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diff --git a/11416-h/11416-h.htm b/11416-h/11416-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..720a33f --- /dev/null +++ b/11416-h/11416-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6239 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= + "text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of A Description of Modern Birmingham, by Charles Pye. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + <!-- + * { font-family: bookman;} + P { text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em;} + BODY{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%;} + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .note {margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} /* block indent */ + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; right: 100%; font-size: 8pt; justify: right;} /* page numbers */ + // --> + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's A Description of Modern Birmingham, by Charles Pye + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Description of Modern Birmingham + Whereunto Are Annexed Observations Made during an Excursion Round the Town, in the Summer of 1818, Including Warwick and Leamington + +Author: Charles Pye + +Release Date: March 3, 2004 [EBook #11416] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A DESCRIPTION OF MODERN BIRMINGHAM *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Bradley Norton and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1>A DESCRIPTION</h1> +<h1>Of</h1> +<h1>MODERN</h1> +<h1>BIRMINGHAM</h1> +<h3>Whereunto Are Annexed,</h3> +<h1>Observations</h1> +<h3>Made during an Excursion round the Town</h3> + +<h3>IN THE SUMMER OF 1818,</h3> +<h4>INCLUDING</h4> + +<h3>Warwick and Leamington</h3> +<hr style="width: 45%;"> +<h3>BY CHARLES PYE</h3> + +<h3>WHO COMPILED A DICTIONARY OF ANCIENT GEOGRAPHY</h3> + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> + +<p><i>Anti-Jacobin, May, 1804.</i></p> +<p>PYE'S DICTIONARY OF ANCIENT GEOGRAPHY.</p> + +<p>The author's avowed object, is to arrange the ancient and modern names, +in a clear and methodical manner, so as to give a ready reference to +each; and in addition to this arrangement of ancient appellations both +of people and places, with the modern names, he has given a concise +chronological history of the principal places; by which the book also +serves in many cases as a gazetteer. We find upon the whole a clear and +practical arrangement of articles which are dispersed in more voluminous +works. Mr. Pye has condensed within a narrow space the substance of +Cellarius, Lempriere, Macbean, etc. In short the work will be found very +useful and convenient to all persons reading the classics or studying +modern geography, and to all readers of history, sacred or profane.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>British Critic, June, 1804.</i></p> + +<p>PYE'S DICTIONARY OF ANCIENT GEOGRAPHY.</p> + +<p>This may be recommended as a very convenient, useful, and relatively +cheap publication of the kind, and may very properly be recommended for +schools. The author very modestly desires that such errors and omissions +as will unavoidably appear in an attempt of this nature may be pointed +out to him, for the benefit of a future edition.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Monthly Review, October, 1805.</i></p> + +<p>We prefer the old mode of having separate divisions; the one including +ancient and the other modern geography, to that of uniting both under +the same alphabetical arrangement. When the title of this work is +considered, it is somewhat incongruous that the account of places should +be inserted under the modern names, and a mere reference under that of +the ancient. These accounts appear to be in general correct, but they +are in our judgment too brief to be satisfactory. As the above writer +says he prefers two alphabets to one; the editor hereby sets him at +defiance to produce two books in any language (however large they are,) +from whence the student or traveller can collect such information as is +contained in this small volume, price 7s.</p> + +<p>Mr. Pye also published a correct and complete representation of all the +provincial copper coins, tokens of trade, and cards of address, on +copper, that were circulated as such between the years 1787 and 1801; +when they were entirely superseded by a national copper coinage. The +whole on fifty-five quarto plates, price 20s. being a necessary +appendage to every library; there being a very copious index.</p> + +<p>TO Wm. Damper, Esq.</p> + +<p><i>One of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace</i></p> + +<p>FOR THE</p> + +<p>COUNTIES OF WARWICK AND WORCESTER.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>SIR</i>,</p> + +<p><i>As you occasionally amuse yourself with topographical pursuits, deign +to accept of the following pages, from</i></p> + +<p><i>Your most obedient,</i></p> + +<p><i>Humble Servant</i>,</p> + +<p>CHARLES PYE.</p> + +<p><i>ADVERTISEMENT</i>.</p> + +<p>Whoever may take the trouble of looking into the following pages, will +soon perceive that in some instances the editor has been very brief in +his description of the public institutions; to which he pleads guilty, +and accounts for it by observing, that the undermentioned card<a name="FNanchor1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1"><sup>[1]</sup></a> was +written and delivered by him personally, to every public institution, at +the respective places where the business is transacted, and when he +called again, after a lapse of two months, there were several instances +where all information was withheld.<a name="FNanchor2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2"><sup>[2]</sup></a> Having, as he thought, proceeded +in the most genteel way, by soliciting assistance in a private manner, +he feels doubly disappointed in not being able to give the public such +information as might reasonably be expected in a publication of this +kind.—Had his endeavors been seconded by those who are to a certain +degree interested in the event, there are several points that would have +been explained more at large; but being deprived of such assistance, he +ventures to appear before the tribunal of the public, and to give them +the best information that he has been able to obtain. Any person who +discovers errors or omissions, that will take the trouble of rectifying +them, and conveying the same through the medium of the publisher, will +confer an inestimable favour on</p> + +<p>Their obedient servant,</p> + +<p><i>CHARLES PYE</i>.</p> + +<a name="Footnote_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor1">[1]</a><div class=note>—are respectfully informed, that it is in contemplation to +publish a Description of Modern Birmingham, and the adjacent country for +some miles around it; therefore any information they may think proper to +communicate will be strictly attended to by Their obedient servant, +CHARLES PYE.</div><br> + +<a name="Footnote_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor2">[2]</a><div class=note> The Birmingham Fire Office, the three Canals, etc.</div><br> + +<p>LINES</p> + +<p><i>Written by the late John Morfitt, Esq. Barrister.</i></p> + +Illustrious offspring of vulcanic toil!<br> +Pride of the country! glory of the isle!<br> +Europe's grand toy-shop! art's exhaustless mine!<br> +These, and more titles, Birmingham, are thine.<br> +From jealous fears, from charter'd fetters free,<br> +Desponding genius finds a friend in thee:<br> +Thy soul, as lib'ral as the breath of spring,<br> +Cheers his faint heart, and plumes his flagging wing.<br> +<br> +'Tis thine, with plastic hand, to mould the mass,<br> +Of ductile silver, and resplendant brass;<br> +'Tis thine, with sooty finger to produce<br> +Unnumber'd forms, for ornament and use.<br> +<br> +Hark! what a sound!--art's pond'rous fabric reels,<br> +Beneath machinery's ten thousand wheels;<br> +Loud falls the stamp, the whirling lathes resound,<br> +And engines heave, while hammers clatter round:<br> +What labour forges, patient art refines,<br> +Till bright as dazz'ling day metallic beauty shines.<br> +<br> +Thy swords, elastic, arm our hero's hands;<br> +Thy musquets thunder in remotest lands;<br> +Thy sparkling buttons distant courts emblaze;<br> +Thy polish'd steel emits the diamond's rays;<br> +Paper, beneath thy magic hand assumes<br> +A mirror brightness, and with beauty blooms.<br> +With each Etruscan grace thy vases shine,<br> +And proud Japan's fam'd varnish yields to thine.<br> +<br> +Thine, too, the trinkets, that the fair adorn,<br> +But who can count the spangles of the morn?<br> +What pencil can pourtray this splendid mart.<br> +This vast, stupendous wilderness of art?<br> +Where fancy sports, in all her rainbow hues,<br> +And beauty's radiant forms perplex the muse.<br> +The boundless theme transcends poetic lays,—<br> +Let plain historic truth record thy praise.<br> + +<p><i>The Roads pointed out</i></p> + +<p>TO PLACES DISTANT FROM BIRMINGHAM.</p> + +<p><font face="Courier"> Miles Folio<br> + Alcester .. 21 186<br> + Atherstone .. 20 178<br> + Banbury .. 42 134<br> + Barr-beacon .. 7 188<br> + Barr-park .. 5 122<br> + Bath .. 87 176<br> + Bilstone .. 11 101<br> + Blenheim .. 52 133<br> + Bristol .. 84 176<br> + Bromsgrove .. 13 176<br> + Buxton .. 61 163<br> + Cheltenham .. 51 176<br> + Chester .. 75 101<br> + Coalbrook Dale .. 30 101<br> + Coleshill .. 10 180<br> + Coventry .. 18 161<br> + Derby .. 40 163<br> + Dublin .. 218 101<br> + Dudley, thro' Oldbury .. 9 130<br> + Dudley, thro' Tipton .. 10 125<br> + Dunchurch .. 29 161<br> + Edgbaston .. 1 190<br> + Edinburgh .. 298 113 and 163<br> + Evesham .. 31 186<br> + Glocester .. 52 176<br> + Hagley .. 12 169<br> + Halesowen .. 7 169<br> + Handsworth .. 2-1/2 106<br> + Harborne .. 3 182<br> + Henley-in-Arden .. 14 133<br> + Hockley House .. 10 133<br> + Holyhead .. 158 101<br> + Kidderminster .. 18 169<br> + King's Norton .. 6 186<br> + Knowle .. 10 134<br> + Leamington .. 22 133 and 134<br> + Leeds .. 109 113 and 163<br> + Leicester .. 43 180<br> + Lichfield .. 16 163<br> + Liverpool .. 104 113 and 163<br> + London, thro' Coventry .. 109 161<br> + ----, Henley-on-Thames .. 118 133<br> + ----, Uxbridge .. 114 133<br> + ----, Warwick and Banbury .. 119 134<br> + Malvern .. 32 176<br> + Manchester .. 82 113 and 163<br> + Matlock .. 55 163<br> + Meriden .. 12 161<br> + Northampton .. 42 161<br> + Northfield .. 6 176<br> + Nottingham .. 50 163<br> + Oxford .. 61 133<br> + Rowley .. 7 193<br> + Rugby .. 31 161<br> + Sedgley .. 14 110<br> + Sheffield .. 76 163<br> + Shenstone .. 13 163<br> + Shrewsbury .. 45 101<br> + Smethwick .. 2 130<br> + Solihull .. 7 135<br> + Stafford, thro' Walsall .. 26 113<br> + ----, Wolverhamp. .. 30 101<br> + Stourbridge .. 12 130 and 169<br> + Stratford-upon-Avon .. 22 133<br> + Sutton Coldfield .. 8 163<br> + Tamworth .. 16 163<br> + Tipton .. 8 125<br> + Walsall .. 9 113<br> + Warwick, by Knowle .. 20 134<br> + ----, by Hockley House .. 20 133<br> + Wednesbury .. 8 110<br> + West-Bromwich .. 6 108<br> + Wolverhampton .. 14 101<br> + Worcester .. 26 176<br> + Yardley .. 3 192<br> + York .. 132 113 and 163<br> + +</font></p> + +<p>INDEX.</p> + +Air,<br> +Assay office,<br> +Assembly rooms, <br> +Asylum for children, <br> +---- for deaf and dumb, <br> +Ball rooms, <br> +Baptist's meeting, <br> +Barracks,<br> +Baths,<br> +Beardsworth's repository<br> +Birmingham canal, <br> +---- fire office,<br> +---- metal comp.,<br> +Births and burials,<br> +Blue coat school,<br> +Bodily deformity, <br> +Brass, <br> +---- works,<br> +Breweries,<br> +Brickwork, neat,<br> +Burial ground,<br> +Butchers,<br> +Calvinist's meeting,<br> +Canal, Birmingham,<br> +----, Warwick,<br> +----, Worcester,<br> +Carriers by water,<br> +Catholic chapel,<br> +Chamber of commerce,<br> +Chapel, St. Bartholomew,<br> +---- St. James's, <br> +---- St. John's, <br> +---- St. Mary's, <br> +---- St. Paul's,<br> +Charities, private, <br> +Church, Christ, <br> +---- St. Martin's,<br> +---- St. Philip's,<br> +Clubs,<br> +Coaches,<br> +Coaches, stage, <br> +Copper,<br> +Corn mill,<br> +Court leet,<br> +---- of requests,<br> +Crescent,<br> +Crown copper company,<br> +Crowley's trust,<br> +Deaf and dumb,<br> +Deritend house,<br> +Dispensary,<br> +Dissenter's school,<br> +Duddestonhall,<br> +Factoring, origin of,<br> +Fairs,<br> +Fentham's trust,<br> +Fire office,<br> +Fish shops,<br> +Free grammar school,<br> +General hospital,<br> +---- provident society,<br> +Glass houses,<br> +Gold and silver,<br> +Gun trade, account of,<br> +Hackney coach fares,<br> +Hen and chicken's inn,<br> +Hides, raw,<br> +Hospital,<br> +Hotel, hen and chicken's,<br> +----, Nelson's,<br> +----, royal,<br> +----, swan,<br> +Houses,<br> +Humane society,<br> +Huntingdon's meeting,<br> +Jew's synagogue,<br> +Ikenield street,<br> +Improvements in the town,<br> +Inland commercial society,<br> +Innovation of the post office,<br> +Interesting information<br> +John-a-Dean's hole<br> +Lady well<br> +Lancasterian school<br> +Lench's trust<br> +Liberality of the town<br> +Library, new<br> +----, public<br> +----, theological<br> +Magistrates<br> +Manufactories<br> +Markets<br> +Metal company <br> +Methodist meeting <br> +Mining and copper comp. <br> +Miscellaneous information <br> +Musical festival <br> +National school <br> +Neat brick work <br> +Nelson's statue <br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">---- tavern </span><br> +New library <br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">---- meeting </span><br> +Newspapers <br> +New union mill <br> +Old meeting <br> +Origin of factoring <br> +Panorama <br> +Parsonage house <br> +Philosophical society <br> +Piddock's trust <br> +Places of worship <br> +Population <br> +Post office <br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">---- innovation </span><br> +Principal manufactories <br> +Prison <br> +Private charities <br> +Proof house <br> +Protection of trade <br> +Provident society <br> +Public breweries <br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">---- library </span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">---- office </span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">---- scales </span><br> +Quaker's meeting <br> +Raw hides <br> +Remarkable circumstance <br> +Roman road <br> +Rose copper company <br> +Royal hotel <br> +Scales, public <br> +Schools <br> +Situation <br> +Smithfield <br> +Square <br> +Stage coaches <br> +Statue of Lord Nelson <br> +Steam engines improved <br> +Steel house <br> +Sunday schools <br> +Swan hotel <br> +Swedenburgians <br> +Theatre <br> +Theological library <br> +Town improved <br> +Trade protected <br> +Trust, Crowley's <br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">---- Fentham's </span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">---- Jackson's </span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">---- Lench's </span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">---- Piddock's </span><br> +Vase, a remarkable one <br> +Vauxhall <br> +Union mill <br> +Warwick canal <br> +Water <br> +Worcester canal <br> +Workhouse <br> +Worship, places of <br> + +<p>MODERN</p> + +<p>BIRMINGHAM,</p> + +<p>EMPHATICALLY TERMED</p> + +<p><i>THE TOY-SHOP OF EUROPE.