gentlemen undertook the formation of a local society similar to that of
the Regent's Park, of London, proposing to raise a fund of L7,000
towards such an establishment, partly by donations and partly in shape
of entrance fees to Fellowship (fixed at L5). It was believed that with
a fair number of annual 40s. subscriptions and gate money from the
public that such a society might be made successful; several handsome
donations were promised, and a lot of "fellows" put their names down as
good for the fivers, but when, a little time after, Edmunds' (_alias_
Wombwell's) agents were trying to find here a purchaser for their
well-known travelling collections, the piecrust proverb was again proved
to be correct.

~Zoological Gardens.~--Morris Roberts, the ex-prizefighter, opened a
menagerie in the grounds of the Sherbourne Hotel, and called it The
Zoological Gardens, May 4, 1873. The animals were sold in April, 1876,
the place not being sufficiently attractive.

~Obituary.~

The following short list of local people of interest may not be an
unacceptable addition to the many whose names appear in various parts of
the preceding work:--

AITKEN, W.C., the working man's friend, died March 24, 1875, aged 58.

ALBITES, ACHILLE, a respected teacher of French, died June 8, 1872, aged
63.

ARIS, THOMAS, founder of the _Gazette_, died July 4, 1761.

AYLESFORD, LORD, died Jan. 13, 1885, at Big Springs, Texas, aged 35.

BANKS, MORRIS, chemist and druggist, died June 21, 1880, aged 75.

BANKS, William, long connected with the local Press, died March 1, 1870,
aged 50.

BATES, WILLIAM, a literary connoisseur of much talent, died September
24, 1884.

BOULTON, ANN, only daughter of Matthew Boulton, died October 13, 1829.

BROWN, Rev. PHILIP, for 32 years Vicar of St. James's, Edgbaston, died
September 15, 1884.

BIRD, ALFRED, well-known as a manufacturing chemist, died December 15,
1878, aged 67.

BARRETT, Rev. I.C., for 43 years Rector of St. Mary's, died February 26,
1881.

BRACEBRIDGE, CHARLES HOLTE, a descendant of the Holtes of Aston, died
July 12, 1872, aged 73. He left several pictures, &c., to the town.

BRAILSFORD, Rev. Mr., Head-master Grammar School, died November 20,
1775.

BRAY, SOLOMON, formerly Town Clerk, died January 9, 1859.

BREAY, Rev. JOHN GEORGE, seven years Minister of Christ Church, died
December 5, 1839, in his 44th year.

BREEDON, LUKE, over fifty years a minister of the Society of Friends,
died in 1740, aged 81.

BRIGGS, Major, W.B.R.V., died January 24, 1877, aged 45.

BURN, Rev. EDWARD, 52 years Minister at St. Mary's, died May 20, 1837,
aged 77.

CADBURY, B.H., died January 23, 1880, in his 82nd year.

CHAVASSE, PYE.--A surgeon, well known by his works on the medical
treatment of women and children, died September 20, 1879, in his 70th
year.

CHAVASSE, THOS., pupil of Abernethy, and followed his profession in this
town till his 80th year. He died October 19, 1884, aged 84.

CHURCH, BENJ., of the _Gazette_, died July 1, 1874, aged 48.

DAVIS, GEORGE, a local poet, as well as printer, died 1819.

DAWSON, SUSAN FRANCES, relict of George Dawson, died November 9, 1878.

DOBBS, JAMES, a comic song writer and comedian, a great favourite with
his fellow-townspeople, died November 1, 1837, aged 56.

EGINGTON, F., an eminent painter on glass, died March 25, 1805, aged 68.

ELKINGTON, GEORGE RICHARDS, the patentee and founder of the
electro-plate trade, died September 22, 1866 aged 65.

EVERITT, EDWARD, landscape painter, a pupil of David Cox, and a member
of the original Society of Arts, died July 2, 1880, in his 88th year.

FEENEY, J.F., proprietor of _Birmingham Journal_, died May 12, 1869.

FREETH, Miss JANE, last surviving daughter of poet Freeth, died
September 2, 1860, aged 89.

GARBETT, Rev. JOHN, died August 23, 1858, aged 66.

GARNER, THOMAS, a distinguished line engraver, died in July, 1868. His
delineations of the nude figure were of the highest excellence.

GODFREY, ROBT., for nearly fifty years a minister of the Catholic
Apostolic Church, died Jan. 12, 1883, aged 75.

GOUGH, JOHN, an old churchwarden of St. Martin's, died November 30,
1877, aged 63.

HAMMOND, Rev. JOSEPH, Congregational Minister, Handsworth, died March,
30, 1870.

HANMAN, WILLIAM, for twenty-one years Market Superintendent, died Dec.
1, 1877, aged 51.

HILL, M.D., first Borough Recorder, died June 7, 1872, aged 79.

HILL, Rev. Micaiah, director of the Town Mission, founder of the Female
Refuge, and Cabmen's Mission, &c., died September 24, 1884, aged 60.

HODGETTS, WILLIAM, the first printer of the _Birmingham Journal_ (in
1825) and afterwards publisher of _Birmingham Advertiser_, died January
2, 1874, aged 83.