</i></p> + +<p>This extensive town, which, from its manufactures, is of so much +importance to the nation, is distinguished in the commercial annals of +Britain, for a spirit of enterprize and persevering industry. Its +inhabitants are ever on the alert, and continually inventing some new +articles for traffic, or making improvements in others, that have been +introduced in foreign countries; and by their superior skill, aided by +machinery, are enabled to bring into the foreign market an endless +variety of manufactured goods, both useful and ornamental, which they +sell at a more moderate price than any other manufacturers of similar +articles in the known world.</p> + +<p>Comparisons are odious, and therefore to be avoided. That the +inhabitants are become wealthy, there is indisputable evidence, but to +whom they are indebted for their opulence, different opinions prevail.</p> + +<p>The writer of these pages was born in the year 1749, and having been an +attentive observer more than fifty years, he is convinced that the +extensive trade now carried on in this town, is principally to be +attributed to the enterprising spirit of the late Matthew Boulton, Esq. +who, by his active and unremitting exertions, the indefatigable +perseverance of himself and his agents, together with the liberal manner +in which he patronized genius, laid the foundation.</p> + +<p>This town is situated near the centre of the kingdom, in the north west +extremity of the county of Warwick, and so near the verge of it, that +within the distance of one mile and a half from the centre, on the road +to Wolverhampton, a person removes himself into Staffordshire, and on +the road to Alcester, about the same distance from the centre, you are +in the county of Worcester.</p> + +<p>The superficial contents of the parish is two thousand, eight hundred, +and sixty-four acres.</p> + +<p>The situation of the town is very uneven in its surface, but not in any +part flat; on which account the rains and superfluous water, remove all +obstructions, and contributes in a considerable degree to the salubrity +of the air.</p> + +<p>From the remarkable dry foundation of the houses, and the moderate +elevation on which they are erected, the celebrated Dr. Priestley +pronounced the air of this town to be equally pure as any he had +analysed. The water is also allowed by medical practitioners, to be of a +superior quality, and very conducive to the health of the inhabitants, +who are scarcely ever afflicted with epidemic diseases.</p> + +<p>The foundation of the houses is, with very few exceptions, a dry mass of +sandy rock, from whence there are not any noxious vapours arise, and on +that account, the cellars might be inhabited with safety, but that is +not customary here.</p> + +<p>In approaching the town, you ascend in every direction, except from +Halesowen; on which account the air has free access to every part of it, +and the sun can exercise its full powers in exhaling superfluous +moisture.</p> + +<p>In this favoured spot, the inhabitants enjoy four of the greatest +benefits that can attend human existence; air more pure than in many +other places; water of an excellent quality; the genial influence of the +sun; and a situation not in the least subject to damps.</p> + +<p>The adjacent lands are of an inferior quality, but by cultivation they +are rendered tolerably productive; those immediately surrounding the +town, are almost in every direction converted into gardens, which are in +general rented from one to two guineas per year, and without a doubt are +very conducive to the health of the inhabitants.</p> + +<p>The waste lands about the town being inclosed in the year 1800 were +found to contain two hundred and eighty nine acres, which land now lets +from thirty to fifty shillings per acre.</p> + +<p>The only stream of water that flows to this town is a small rivulet, +denominated the river Rea, which takes its rise upon Rubery Hill, near +one mile north of Bromsgrove Lickey, about eight miles distant, from +whence there being a considerable descent, numerous reservoirs have been +made, which enables the stream, within that short space, to drive ten +mills, exclusive of two within the town; and what is very remarkable, +some person has erected a windmill very near its banks, where the ground +is not in the least elevated. This curiosity of a windmill being +erected in a valley, is very visible soon after you have passed the +buildings on the road to Bromsgrove.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding there is only one stream of water, the streets are so +intersected by canals, that there is only one entrance into the town +without coming over a bridge, and that is from Worcester.</p> + +<p>At the top of Digbeth, very near the church-yard of St. Martin's, there +is a never-failing spring of pure soft water, wherein is affixed what is +called the cock pump; which being free to all the inhabitants, it is a +very common thing to see from twelve to twenty people, each of them with +a pair of large tin buckets, waiting for their turn to fill them, and +this in succession through the whole day. From this very powerful spring +there is a continual stream that runs through the cellars, on each side +of the street, and several of the inhabitants have therein affixed +pumps, from which innumerable water carts are filled every hour of the +day; notwithstanding which, during the greatest heats and droughts, +there is always a super-abundance of that necessary and valuable +article.</p> + +<p>Immediately above the same church-yard, and near to the principal +entrance, there is another pump, constructed in such a singular manner, +that I have no hesitation in saying, there never was one of the same +before, nor ever will be in future.</p> + +<p><i>LADY WELL.</i></p> + +<p>This inexhaustible spring of soft water has for a series of years been +encircled by a brick wall, which forms a very capacious reservoir; from +whence there are at least forty people obtain a livelihood, by conveying +the water in buckets to different parts of the town. An attempt was made +in July, 1818, to prevent the public from having access to this +invaluable water; but by the commissioners of the street acts +interfering, it remains open to the public.</p> + +<p>No town in existence can be more plentifully supplied with water than +this is, nor in a more commodious manner, for every respectable house +either has a pump to itself, or one pump to serve two houses; and in +every court, where there are a number of small houses, that useful +appendage is not in any instance wanting, for the accommodation of the +tenants.</p> + +<p>In various parts of the town the water is soft, but it is not so in +general; and to supply that defect, numerous people find their advantage +in conveying that useful article in carts, and innumerable others in +carrying it with a yoke and two buckets, to those who are in want of it, +which they sell at the rate of from ten to twelve gallons for one penny, +according to the distance.</p> + +<p>Near one mile and a half from the centre of the town, there is, on the +road towards Coleshill, a chalybeate spring, which some years back was +in general repute, but now little attention is paid to it.</p> + +<p>The lands in the vicinity of this town are beyond all doubt higher than +any other in the kingdom; there being three instances of springs +issuing from them that take two different courses. One instance is upon +Bromsgrove Lickey, from whence two springs arise, one of which flows +into the Severn, and the other into the Trent.—Another instance is at +the Quinton, on the road to Halesowen, from whence there issues two +springs, each of them taking the same course as those from Bromsgrove +Lickey. The third is at Corley, in the vicinity of Packington, where +they pursue the same courses. These springs arise in a triangular +direction, Birmingham being in the centre.</p> + +<p>To demonstrate what has been advanced respecting the salubrity of the +air and purity of the water, the hotel, in Temple-row, was erected in +the year 1772, upon the tontine principle. There being fifty shares, of +course the same number of lives must be nominated at that time, of whom +there were, in the middle of October, 1818, forty-five still living.</p> + +<p>Another instance may be adduced, equally appropriate. There are at the +present time, 1818, still living, and in health, seventeen persons, (and +there may be several more), who all of them received their education +under one schoolmaster, the youngest of whom is sixty-nine years of age.</p> + +<p>And what is still more remarkable, although there were in the middle of +November more than three hundred and eighty children in the asylum, +there was not one sick person in that numerous family. </p> + +<p><i>ST. MARTIN's CHURCH</i></p> + +<p>Is undoubtedly of great antiquity, and to trace its foundation is at +present impossible, tradition itself not giving any clue. It was +originally erected with stone, but the exterior being decayed by time, +in the year 1690 the body of the church, and also the tower, were cased +with bricks of an admirable quality, and mortar suitable to them, for at +this time there is scarcely any symptoms of decay. The elegant spire has +been several times injured by lightning, and during its repairs the +workmen have contracted the length of it considerably. It was at one +time (whatever it is now) the loftiest spire in the kingdom, measuring +from its base to the weathercock. The person who repaired it in 1777 +made the observation.—There are, no doubt, several steeples more lofty, +measuring from the ground, the towers of which extend to a great height, +whilst this at Birmingham is very low.—There are within the church two +marble monuments, with recumbent figures upon them, but no inscription, +and are, like the church, of such ancient date, that no person has yet +presumed to say when they were executed nor for whom, (only by +conjecture); but let the artists be who they would, the effigies do them +great credit, and were highly deserving of better treatment than they +have experienced. In the church is a fine-toned organ. In the steeple +are twelve musical bells, and a set of chimes, that play with great +accuracy a different tune every day in the week, at the hour of three, +six, nine and twelve; and they are so contrived, that they shift from +one tune to another, by means of their own machinery. On the south side +of the tower there is a meridian line, which was affixed there by +Ferguson, the astronomer, so that when the sun shines, the hour of +twelve may be ascertained to a certainty. Birmingham is only one parish, +except for church fees, and in that respect, the rector of St. Philip's +presides over a small part within the town. The Rev. Charles Curtis is +rector of Birmingham: the Rev. Edmund Outram being rector of St. +Philip's, in Birmingham. The regimental colours, late belonging to the +Loyal Birmingham Association, are suspended in the east window, over the +altar. This church is computed to accommodate 2200 persons.</p> + +<br> + +<p><i>ST. PHILIP's CHURCH.</i></p> + +<p>The scite of the church-yard, parsonage, and blue-coat school was the +gift of Mrs. Elizabeth Phillips, and her son and daughter in law, Mr. +and Mrs. William Inge, the ancestors of William Phillips Inge, Esq. +without stipulating for the presentation. This superb edifice was +designed in the year 1710, by Thomas Archer, Esq.<a name="FNanchor3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3"><sup>[3]</sup></a> who was gentleman +of the bed chamber to her majesty Queen Anne, and who, it is universally +allowed by all who have taken particular notice of this building, was +possessed of superior abilities, and a refined taste as an architect. +An act of parliament being obtained for the erection of it in the year +1709, the same was begun in 1711, under a commission, granted to twenty +of the neighbouring gentry, who were appointed by the bishop of the +diocese, under his episcopal seal; whose commission was to expire twelve +months after the church should be erected. It was consecrated in the +year 1715, but not finished till 1719, when the commissioners resigned +their authority into the hands of the diocesan, in whom the presentation +rests.</p> + +<a name="Footnote_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor3">[3]</a><div class=note> He also designed the church of St. John, in Westminster.</div><br> + +<p>The money expended by the commissioners, two years after the +consecration, did not amount to quite £5000; but then it must be +recollected, that a very large proportion of the materials were given, +and conveyed to the spot free of expence. A considerable sum of money +being left unpaid; this circumstance was made known to his majesty, +George Ist, by the intercession of Sir Richard Gough, when he, in 1725, +generously contributed six hundred pounds towards the completion of it; +and the inhabitants, to express their gratitude for this favour, affixed +the crest of Sir Richard Gough, as a vane, on the top of it.</p> + +<p>The urns upon the parapet of the church, which contribute in a +considerable degree to its appearance, were placed there when the +celebrated Baskerville was church-warden, in the year 1750. The organ +posseses full tone and great power; the paintings, mouldings, and +gildings are superb, and do great credit to those who were employed. +Under the centre of the church there is a capacious vault, which extends +the whole length of it. The dome in some degree resembles that of St. +Paul's, in London, and in the tower underneath it are ten musical +bells, and a set of chimes that play a different tune every day in the +week, at the hours of one, four, seven, and ten; which tunes shift of +themselves by means of the machinery. On the south side of the tower +there is a meridian line affixed, by means of which, if the sun shines, +the hour of twelve is known to a certainty. This elegant pile of +building has been examined with the greatest minuteness, by numerous +architects, both within and without, and by all of them declared to be +the work of a master; it being equally convenient as it is elegant. The +church-yard, by which it is surrounded, corresponds with the building; +its area contains four acres of ground, wherein are numerous gravel +walks, ornamented with double rows of lime trees, which during summer +form shady walks, and being surrounded with excellent buildings, it +represents such a scene as probably cannot be surpassed in Europe. The +parsonage-house is at the south east corner of the church-yard, where +the present rector, the Rev. Edmund Outram, D.D. resides. This church is +calculated to accommodate 2000 auditors.—At the north east corner is a +spacious building, with a stone front, which is a charity school, +wherein there are at this time one hundred and eight boys and fifty-four +girls, receiving their education.—(<i>See Blue Coat School.</i>)</p> +<br> + +<p><i>CHRIST CHURCH.</i></p> + +<p>The land whereon this edifice is erected was the gift of William +Phillips Inge, Esq. whose ancestors about a century ago generously gave +the scite upon which the church of St. Philip's stands. It is situated +at the upper end of New-street, and the first stone of it was intended +to have been laid by his present majesty, George the 3d, in person; but +it having pleased the Almighty to afflict him with indisposition, that +ceremony was performed by the Earl of Dartmouth, on the 22d of July, +1805, in presence of the bishop of the diocese, who was attended by +numbers of the nobility, clergy, gentry, the trustees appointed under +the act of parliament, and a numerous assemblage of the inhabitants. +Although his majesty's malady did not admit of his being present upon +this occasion, as it is understood he very much wished to be, he in a +very condescending manner gave directions for the payment of one +thousand pounds, from his private purse, towards the completion of the +building. The body of the church being free to all description of +persons, is fitted up with benches for their accommodation; but rent +being paid to the clergyman for kneelings in the galleries, they are +finished in a style of elegance, with mahogany, supported by light +pillars of the doric order. The church was consecrated with great +solemnity on the 13th of July, 1813, by the Honourable and Right Rev. +James Cornwallis, bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, and an appropriate +sermon preached by the Rev. Edmund Outram, D.D. the worthy rector of St. +Philip's church, who selected his text from one of the beatitudes—"<i>The +poor have the gospel preached unto them.</i>"—The bishop, in whom the +presentation rests, afterwards gave to the Rev. J. Hume Spry, whom he +had appointed to the living, the sum of one hundred pounds, to purchase +bibles and prayer books, for the use of the congregation, or that part +of it whom he perceived to be the most regular in their attendance. +Divine service was first performed by the aforesaid clergyman, on Sunday +the 18th of July, at half past ten o'clock in the morning, and in the +evening at six o'clock. The ascent to the galleries is by a double +geometrical staircase, of stone, with ballustrades of iron, coated with +brass, which appear light and produces an elegant effect; these, with +the railing at the altar, were an entire new manufacture, invented by +Mr. B. Cooke, whose manufactory is carried on at Baskerville House. The +altar piece, designed by Mr. Stock, of Bristol, is of mahogany, above +which is a painting by Mr. Barber, representing a cross, apparently in +the clouds. These being completed in June, 1815, an elegant +well-finished organ, built by Elliott, of London, was erected about the +same time; and is considered to be one of the most powerful and +well-arranged instruments in this part of the kingdom. The present +organist is Mr. Munden. The portico and spire were both of them erected +by Mr. Richardson, of Handsworth; the former at the expense of £1200 and +the latter £1500, which was completed in 1816. In the year 1817, a clock +was affixed in the tower, by Mr. Allport, which has four dials, and each +of them both hour and minute hands. This place of worship is computed to +accommodate 1500 hearers.</p> + +<p>Isaac Hawkins Brown, Esq. the late worthy representative for Bridgnorth, +who had on several occasions rendered his powerful services to this +town, being co-trustee with the Rev. Thomas Gisborne, under the will of +Isaac Hawkins, Esq. they had considerable sums of money at their +disposal, for benevolent purposes, and out of those funds he proposed to +appropriate the sum of one thousand pounds towards the erection of a +free church in Birmingham.</p> + +<p>In consequence of this liberal suggestion, a town's meeting was +convened, whereat it was unanimously resolved to petition parliament on +the subject, under sanction of the bishop of the diocese, who in the +most handsome manner proposed to annex the prebendary of Tachbrooke, in +aid of the said benefice. A liberal subscription immediately commenced +among the inhabitants, who were most powerfully assisted with large sums +contributed by the nobility and gentry, resident in the vicinity. +Considerably more expenses being incurred during the erection of the +building than what had been calculated upon, it was considered necessary +to make a second application to parliament, to empower the trustees to +convert the arches under the church into catacombs, under the idea that +they would be readily disposed of at the rate of four pounds each; the +trustees purchasing one third of them. In this calculation they have +been very much disappointed, there having as yet only two corpse been +interred there; but it is presumed, that when the inhabitants are +familiarised to that mode of sepulture, they will prefer them to the +present custom of erecting vaults, which are attended with considerably +more expense.</p> + +<p>The erection of this free church confers great credit on the town, as +the want of such accommodation was very apparent, from the increased +population; and this is manifest by its being so well attended; the +congregation being considerably more numerous than can be accommodated, +and they express their satisfaction by decent and orderly behaviour.</p> + +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;"><i>ST. BARTHOLOMEW's CHAPEL.</i></span><br> + +<p>The land whereon this chapel is erected was the gift of John Jennens, +Esq. who possessed a considerable estate in and near this town. It was +erected in the year 1749, in the centre of an extensive burial ground, +and is fitted up in a very neat and commodious manner. Mrs. Jennens +contributed towards its erection the sum of one thousand pounds, and the +remainder was raised by subscription. The altar piece was the gift of +Basil, Earl of Denbigh, and the communion plate, consisting of 182 +ounces, that of Mary Careles. There has since been erected a fine-toned +organ. The present chaplain is the Rev. Charles Warneford. This chapel +is calculated to accommodate 800 auditors.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>ST. MARY'S CHAPEL.</i></p> + +<p>Mrs. Weaman being possessed of some land at that time on the outside of +the town, made a present of the ground whereon it is built, reserving to +herself the presentation. It was erected in the year 1774, in an octagon +form, and being very spacious, the diminutive steeple attached to it, is +not by any means proportionate. The present incumbent is the Rev. Edward +Burn, A. M.—This place of worship is computed to accommodate 2000 +hearers.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>ST. PAUL'S CHAPEL.</i></p> + +<p>This elegant pile of building was erected in the year 1779, upon land +the gift of Charles Colmore, Esq. reserving to himself the presentation. +The ground whereon it stands being a declivity, is not altogether +suitable for such a pile of building, but at that time it was the most +eligible spot at his disposal. The attendants upon this place of worship +raised a subscription, and in the year 1791 caused a beautiful window of +stained glass to be placed over the communion table, representing the +conversion of St. Paul; by that ingenious artist Francis Eginton; price +four hundred guineas. Although the inside is thus ornamented, the +steeple remains to be erected, it being at present only delineated upon +paper. The present incumbent is the Rev. Rann Kennedy. This chapel is +calculated to accommodate 1130 persons.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>ST. JOHN'S CHAPEL, DERITEND</i></p> + +<p>Was originally founded in 1382, during the reign of Richard 2d. This +place of worship, which is a chapel of ease to the parish of Aston, +appears to have been erected in the year 1735, and to which the tower +was added in 1762, wherein eight musical bells and a clock were affixed +in 1777. The perpetual curate is the Rev. John Darwall, A.M. This chapel +is calculated to accommodate 700 persons.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>ST. JAMES'S CHAPEL, ASHSTED.</i></p> + +<p>This structure was erected by an eminent physician, John Ash, M.D. for +his own residence, but before the building was completed, he went to +reside in London; and having disposed of this property to Mr. John +Brooke, he converted it into a place of worship, which was consecrated +in the year 1810. Minister, the Rev. Edward Burn, A.M. This place of +worship is capable of containing 1200 auditors.—N.B. The two last are +in the parish of Aston.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Burial Ground.</i></p> + +<p>The different cemeteries within the town being crowded with the bodies +of the deceased, it was considered proper to purchase three acres of +land near to the chapel of St. Bartholomew, as an additional burying +ground; for which the sum of £1600 was paid to the governors of the Free +School. This ground is divided into two parts, each of which is inclosed +by a brick wall, surmounted by iron palisadoes, and gates of the same at +the entrance, which are secured by locks. It was consecrated on the 6th +of July, 1813, by the bishop of the diocese.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Births and Burials.</i></p> + +<p>It will undoubtedly be expected that something should be said under this +head, but the different sectaries, who never come near the church upon +either occasion, are so numeorous, that nothing like a regular estimate +can be made.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Chapel in Broad-street,</i></p> + +<p>FOR CATHOLICS.</p> + +<p>The religious of this persuasion erected a place of worship in the year +1789, which was considerably improved in 1800; it is situated in +Broad-street, and fitted up in a commodious manner, with an organ. They +have also another chapel in Shadwell-street.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Meeting in Bull-street,</i></p> + +<p>FOR THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.</p> + +<p>This pile of building, although destitute of ornaments has a very +respectable appearance, and the inside of it is fitted up in a very +appropriate manner. There is at the back of it an extensive cemetery, +and another small one in Monmouth-street.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Old Meeting,</i></p> + +<p>FOR PROTESTANT DISSENTERS.