HODGSON, Mr. JOSEPH, for 27 years one of the surgeons at General
Hospital, died February 7, 1869, aged 82.

HOLDER, HENRY, died January 27, 1880, in his 70th year.

HOLLINGS, W., architect, died January 12, 1843, aged 80.

HORTON, ISAAC, pork butcher, died November 15, 1880, aged 59. His
property in this town estimated at L400,000, besides about L100,000
worth in Walsall, West Bromwich, &c.

HUDSON, BENJAMIN, printer, 54 years in one shop, died December 9, 1875,
aged 79.

HUTTON CATHERINE, only daughter of William Hutton died March 31, 1846,
aged 91.

HUTTON, Rev. HUGH, many years minister at Old Meeting, died September
13, 1871, aged 76.

IVERS, the Very Rev. BERNARD, canon of St. Chad's Cathedral, and for
thirty years rector of St. Peter's (Roman Catholic) church, Broad
Street, died June 19, 1880.

JAFFRAY, JAMES, a pleasant writer of local history, died Jan. 7, 1884.

JEUNE, Rev. FRANCIS, Bishop of Peterborough, and once head master of
Free Grammar School, died August 21, 1868, aged 62.

KENNEDY, REV. RANN, of St. Paul's died January 5, 1851, aged 79.

KENTISH, REV. JOHN, for fifty years pastor at the New Meeting, died
March 6, 1853.

KNIGHT, EDWARD, an eminent comic actor, who had long performed at Drury
Lane and the Lyceum, was born in this town in 1774; died Feb. 21, 1826.

LEE, DR. J. PRINCE, the first Bishop of Manchester, and who had been for
many years head master at Free Grammar School, died December 24, 1869.

LLOYD, MR. SAMPSON, banker died December 28, 1807, aged 80.

MACREADY, WM., many years manager at Theatre Royal, died April 11, 1829.

MACKENZIE, Rev. JOHN ROBERTSON, D.D., many years at Scotch Church, Broad
Street, died March 2, 1877, aged 66.

MADDOCKS, CHARLES, a local democrat of 1819, died April 3, 1856, aged
78.

MARSDEN, Rev. J.B., of St. Peter's, died June 16, 1870.

McINNIS, Capt. P., adjutant B.R.V., died February 16, 1880, aged 66
years.

MITCHELL, SIDNEY J., solicitor, accidentally killed at Solihull, March
22, 1882.

MOLE, Major ROBERT, B.R.V., died June 9, 1875, aged 46.

MOORE, JOSEPH, "founder of the Birmingham Musical Festival," died April
19, 1851.

MOTTERAM, J., eight years County Court Judge, died Sept. 19, 1884, aged
67.

NETTLEFORD, JOSEPH HENRY, died November 22, 1881, aged 54. He left a
valuable collection of pictures to the Art Gallery.

NOTT, Dr. JOHN, born in 1751, studied surgery in Birmingham, but was
better known as an elegant poet and Oriental scholar, died in 1826.

OLDKNOW, REV. JOSEPH, Vicar of Holy Trinity, died September 3, 1874,
aged 66.

OSLER, THOS. CLARKSON, died Nov. 5, 1876, leaving personal estate value
L140,000. He bequeathed L1,000 to the hospitals, and L3,000 to the Art
Gallery.

PAGE, REV. RICHARD, first Vicar of St. Asaph's, died March 9, 1879, aged
41.

PEMBERTON, CHARLES REECE, long connected with Mechanics' Institute, died
March 3, 1840, aged 50.

PENN, BENJAMIN, died November 13, 1789. He was one of the old "newsmen"
who, for twenty years, delivered the _Gazette_ to its readers, and
though he travelled nearly 100 miles a week, never suffered from
illness.

PETTIT, REV. G., Vicar of St. Jude's, died January 19, 1873, aged 64.

PYE, JOHN, a celebrated landscape engraver, died February 6, 1874, aged
91.

RATCLIFF, Lady JANE, widow of Sir John, died Sept. 12, 1874, aged 72.

REDFERN, WILLIAM, the first Town Clerk, died April 23, 1872, aged 70.

REECE, W.H., solicitor, died in May, 1873, aged 63. He rebuilt St.
Tudno's Church, on the Ormeshead, and did much to popularise Llandudno.

RICHARDS, Mr. WM. WESTLEY, the world-known filmmaker, died Sept. 14,
1875, aged 76.

ROBINS, EBENEZER, auctioneer, died July 1, 1871.

ROTTON, H., died December 13, aged 67.

SALT, T.C., a prominent member of the Political Union, died April 27,
1859, aged 70.

SAXTON, Rev. LOT, a Methodist New Connexion Minister of this town, died
suddenly, September, 1880, in his 72nd year.

SCHOLEFIELD, JOSHUA, M.P., died July 4, 1814, aged 70.

SCHOLEFIELD, Rev. RADCLIFFE, for 30 years pastor of Old Meeting, died
June 27, 1803, aged 70.

SMITH, JOHN, attorney, died September 23, 1867.

SMITH, TOULMIN, died April 30, 1869.

SPOONER, Rev. ISAAC, for 36 years Vicar of Edgbaston, died July 26,
1884, aged 76.