</p> + +<p>This substantial and well-constructed pile of building, particularly the +roof, was erected about the year 1793; the old one, which gave name to +the street, having been destroyed by fire in 1791. Had this meeting been +erected in a more spacious street, it might have been seen to advantage, +but its beauties are here lost. The interior is fitted up to correspond +with the exterior, and therein is affixed a fine-toned organ. The +officiating ministers are the Rev. R. Kell and the Rev. John Corrie. +There is a spacious burial ground attached to this meeting.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>New Meeting,</i></p> + +<p>FOR PROTESTANT DISSENTERS.</p> + +<p>This substantial edifice, being cased with stone, fronts towards +Moor-street; the former erection, which gave name to the street, being +destroyed by fire in 1791. This, like the old meeting, is fitted up in +a neat and convenient manner, in every respect, being furnished with an +organ suitable to the size of the building. The Rev. John Kentish and +the Rev. James Yates are the ministers.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Meeting in Carres Lane,</i></p> + +<p>FOR CALVINISTS.</p> + +<p>This is a neat and commodious pile of building, in every respect +suitable for the purpose intended.—In Livery-street the Calvinists +converted a riding-school into a place of worship, which is commodiously +fitted up and will hold a numerous congregation.</p> + +<p>This religious society have another place of worship in +Bartholomew-street, and have lately completed a fourth, upon a very +extensive scale, in Steelhouse-lane, which was opened for divine service +on the 9th of Dec. 1818. It is fitted up with pews, capable of +containing 2000 auditors, and is lighted by means of gas, in the most +superb manner. A scion from this meeting has lately fitted up a +warehouse in Bristol-street, as a place of worship.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Meeting in Cherry-street,</i></p> + +<p>FOR METHODISTS.</p> + +<p>This building was erected in the year 1782, and opened as a place of +worship by the celebrated John Wesley, it being fitted up in a +commodious manner for the purpose.</p> + +<p>This sect has increased in a surprising manner; they having since +erected one extensive meeting in Belmont-row, another in +Bradford-street, and a fourth in Oxford-street.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Meeting in Cannon-street,</i> FOR PARTICULAR BAPTISTS.</p> + +<p>This extensive and well-arranged pile of building was erected in the +year 1804; and at the back of it is a school upon a large scale, for the +youth of that persuasion.</p> + +<p>This society have become so numerous, that they possess a meeting upon +an extensive scale in Newhall-street, and another in Bond-street. There +is also a meeting for general baptists in Lombard-street, Deritend.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Meeting in King-street,</i></p> + +<p>FOR THE FOLLOWERS OF LADY HUNTINGDON.</p> + +<p>This place of religious worship was originally a theatre; where some of +the most celebrated performers have made their appearance; but it has +for several years been appropriated to the performance of divine +service, being fitted up in a commodious manner for that purpose.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>New Jerusalem Temple,</i></p> + +<p>FOR SWEDENBURGIANS.</p> + +<p>This small place of worship is situated in Newhall-street, directly +opposite the coal wharf, and is fitted up for the accommodation of those +who embrace the tenets of Swedenburg.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Synagogue</i>,</p> + +<p>FOR THE JEWS.</p> + +<p>The Israelites having from some cause abandoned their ancient place of +worship, have erected another suitable for their devotion, which is +finished in a neat manner, and makes a respectable appearance, in +Severn-street, near the Lancasterian School.</p> + +<p>In this town every individual worships his maker in whatever way his +inclination leads him, without the least notice being taken or remarks +made; if a person's conduct is exemplary, or if he does not give way to +any vicious propensities, no one will interrupt or interfere with him.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Lench's Trust.</i></p> + +<p>In the time of Henry the 8th, an inhabitant, named William Lench, +bequeathed some land, which is vested in sixteen trustees, for the +purpose of keeping the streets within a certain district in repair, and +to erect almshouses, which the trustees have complied with, there being +twelve of that description erected by them at the bottom of +Steelhouse-lane, for the benefit and residence of the same number of +aged people. There are nine others in Dudley-street, and four in +Park-street, wherein fifty-two aged females reside. The present rental +is about £600 per ann.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Fentham's Trust.</i></p> + +<p>In the year 1712,—Fentham bequeathed £100 per annum to teach poor +children to read, and for cloathing ten poor widows of Birmingham. The +children educated by this trust, are maintained and educated in the blue +coat charity school, being for distinction sake cloathed in green.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Crowley's Trust.</i></p> + +<p>In the year 1733, Mrs. Crowley left six houses in trust; the rents of +which were to support ten girls, who are also in the same school.</p> +<br> + +<p>PRIVATE CHARITIES.</p> + +<p><i>Society for cloathing destitute Women and Children.</i></p> + +<p>In the year 1800, a few ladies impressed with benevolent ideas +associated together, and formed a society for the above purpose: the +subscriptions were fixed at three shillings and five shillings per +quarter; the former to distribute five shillings and the latter seven +shillings, in articles of cloathing.</p> + +<p>There have in general been from ninety to one hundred and ten +subscribers, who have annually relieved near four hundred persons, by +accommodating them with comfortable cloathing, by the aggregate sum +arising from these small contributions.</p> + +<p>It is hoped that this very slight sketch of the institution may induce +many others to unite in this most beneficial mode of relieving the poor. +Subscriptions and donations for this charity are received at Mr. +Cadbury's, in Bull-street.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>The Female Benevolent Society.</i></p> + +<p>This highly commendable institution was established in the year 1802, +for the purpose of relieving indigent married women when they are +confined by reason of child-birth, or other infirmities. Two visitors +are appointed, who examine into every person's situation that applies +for assistance, and they administer such relief as the nature of the +case seems to require. A subscriber of three shillings per quarter, may, +if they think proper, recommend one object to receive five shillings, +and a subscriber of six shillings, two objects, who may each of them +receive five shillings, or one woman when she lies in may receive ten +shillings, or one poor widow or sick person may receive nine-pence per +week during the quarter. In the first nine years of this establishment, +the sum of £417. 16s. was distributed among sick and indigent females, +and since that time the society has been upon the increase, but no +report has been printed. Subscriptions and donations for this charity +will be received by Mrs. Dickenson, Summer-hill.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>The Depositing Society</i></p> + +<p>Have for their object, to improve the condition of the poor, by inciting +them to diligence and habits of economy; encouraging them to deposit any +sum of money weekly with a committee of ladies, who allow small premiums +upon every shilling that is deposited with them. Their view is, to +enable the poor to discharge debts, redeem pledges, purchase coals, +cloathing, bedding, etc. The last printed report states, that from the +1st of January, 1815, to Midsummer, 1816, the deposits amounted to £538. +11s. 6d. and that the sum of £120. 3s. 2d. had been paid in premiums to +189 poor persons, making in the whole the sum of £658. 14s. 8d. By this +statement it appears that the poor were benefited more than 22 per cent, +on their deposits, which is undoubtedly very great encouragement. +Subscriptions and benefactions in aid of this society will be received +by Mr. J. Dickenson, treasurer, Summer-hill. This society appears to +have been established fifteen years.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Institution for providing Nurses for poor married Women, when lying +in.</i> This laudable society of ladies originated in the year 1814, and +since its establishment more than 700 persons have by their means been +attended to, in a comfortable manner; their assistance having been +extended to 129 objects of charity during the last year, and to 77 of +them money has been distributed.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Institution for providing Clothes for new-born Infants.</i></p> + +<p>The object of this society is to raise a fund, and to purchase linen, +flannel, etc. which the ladies make into suitable cloathing for the +intended purpose. Each subscriber of two shillings and six-pence +annually, may recommend one object to receive a suit of cloathing, and +in proportion for a larger sum.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Lying-in Charity at the Five Ways.</i></p> + +<p>This is supported entirely by voluntary contribution and liberal +donations; several of its contributors, much to their honour, having in +a benevolent manner assisted the charity by their industry in making +different articles with their own hands. Its object is to supply poor +married women with linen, during the time they are confined from +child-birth, and also to furnish them with a set of linen for the +infant. They are at the same time presented with two shillings and +six-pence towards paying the midwife.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Deritend and Bordesley Society for assisting the sick</i> <i>Poor with clean +Linen.</i></p> + +<p>This charity was instituted in the year 1806, and is conducted by a +committee, consisting of six visitors, a treasurer, and a store-keeper. +Any person wanting relief must procure a note, and deliver it to one of +the visitors, who having seen the sick person, gives an order for such +linen as appears necessary, and this they retain so long as the visitor +thinks they have occasion for it; and when requisite, the house is +cleaned, and money given for their support.</p> + +<p>If the stock of linen will admit of it, women are accommodated for the +space of one month, whilst they are lying-in. Since this society was +first instituted, more than nine hundred poor persons have derived +benefit from it, within the limited district of Deritend and Bordesley.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Sick Society, Cannon-street</i>.</p> + +<p>This society has been established for a series of years, for the weekly +visiting, relieving, and instructing the sick poor, of every +denomination; about three hundred of whom are visited and relieved by +this society annually.</p> + +<p>A society was established about seven years back, and is still +continued, for lending blankets to poor people during the winter season.</p> + +<p>At St. Mary's chapel there is a benevolent society, for relieving the +indigent sick; and the congregation have likewise established a school +of industry, for females, which is supported by voluntary subscription.</p> + +<p>The editor is given to understand, that every religious society in the +town has a charitable institution belonging to it, that are each of them +confined to their own congregation. There is an Auxiliary Bible Society +and also a branch of the Missionary Society.</p> + +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;"><i>The Free Grammar School</i></span><br> + +<p>Was founded by King Edward 6th, in the fifth year of his reign, and +endowed with lands, which, by the increased value of such property, now +produce more than two thousand pounds per annum. The present building +was erected in the year 1707, and is well adapted for the intended +purpose.</p> + +<p>This seminary has the privilege of sending ten exhibitioners to the +universities of Oxford and Cambridge, who are each of them allowed +thirty-five pounds per annum, for the space of seven years.</p> + +<p>The management of these revenues is vested in twenty governors, who +annually, from their own body, select a bailiff; and when any governor +dies, they are empowered to elect another to supply his place. In the +centre of the building there is a small tower, with a whole-length +figure of the founder. This school is regulated by a chief master, who +receives a liberal salary, a second master, and two ushers, who are +assisted by a person to teach writing and another to instruct the pupils +in drawing. The present head master is the Rev. John Cooke. There is +also a librarian. In the large room there is an elegant marble bust of +the founder, by Scheemaker, which is much admired for its sculpture.</p> + +<p>The governors of this school support one extensive preparatory school in +Shut-lane, and there are four others for boys, to each of which there +are two sets of pupils: one of them attends by day and the other in the +evening. There are also two others for girls.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>The Blue Coat School</i></p> + +<p>Is situated in St. Philip's church-yard: it was erected in the year +1724, but considerably enlarged in 1794, at the expense of £2800. It +possesses an annual income of £700, and therein are educated, +maintained, and cloathed 108 boys and 54 girls, in the arts of reading, +writing, arithmetic, sewing, knitting, etc. In front of this building +there are two statues, a boy and a girl, in the habit of the school; +they were executed by a statuary of this town, named Grubb, and do him +infinite credit, for they would not disgrace a Roman artist. Adjoining +to the school there is a spacious area, for the amusement and recreation +of the boys, and a separate one for the girls. The inhabitants subscribe +liberally towards its support, and every six months, sermons are +preached at all the places of worship upon the establishment, and +afterwards there is always a collection, to which many people contribute +in a very liberal manner. To this institution some considerable legacies +have been bequeathed; and in the year 1795, the lord of the manor +granted a lease for 999 years, of four acres of land upon Birmingham +Heath, at one shilling per annum, for its benefit.—Persons desirous of +viewing the interior of the premises may be accommodated upon making +application to the master, Mr. Jones.</p> + +<p>It appears by the printed accounts of this school, published in the +year 1817, that some young men, who received their education there, have +formed an association, under the title of <i>'True Blues,'</i> each of whom +contributes a weekly sum towards the parent institution, and that the +trustees have received at different times from this association the sum +of one hundred and fifteen pounds and three-pence.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>The Protestant Dissenters' Charity School</i></p> + +<p>Is situated in Park street, commodious premises having been purchased +for that purpose. In this school females only are admitted, to the +number of thirty-six, who are maintained, cloathed, and educated, by +voluntary subscription, and collections made after sermons, which are +preached annually at the old and new meeting houses.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>The National School</i></p> + +<p>Is situated in Pinfold-street, where a substantial pile of building was +erected in the year 1813, capable of containing on the ground floor, +five hundred boys, and on the upper story, four hundred girls. This +seminary is only intended for the instruction of those children who are +brought up according to the established religion, and is conducted upon +the Madras system, originally invented by Dr. Bell. This building is +inclosed by a lofty brick wall, within which there is vacant ground for +the recreation of boys and girls separately. This institution is under +the management of Mr. Martin for the boys, and Mrs. Chawner for the +girls. Since the institution of this school, 1906 boys and about 1000 +girls have received instruction.</p> + + + +<p><i>The Royal Lancasterian Free School</i></p> + +<p>Was erected in Severn-street in the year 1809, where boys of all +denominations are instructed in reading, writing, and accounts. The room +is calculated to accommodate four hundred pupils, and since its erection +1800 have derived the benefit of education. In this seminary visitors +are uniformly received with kindness, and respectfully informed of any +particulars they may think proper to enquire after, by the master, Mr. +Thomas Baker. An examination taking place every Saturday, no visitors +are admitted on that day between the hours of ten and twelve; but at any +other time, the school is open for inspection during school hours. +During the year 1818, 215 boys left the school, having been instructed +in reading, writing, and arithmetic.</p> + +<p>Upon a similar plan there is a school established for the instruction of +females, which is situated in Park-street.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Sunday Schools.</i></p> + +<p>These institutions are exceedingly numerous, in every part of the town, +and not only so, but they are remarkably well attended to, by those of +the established religion; and each denomination of dissenters endeavours +to out-vie the other in these establishments. The children are all of +them neatly cloathed of a Sunday, numbers of them by contributing one +penny per week to that purpose, which with donations that are made, +effectually answers the end proposed. </p> + +<p><i>The General Hospital.</i></p> + +<p>The exterior of this substantial building was erected in the year 1766 +under the superintendance of an eminent physician, John Ash, M.D. but +for want of funds, it lay dormant for the space of twelve years; when, +in 1778, some well-disposed people stepped forward, and solicited +subscriptions in so earnest a manner, that during the next year the +hospital was prepared to receive patients, and during the first nine +months there was admitted,</p> + +<p>IN-PATIENTS.</p> + +<p>Discharged cured .. .. .. 135</p> + +<p>Relieved .. .. .. 38</p> + +<p>Absented themselves .. .. .. 3</p> + +<p>For irregularity .. .. .. 2</p> + +<p>Incurable .. .. .. 1</p> + +<p>Died .. .. .. .. 5</p> + +<p>Remained on the books .. .. .. 41</p> +<br> + +<p>OUT-PATIENTS.</p> + +<p>Discharged cured .. .. .. 108</p> + +<p>Relieved .. .. .. 55 For non-attendance .. .. .. 5</p> + +<p>Made in-patients .. .. .. 5</p> + +<p>Remained on the books .. .. .. 71</p> + +<p>By this statement it is evident that the faculty exerted their skill, +and exercised their humanity, by giving their attendance gratis. In a +few years, the patients became so numerous, that in 1790 it was +considered necessary to add two wings to the building. It is supported +by voluntary subscription, and once in three years a music meeting is +held, from which it derives unprecedented advantage. At the meeting +which took place in 1817, the gross receipts, during the three days' +performance, amounted to the sum of £8476. 6s. 9d., of which the +treasurers of the hospital received the sum of £4290. 10s. 10d.; there +not being an instance upon record of any institution receiving so much +benefit, or such extensive patronage, from a similar source. A list of +the donations and benefactions are recorded in the hall, which enable +the committee to extend relief to numerous individuals, who otherwise +might perish for want of medical assistance.</p> + +<p>In the year ending Midsummer 1818, there were relieved 1167 in-patients +and 2541 out-patients, including 766 for the cow-pock, who all of them +did well. The under-mentioned physicians and surgeons attend +gratuitously, and give their advice and assistance in the most humane +manner; it being impossible to enumerate any place where greater +attention and humanity are practised.</p> + +PHYSICIANS.<br> +<br> +DR. J. JOHNSTONE, DR. MALE,<br> +DR. BOOTH, DR. DE LYS.<br> +<br> +SURGEONS.<br> +<br> +MR. FREER, MR. DICKENSON,<br> +MR. WOOD, MR. VAUX.<br> +<br> +House Apothecary, Mr. ALFRED JUKES.<br> +Matron, .. Mrs. RANDALL.<br> + +<br> + +<p><i>The Dispensary.</i></p> + +<p>This laudable institution originated among a select society, and was +carried on in a private manner for some time; until they were joined by +the late Matthew Boulton, Esq. who took it under his patronage in the +year 1793, when a house was taken in Temple-row, and an establishment +formed; he taking upon himself the office of treasurer, saying, "if the +funds of the institution are not sufficient for its support, I will make +up the deficiency." It continued in Temple-row, supported by voluntary +subscriptions and donations, until the year 1808, when a commodious +building having been erected for the purpose, in Union-street, at the +expense of more than two thousand pounds, the establishment, consisting +of a house apothecary, another for the compounding and dispensing of the +medicines, and a midwife, removed there. Those who have previously +received a recommendation, are here accommodated with medical advice and +assistance, gratis, and the females in the time of need are attended at +their own dwellings by the midwife, as are also sick patients, who are +too ill to attend personally. Since this dispensary was first +established, there have been 37139 sick patients, 6223 midwifery, and +13964 persons inoculated in the vaccine manner, at the expense of the +institution; of whom 2523 sick, 387 midwifery, and 434 vaccine +inoculation, were attended to during the last year, ending Michaelmas, +1818; the subscriptions amounting to £599 11s.</p> + +<p>PHYSICIANS.</p> + +DR. DE LYS, DR. ECCLES,<br> +DR. LEE,<br> +<br> +SURGEONS.<br> +<br> +MR. BARR, MR. RUSSELL,<br> +MR. VICKERS, MR. INGLEBY,<br> +MR. J.S. BLOUNT, MR. HODGSON.<br> +<br> +Resident Surgeon and Apothecary, Mr. J. M. BAYNHAM.<br> +Dispensing Apothecary, Mr. JOHN TOMPSON.<br> +<br> + +<p><i>The Workhouse.</i></p> + +<p>This extensive establishment for the accommodation of the poor, is +situated in Lichfield-street, and is under the management of twelve +overseers; six of whom are made choice of at Lady-day and the other six +at Michaelmas; so that there are always some in office, who having been +initiated, understand the rules and customs of the house. In addition to +the overseers, there are one hundred and eight guardians, elected by the +inhabitants who pay levies, and they continue in office for three years, +during which time they possess all the power and authority of overseers, +except making and collecting of rates, from both of which they are +exempt, nor can they be compelled to assist therein as guardians; but +the serving of this office does not excuse them from being chosen into +any other.</p> + +<p>The church-wardens and overseers for the time being are guardians by +virtue of their office; and at the expiration of the year, they may +continue to act as such, or not, at their option. The appointment of +treasurers, clerks, governors, and other officers, with their servants, +is vested in the guardians; who are required to keep regular accounts of +their proceedings, which must be signed by the chairman at every meeting +they hold. All fines, forfeitures, and other public monies are required +to be paid into the hands of the guardians, whose duty it is to meet +every week, and also after every quarter-day.</p> + +<p>In the year 1816, trade being at a very low ebb, the applications for +relief were so very numerous, that in order to support this +establishment, between Michaelmas in that year and the same time in +1817, it was necessary to collect thirty-six levies, which produced the +astonishing sum of sixty thousand two hundred and fourteen pounds, +seventeen shillings, and six-pence. From Michaelmas, 1817, to the same +time in 1818, there was twenty-eight levies, which produced the sum of +fifty-one thousand nine hundred and forty-three pounds, nine shillings, +and nine pence halfpenny.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Asylum for the Infant Poor belonging to the Parish of</i> <i>Birmingham</i>.</p> + +<p>In the year 1797 the overseers and guardians being convinced of the +evils that arose from the system then pursued, of placing the children +out at nurse, in the vicinity of the town, formed the resolution of +taking certain premises situated in Summer-lane, where all the children +might be properly attended to and taken care of.</p> + +<p>This being done, a committee of overseers and guardians were appointed +to superintend the institution: they being made choice of annually, meet +every Monday for the purpose of examining the demands on the asylum +drawing cheques for the amount of the bills on the cashier of the +workhouse, and inspecting the state of the institution.</p> + +<p>The average number of children who have been maintained, cloathed, and +educated, for the last twelve months, has been three hundred and eighty; +of whom three hundred are employed in manufacturing of pins, straw plat, +and lace. The produce of the children's labour since the institution +was established, has been progressively accumulating, and that to such a +degree, that the committee have been enabled to purchase the premises +they inhabit, with about two acres of land, which with the additional +buildings and improvements, are now worth nearly six thousand pounds, +and are the property of the parish.</p> + +<p>The whole of this information is very interesting, but what follows is +highly deserving of attention. This account was written at the asylum, +in the middle of November, 1818, when there was not in this numerous +family one sick person.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Philosophical Society.</i></p> + +<p>This institution is indebted for its origin to a few scientific +inhabitants, who held a meeting in the year 1800, and having disclosed +their ideas to others, they afterwards formed themselves into a society, +who having engaged premises and procured proper apparatus, devoted a +considerable portion of their time to experimental philosophy; +occasionally delivering lectures among their own members. This being +carried on as a private society for several years, continually +increasing in numbers, they in the year 1813 purchased commodious +premises in Cannon-street, which they fitted up in a similar manner to +the Royal Institution in London, and it is now become a most valuable +establishment. The various lectures that have been delivered by the +different fellows of this society, on mechanism, chemistry, mineralogy, +and metallurgy, have produced very beneficial effects, and contributed +in a considerable degree to the improvement of gilding, plating, +bronzing, vitrification, and metallurgic combinations. At one of these +lectures, in the year 1812, Dr. De Lys descanted upon the advantages an +unfortunate class of society (the deaf and dumb) might derive, if they +were put under proper management; and to elucidate the subject, he +introduced a girl, about eight years of age, who, labouring under those +defects, he and his friend Mr. A. Blair, had been very attentive +to,—she, being in other respects endowed with an excellent capacity, +paid great attention to what was going forward, and with promptness +executed, or rather anticipated, the wishes of her instructors, which +proved a very animating and affecting spectacle. This circumstance gave +rise to +<i>A General Institution for the Instruction of Deaf and</i> +<i>Dumb Children.</i></p> +<br> + +<p>A few days after this girl had been brought forward, a private meeting +took place, when it was determined to establish an institution, under +the above title.</p> + +<p>On the 4th of December, 1812, a general meeting was held, and a +committee appointed, who, after making numerous enquiries to find a +person properly qualified to superintend the concern, did at length fix +upon Mr. Thomas Braidwood, who at that time conducted a private school +of the same description, at Hackney; he being initiated in the mystery +by his father and grandfather.</p> + +<p>When the plan of this institution was made known to the grand jury at +the summer assizes for the county of Warwick, in the year 1813, it was +universally patronized by them; and when the magistrates, and other +leading characters in the county of Stafford, were apprised of it, they, +with the greatest liberality, gave it their support, as did the Earl of +Plymouth, and other persons of high consideration in the counties of +Worcester, Salop, and Derby.</p> + +<p>On the 11th of January, 1814, the school was opened, with a few +children, as day scholars, and a short time after, the number was +increased to fifteen; three of whom came from a distance, and were +provided for, free of any expense to the institution, which was at that +time held in the town. Lord Calthorpe having erected some building at +Edgbaston, in a delightful situation, on an eminence, that commands a +view of Birmingham and the adjacent country for some distance, he, at +the suggestion of Dr. Edward Johnstone, granted an advantageous lease of +it, together with some surrounding land, for the use of this +institution.</p> + +<p>At the anniversary which took place on the 29th August, 1814, his Grace +the Duke of Devonshire, as president of this institution, attended in +person, when the committee announced, that every annual subscriber of +one guinea, and every donor of ten pounds are entitled by lot to +nominate a child into this institution, and that the sum of four +shillings per week be required with every child, for lodging, +maintenance, and instruction in the asylum.—At the anniversary held on +the 4th of August, 1815, the committee made a report, that the asylum +was opened on the 4th of January last, and that twenty children had been +admitted, to which number they recommended the subscribers to ballot +for the admission of eleven others, the funds being adequate to support +that number, with the four shillings per week.</p> + +<p>At the anniversary held on the 16th of August, 1816, the committee +recommended a ballot for six additional boys, and proposed to reduce the +weekly sum paid with each pupil from four to three shillings.</p> + +<p>In the year 1817, no circumstance took place deserving of notice, but at +the anniversary in 1818 the Marquis of Anglesea presided, and there were +four additional pupils admitted. The whole number in the asylum at the +present time being thirty-two, several of whom have made great +proficiency in drawing.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>General Institution for the Relief of Persons labouring under bodily +Deformity.</i></p> + +<p>This institution, which is supported by voluntary contributions, was +established in New-street on the 24th of June, 1817, under patronage of +the Earl of Dartmouth, and during the first year of its establishment, +235 patients were relieved, under the care of Mr. John Felton.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Magistrates</i>.</p> + +<p>The county magistrates who act for this town, some of whom attend at the +public office, in Moor-street, every Monday and Thursday, are the Rev. +Dr. Spencer, of Aston; William Villers, Esq. of Moseley; George Simcox +and Theodore Price, Esqrs. of Harborne; Wm. Withering, Esq. of the +Larches; William Bedford, Esq. of Birch's Green; William Hamper, Esq. +Deritend House; Edmund Outram, D.D. St. Philip's Parsonage; and Isaac +Spooner, Esq. of Witton.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>The Public Office</i></p> + +<p>Is a neat stone-fronted building, erected in the year 1806, at the +expense of £9000, in Moor-street; the ground floor of which is +appropriated to the use of the commissioners of the street acts, and on +the upper floor, the magistrates transact the public business of the +town, for which purpose some of them attend every Monday and Thursday. +At other times, when it is requisite to convene a public meeting of the +inhabitants, it is made use of for that purpose. Behind this building +there are apartments for the prison-keeper and his attendants, also.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>The Prison.</i></p> + +<p>Which is a spacious building, with a commodious well-paved yard, for the +accommodation of those unfortunates who are therein confined; it being +divided into two parts by a lofty brick wall, for the purpose of +separating the male from the female prisoners, who have each of them +their separate apartments during the day, and at night they are secured +in distinct cells.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>The Prison, in Bordesley.</i></p> + +<p>This being a licensed public house, numerous objections may be made to +it; but under the superintendance of that humane magistrate, William +Hamper, Esq. every accommodation and convenience that the place will +admit of is appropriated to the benefit of those who are there confined, +consistent with their security.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Court Leet.</i></p> + +<p>In the latter end of October, a court leet is held for the lord of the +manor, when the low bailiff summonses a jury, and the annual officers +are appointed by them: the low bailiff, in whom all the power is vested; +the high bailiff, whose duty it is to see that justice is done between +buyer and seller, by rectifying the weights and dry measures; two +constables; one headborough, who, if he thinks proper to be vigilant, +can act as constable; but if either of them are in town, he is not +compelled to act; two high tasters, who should examine into the quality +of the ale and its measures; two low tasters, or meat conners, whose +duty it is to examine all meat brought to market, and if any that is +unwholesome is exposed to sale, they are to destroy it; two affeirers, +who ratify the rent and amercements between the lord and his tenants; +and two nominal officers, under the title of leather sealers, who have +no business to attend to, except a good dinner twice a year.</p> + +<p>Deritend being a hamlet of Birmingham, its inhabitants attend this court +leet, where a constable being elected for them, he and the officers for +the town are all sworn, in the name of the lord of the manor. The +constables of Birmingham are empowered to act in Deritend, but the +constable of Deritend cannot act in Birmingham.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Court of Requests.</i></p> + +<p>In the year 1808, the commissioners of this court, who are seventy-two +in number, were empowered by act of parliament to decide any pecuniary +differences between parties, not exceeding the sum of five pounds. The +commissioners, three of whom are a quorum, meet every Friday morning, at +the office, in a court, about the centre of High-street, and nearly +opposite to New-street. Two clerks are constituted by the act to attend +the court, who being always of the law, give their judicial assistance; +they are chosen alternately by the lord of the manor and the +commissioners, being continued for life. At the expiration of two years, +ten of the commissioners are balloted out, and ten other of the +inhabitants are made choice of, as their successors. From the decision +of this court there is no appeal, and there are frequently two hundred +causes decided in one day; there are two sets of commissioners sitting +at the same time, for the dispatch of business, who in general give so +much satisfaction to both parties, that it is very unusual to hear any +remarks made upon their decision.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Humane Society.</i></p> + +<p>In the year 1790, a society was formed, under the above title, to assist +in the recovery of persons apparently drowned, which is now transferred +to the hospital.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Society for the Protection of Trade against fraudulent Bankrupts, +Swindlers, etc.</i></p> + +<p>This society was formed in the year 1804, to prevent any flagrant +attempts to impose on the honest and unwary, by fraudulent bankrupts and +swindlers, and to detect cheats of every description; also to prevent +the friends and suspected accomplices of such persons from being +appointed assignees or trustees, to the detriment of the creditors at +large.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Chamber of Commerce.</i></p> + +<p>In July, 1813, a public meeting was convened, for the purpose of +establishing a bond of union among the mercantile interests in this +town, under the above title; but at present it does not appear to have +made much progress.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>The Assay Office</i></p> + +<p>Is situated in Little Cannon-street, where all plate manufactured in +this town and its vicinity must be sent, for the purpose of ascertaining +the quality of the silver and being stamped with the proper marks, +denoting that it is standard, and has paid the proper duties.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Gold and Silver.</i> The quantity of these precious metals consumed in +this town and neighbourhood every week is incalculable, and if it could +be ascertained would appear incredible; there being in wrought plate +about two thousand ounces; but the quantity of silver used in plating of +different articles, it is not possible to discover, nor can the quantity +of gold used in different manufactories be made known, but it is +computed by those who have the best means of obtaining information on +the subject, that there are more than one hundred ounces of gold +purchased by the gilders every week, which is spread over the articles +in such a superficial manner, that not a single ounce of it ever returns +to the crucible again. From the same source of information, it is +computed that there are more than one thousand ounces of silver used +every week, which never reverts back again in its pristine state as +silver.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Copper.</i></p> + +<p>There being a great consumption of this article in the different +manufactories, a society was formed in the year 1790, under the title of +<i>The Birmingham Mining and Copper Company.</i></p> + +<p>Who, having established connexions at Redruth, in Cornwall, and Swansea, +in Wales, the copper is brought to this town, and disposed of among the +manufacturers, to the mutual advantage of both parties.</p> + +<p>In the year 1793, there being a great demand for this article, +on account of a national copper coinage, an association +was entered into, who stiled themselves +<i>The Rose Copper Company,</i></p> + +<p>Who established smelting works at Swansea, in Wales, +and principally vend the article in this town.</p> + +<p>Trade continuing to increase, a third establishment +took place, in 1803, under the name of +<i>The Crown Copper Company,</i></p> + +<p>Who erected smelting houses, and render the article +in a proper state for sale, at Neath, in Wales.</p> + +<p>Envious of other people's prosperity, a fourth company obtruded itself +upon the public, called the Union, who having overstocked the market, +disposed of their concern to the other companies, and dissolved itself.</p> + +<p>Under this head, the editor considers it no more than an act of justice, +to observe, that the manufacture of copper bolts, for fastening the +timbers of ships together, was invented by Mr. John Westwood, an +inhabitant of this town.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Brass.</i></p> + +<p>This article, so necessary to the manufacturers in this town, was for a +great length of time procured from the wealthy people of Bristol, which +caused a manufactory, of brass to be established here, about the year +1740, but that being upon a small scale, the principal supply came from +the place before-mentioned, until the year 1781, when a number of +manufacturers associated together, and established a manufactory of +brass, upon an extensive scale, in this town, under the denomination of +<i>The Birmingham Metal Company.</i></p> + +<p>For the purpose of supplying themselves and their neighbours with that +article, at a regular rate; the Bristol people being accustomed to raise +or fall the price at discretion. This gave rise to another company, who +erected extensive works, and established a manufactory of brass, at +Smethwick.</p> + +<p>Trade increasing, a third company was formed, who erected works, and +commenced manufacturing of brass, at Spon-lane, West-bromwich; so that +the town is now amply supplied with that article; for the companies at a +distance have their agents, who dispose of large quantities.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Steel House.</i></p> + +<p>In the beginning of the last century, a furnace was erected on the +outside of the town, for the conversion of iron into steel, and houses +being erected in its vicinity, they were denominated Steelhouse-lane. +That the woollen manufactory is of great importance to this kingdom must +be admitted, but if the demand for fine steel goods should ever revive +again, and be equally brisk as it was thirty years back, there is not in +my mind a doubt, but the iron and steel trade would produce more profit +to the nation than that of woollen, if it does not at the present time. +Wool is produced from the surface of the earth, and iron is by dint of +labour collected from its bowels; consider the numerous hands employed +in the mines and the furnaces to bring it into a rough state, either for +casting or the forge, and when it is in a proper state for either, the +endless variety of articles it is manufactured into; the whole export of +which, being all produced by labour, is every shilling of it profit to +the nation. Gold can only be wrought in any quantities to a certain +determinate value, but who can fix the price at which articles made of +steel may be sold. Should it please the Almighty to continue the +blessings of a general peace, the people on the continent will soon +recover themselves, and whenever that is the case, and money circulates +freely among them, they will then turn their thoughts to superfluities, +and as no other article will bear so high a polish and appear so +brilliant as those which are manufactured of steel, there is the +greatest probability of that trade being revived.—An attempt to +enumerate the different articles now made in iron and steel, would be in +vain; yet none of the more valuable are at this time in request.</p> + +<p>Previous to the year 1760, there were very few travellers, (if any,) +went from Birmingham with intent to sell the manufactures; the custom at +that time, and for many years afterwards, was, for the ironmongers in +different parts of the kingdom to bring their money and orders with +them, and to wait until the goods were brought in, and see them packed +before they left the town. The ironmongers in large towns then supplied +their neighbours in smaller places with the different articles, and +numbers of people used to attend different markets, where they kept a +stock of goods.</p> + +<p>This mode of conducting business being both troublesome and expensive, +the ironmongers, instead of coming twice a year as some of them did, +deputed some person to receive goods on their account, allowing a +commission for so doing. This opened the eyes of those who received the +goods, and induced them to collect patterns and travel on their own +account; which being found advantageous, it has been practised ever +since.</p> + +<p>Twenty years back the trades carried on in this town were, with few +exceptions, light articles, that depended upon fancy, but since that +time, there have been numerous works established for manufacturing +useful and substantial articles, both for the foreign market and home +consumption; and the orders are so extensive that several people keep +carts, for the purpose of delivering their own manufacture to the +merchant.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Principal Manufactories.</i></p> + +<p>Within this town are manufactured every metallic article, both for use +and ornament, that can be necessary in a house; the variety of japan +goods, both useful and ornamental, is prodigious; the brass founders +produce an infinite variety of articles; and the platers also; the +manufacturers of buttons, guns, swords, locks of every kind, jewellery +and toys, employ the greatest part of the population. To these may be +added a great variety of articles, exclusively for the foreign trade. +Lately a manufactory of watches has been established, upon a very +extensive scale, in gold, silver, metal, and covered cases.</p> + +<br> + +<p><i>Birmingham Canals.</i></p> + +<p>In the year 1767 an act of parliament was obtained to cut a canal from +this town to the collieries, which was completed in 1769, at the expence +of £70000, being 500 shares at £140. each, which in 1782 was sold for +£370. in 1792, £1170 was the price of them, and when the first meeting +was held respecting the grand junction canal, in the church, at Stony +Stratford, one was there sold for £1375. Since that time, the +proprietors have been authorised by parliament to divide each share into +two parts, which is in fact doubling the number of shares, in order that +they may be rendered more saleable, and for one of these divided shares, +£900 was offered and refused in the summer of 1818. There is now a +regular communication by water between this town, London, Liverpool, +Manchester, and Bristol; to the three former places, goods are delivered +on the fourth day, upon a certainty; there being relays of horses +stationed every fifteen miles.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>The Worcester Canal</i></p> + +<p>Was opened for the passage of boats, by forming a junction with the +Birmingham canal, on the 21st of July, 1815, by means of which goods may +be conveyed from the upper part of this town, to London, one whole day +sooner than they can by steering immediately into the Warwick canal. At +King's-Norton, this canal is conveyed under ground, by means of a +tunnel, two miles in length, which is in width 16 feet and in height 18 +feet, yet it is so admirably constructed, that any person by looking in +at one end, may perceive day-light at the other extremity. The pound of +water extends on a level for the space of fourteen miles, when it +descends into the river Severn by means of fifty-eight locks.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>The Warwick Canal</i></p> + +<p>Was opened for the passage of boats, by forming a junction with the +Birmingham canal, in the year 1800.</p> + +<p>A communication being opened between the Birmingham and Worcester +canals, in the year 1815, there are now two different routes by which +goods may be conveyed from this town to London, by water; one of them +is, by an immediate junction of the Birmingham canal with the Warwick, +which is accomplished by means of nineteen locks; the other is, by +passing into the Worcester canal, on the same level; from thence into +the Stratford canal, which is also on the same level, and from thence +into the Warwick canal.</p> + +<p>Boats from the wharfs within the town; Bird's, White-house's, +Robinson's, and Crowley's, are capable of delivering goods in London one +whole day sooner by the latter route than they can do by the other, and +the merchants and ironmongers in the metropolis are hereby informed of +that circumstance. The boat-owners by proceeding on this route, are +necessitated to advance a small sum of immediate money, for tonnage, +more than they do on the other route; to counterbalance that, the boats +are exempt from the wear and tear of passing through twelve locks, and +an extra day's expense; therefore, when both circumstances are taken +into consideration, the expenses cannot vary much either way, and to the +London merchant one day is, at times, of the utmost importance.—On that +account, there is no doubt that those who are apprised of this +circumstance, will order their goods to be conveyed by way of the +Stratford canal.</p> + +<p>The trade of this town has within the last fifteen years increased in an +astonishing manner; for in the year 1803, six weekly boats were +sufficient to convey all the merchandize to and from this town to +Manchester and Liverpool, but at the present time, there are at least +twenty boats weekly employed in that trade.</p> + +<p>At the same period, the competition was so great between the carriers to +London, that they procured a number of boats, but it was with difficulty +they could find lading for five or six in a week; whereas, at the +present time, there are at least eighteen boats per week, constantly +employed at the different wharfs in that traffic.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>The Theatre.</i></p> + +<p>This superb pile of building was erected in 1774, and an additional +portico in 1780, the whole together forming one of the most elegant +theatres in Europe. There are in the front of it, over the attic +windows, two busts, in bas relief, of exquisite workmanship; one +representing Shakespear, and the other Garrick.</p> + +<p>In the month of August, 1792, the interior of this building was in a +malicious manner set on fire, which consumed all the scenery, dresses, +etc. and although liberal rewards were offered for the discovery of the +incendiaries, no proof could be established, though suspicions were very +strong. Thus circumstanced, the proprietors purchased several adjoining +houses, and in the space of four years re-erected the theatre, upon an +enlarged scale, so that it will contain more than 2000 people. In the +centre building, towards the front, is an elegant assembly room, which +is fitted up in a sumptuous style, and the two wings are occupied as a +tavern, which, from the great author of the drama, is called the +Shakespear. In the year 1807, it was made a royal theatre, and on that +account the proprietors are entitled to let it for such performances as +other royal theatres are, without being under controul of the +magistrates.</p> + +<p>As a theatre, it opens in June and closes in September.</p> + +<p>This substantial and well-constructed pile of building, being on a line +with the street, it cannot be seen to any advantage, except you ascend +the roof of St. Philip's church. This theatre is now lighted by means of +gas, in a most brilliant manner.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Musical Festival.</i></p> + +<p>Once in three years, during the month of October, the vocal and +instrumental performers of the first class are assembled here in greater +numbers than any other part of the kingdom can boast. They are collected +together at a prodigious expense, for the purpose of performing +oratorios, three successive mornings, in the church of St. Philip. In +the evening of each day, select concerts are performed in the theatre; +and when those performances are closed, the company who are assembled, +whilst they are under the same roof, are ushered into an elegant and +well-furnished ball room, where they amuse themselves for the remainder +of the evening; refreshments being provided upon the spot. These +performances are conducted in such a superior style, that great numbers +of the nobility and gentry who reside at a considerable distance, are +induced to attend. The profits arising from these musical +entertainments being appropriated to the benefit of the General +Hospital, many of them contribute in a very liberal manner by donations +to that institution. The last performances took place in October, 1817, +when the committee of managers, after they had defrayed all incidental +expences, paid to the treasurers of the general hospital the sum of +£4296. 10s. 10d. the total receipts being £8476. 6s. 9d.</p> + +<p>The next festival is intended to be celebrated in October, 1820.</p> + +<p>There being two rooms of large dimensions, that are each of them fitted +up in a style of elegance, as ball rooms, one at the hotel in +Temple-row, and the other adjoining the theatre in New-street, there are +during winter, subscription concerts and assemblies held at each of +them.</p> + +<p>Independant of these, private concerts are occasionally held at each of +them; those at the hotel being of some years' establishment, the room, +although eighty feet in length and thirty-three in breadth, is so +completely occupied, that any person who is desirous of becoming a +member must probably wait two or three years before they can obtain +admission.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Panorama.</i></p> + +<p>A pile of building was erected in New-street, for the purpose of +exhibiting paintings of this description, which has lately been +converted into an auction room.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Deritend House.</i></p> + +<p>This stone-fronted mansion was erected in 1786, as a tavern, under the +name of the Apollo, and in consequence of its bowling green, was for +several years much frequented. It was afterwards divided into two +private houses; but in 1816 being purchased by Wm. Hamper, Esq. that +gentleman greatly improved the premises and again converted it into one +dwelling, which he makes his residence, and which, from its extensive +gardens and pleasant situation, is much admired.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Duddeston or Vauxhall,</i></p> + +<p>So called after that place of fashionable resort near London, is little +more than a mile from the centre of the town.</p> + +<p>This was the ancient residence of the Holt family, and within memory +contained some good paintings, as the gardens did a number of lead +statues, large as life, and some smaller ones; but depredations being +committed by stealing some of them, the others were removed.</p> + +<p>These delightful gardens, which contain a very spacious bowling green, +an orchestra, a great number of commodious gravel walks, on the borders +of which are numerous lofty trees, of various kinds, together with +parterres, where flowers of different sorts were accustomed to be seen, +were, till of late years, resorted to by none but the genteeler sort of +people, and from their retired situation, are every way capable of being +made one of the most rural retreats for public amusement of any in the +kingdom. Times are now completely changed, it being turned into an +alehouse, where persons of all descriptions may be accommodated with +that or any other liquor, on which account the upper classes of the +inhabitants have entirely absented themselves.</p> + +<p>By adopting this method, the editor is of opinion, that the present +occupier is accumulating more money than any of his predecessors.—There +are, during summer, fire works occasionally exhibited, and sometimes +concerts of vocal and instrumental music.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>The Crescent.</i></p> + +<p>Several years have now elapsed since a plot of ground, 1182 feet in +length, forming a terrace seventeen feet above the wharfs, was laid out +for the purpose of erecting some superior buildings in that form, and +the wings were soon after constructed according to the plan; but as yet +very little progress has been made in the central buildings.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>The Barracks.</i></p> + +<p>In the year 1793, government took a lease of five acres of land, near +Ashsted chapel, at the rate of one penny per square yard, whereon they +expended the sum of thirteen thousand pounds, in the erection of +barracks to accommodate one hundred and sixty-two men, with their +horses.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Birmingham Fire Office.</i></p> + +<p>In the month of March, 1805, the monied interest in this town opened an +institution under the above title; there being three hundred +subscribers, at £1000. each. Their office is in Union-street, which for +chasteness of design is equal to any other building in the town.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>The Inland Commercial Society.</i></p> + +<p>The merchants, and others, who were accustomed to send goods to, or +receive them from Liverpool, having experienced, not only great delays, +but the packages being pilfered, to their great prejudice, established +this concern, in order to counteract such proceedings in future.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Theological Library.</i></p> + +<p>The first rector of St. Philip's church, the Rev. Wm. Higgs, having +bequeathed this library for the use of the clergy in Birmingham, and its +vicinity, and the sum of two hundred pounds to make further purchases, a +handsome library was erected by the Rev. Spencer Madan, in the year 1792 +for its reception, adjoining to the parsonage house, he being at that +time rector.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Public Library.</i></p> + +<p>An institution under this title was established in the year 1779, and is +now held in an elegant pile of building, erected on the tontine +principle, by the subscribers, situated in Union-street. In front of the +building is the following inscription:</p> + +AD MERCATURAM BONARUM ARTIUM PROFECTUS, ET TIBI ET<br> +OMNIBUS DITESCES.<br> + +<p>Which is thus englished,—</p> + +RESORTING TO THE MART THE SCIENCES, YOU WILL GROW RICH,<br> +BOTH FOR YOURSELF AND OTHERS.<br> + +<p>This library contains about sixteen thousand volumes, and there are +about five hundred and sixty subscribers.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>New Library.</i></p> + +<p>Some disagreement arising among the subscribers to the public library, +gave rise to this institution, which was established in the year 1796, +in a commodious room for the purpose, situated at the lower part of +Cannon-street, where there are about three thousand volumes.—From the +committee of this library I have received every assistance, and from the +librarian every information it was in his power to give.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>General Provident Society.</i></p> + +<p>This society originated in the year 1800, for the benefit of the working +class; it consists of upwards of four hundred members, who are aided by +about fifty-five honorary members, who contribute annually to the fund, +which consists of three thousand four hundred pounds, funded property. A +member when sick receives eight shillings per week, and when past the +age of sixty-five, he receives four shillings per week during his life. +The dependant subscribers contribute no more than four-pence per week, +although, in addition to the foregoing, they receive medical assistance +gratia.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Clubs.</i></p> + +<p>Under this denomination, the workmen assemble at the public-houses they +usually resort to, and by contributing a small sum weekly, they raise a +fund, from whence, if any member is afflicted with illness, he receives +a certain sum for his support, according to the rules of the society to +which he belongs; every separate club having rules and orders peculiar +to themselves.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Piddock's Trust.</i></p> + +<p>In the year 1728, William Piddock devised his farm, containing about +nine acres of land, at Winson Green, in trust, for the purpose of +educating and putting out apprentice, poor boys belonging to the parish +of Birmingham, or other discretional charities. It is vested in the +constables, church-wardens, and overseers for the time being. This +estate now produces about I cannot learn what.</p> +<br> + +<p>The baneful effects produced by spirituous liquors, which has made such +dreadful havoc among the populace in many other manufacturing towns, is, +to the credit of the working people, very little encouraged.</p> + +<p>To the credit of the inhabitants, the spirit of gambling is almost +unknown here; there being more of it practised in many small towns than +there is in this extensive one. The magistrates invariably suppress +those public houses where it is encouraged.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Wilday's Royal Hotel, Temple-row.</i></p> + +<p>As a proof how salubrious the air is in this neighbourhood, this +capacious and substantial pile of building was erected in the year +1772, upon the tontine principle; divided into fifty shares, at £100 per +share, and there are at this time, October, 1818, forty-five of the +parties, whose lives were nominated, now alive.</p> + +<p>It has an elegant entrance through a capacious saloon, at the extremity +of which there is a noble flight of stairs, leading to an elegant and +spacious assembly room, in length, including the orchestra, wherein +there is a handsome and fine-toned organ, eighty feet, and in breadth +thirty-three feet. It is fitted up in a tasteful and decorative manner, +with three rich cut-glass chandeliers, five lustres, and six large +mirrors.</p> + +<p>This hotel is considered one of the first in point of comfort and +accommodation, and not being subject to the annoyance of stage coaches, +makes it a very desirable residence for families who think proper to +reside any time in the town, to inspect the different manufactories and +show rooms.</p> + +<p>This hotel has been honoured with the presence of Prince William of +Gloucester, Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, the Grand Duchess of +Oldenburgh (now Queen of Wirtemberg, and sister of Alexander, Emperor of +Russia), the King of France, the Grand Dukes Nicholas and Michael, etc. +etc. This house is also considered one of the first in the kingdom for +the accommodation of posting, where an extensive supply of horses and +carriages are always in readiness.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Statue to the Memory of Lord Nelson.</i></p> + +<p>Nearly at the top of the market-place, and fronting St. Martin's church, +a statue of this never-to-be-forgotten hero was exposed to public view, +on the 25th of October, 1809; the day on which was celebrated the +jubilee of our august sovereign George 3d. It was executed in bronze, by +Westmacott, a statuary of the first eminence, at the expense of £2500, +which was raised by voluntary subscription, to immortalize the memory of +that much-lamented admiral. The attitude of the figure is expressive of +that dignity and serenity with which the original was characterised, and +the resemblance is upon the whole admitted to be more than usually +correct. The circular pedestal whereon it is erected, is ornamented with +figures in alto relievo, in a bold and masterly style, the limbs being +so disposed, that except real violence is used, they are not liable to +be injured. The relative proportion of the whole is admirable, and the +general effect it produces gives the utmost satisfaction. As an artist, +every praise is due to Mr. Westmacott, for the admirable skill he has +displayed, and also for his unassuming conduct in presence of the +committee, who had been appointed to superintend its execution.</p> + +<p>On the scaffolding being removed, and the statue exhibited to public +inspection, the following illustration of it was distributed by Mr. +Westmacott:—</p> + +<p>"In this work, intended to perpetuate the greatest example of naval +genius, simplicity has been the chief object in the arrangement. The +hero is represented in a reposed and dignified attitude, his left arm +reclining upon an anchor: he appears in the costume of his native +country, invested with the insignia of those honours by which his +sovereign and distant princes distinguished him. To the right of the +statue, the grand symbol of the naval profession is introduced. Victory, +the constant attendant upon her favourite hero, embellishes the prow. To +the left is disposed a sail, which being placed behind the statue, +gives breadth to that view of the composition. Above the ship is a +facsimile of the Flag Staff Truck of l'Orient, which was fished up by +Sir Samuel Hood, the day following the battle of the Nile, and presented +by him to Lord Nelson; the same being deposited at Mitford, as a trophy +of that ever-memorable action. This group is surmounted upon a pedestal +of statuary marble; a circular form having been selected, as best +adapted to the situation. To personify that affectionate regard which +caused the present patriotic tribute to be raised, the town of +Birmingham is represented in a dejected attitude, murally crowned, +mourning her loss; she being accompanied by groups of genii, or +children, in allusion to the rising generation, who offer consolation to +her, by producing the trident and the rudder."</p> + +<p>In front of the pedestal is the following inscription:—</p> + +THIS STATUE<br> +IN HONOUR OF<br> +ADMIRAL<br> +LORD NELSON,<br> +WAS ERECTED<br> +BY THE<br> +INHABITANTS OF BIRMINGHAM<br> +A. D. MDCCCIX.<br> + +<p>The whole is inclosed by iron palisadoes, in the form of boarding pikes, +connected by a twisted cable. At each of the four corners is fixed a +cannon, erect, from which issues a lamp post, representing a cluster of +pikes, supporting a ship lantern.</p> + +<p>The late Mr. Joseph Farror, of this town, at his decease, bequeathed +six-pence per week, to be paid for ever, out of rents arising from a +house in Bradford-street, for keeping the basement and statue of Lord +Nelson clean and free from dirt, which is received by the wardens of St. +Martin's church.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Proof House.</i></p> + +<p>Although government have at all times a large store of fire arms in the +tower of London, yet, after the revolution had taken place in France, +and England was threatened with an invasion, the numerous volunteers who +offered their services at that time, to repel the enemy, required such a +profusion to be distributed among them, that it became necessary to +purchase large quantities from any part of the continent where they +could be procured; and the volunteers of this town were supplied with +muskets from Prussia. The words 'liberty' and 'equality', used by the +French military, produced such an effect on the continent, that England +was necessitated to manufacture arms for its own defence. Thus situated, +application was made to the gun-makers in this town, but the number of +hands at that time employed in the trade was so limited, that they could +only supply small quantities; but when war was renewed, after the peace +of Amiens, great encouragement being given by government, the +manufacturers of arms in this town were, in the year 1804, enabled to +supply five thousand stand of arms monthly.</p> + +<p>At that time, so many workmen had obtained a knowledge of the trade, +that in the year 1809 the government were supplied with twenty thousand +stand of arms monthly, and in 1810, the number was increased from +twenty-eight to thirty thousand monthly; and that number was regularly +supplied until the peace of Paris.</p> + +<p>In order to expedite the business, a proof house was established by +government, in Lancaster-street, under an inspector from the board of +ordnance.</p> + +<p>An act of parliament was obtained in the year 1813, for the erection of +a proof house in this town, where all barrels of guns, pistols, +blunderbusses, etc. must be proved and marked, under a severe penalty; +and since that time, the manufacturing of fowling pieces has increased +to a considerable degree.</p> + +<p>It is situated on the banks of the canal, in Banbury-street, and is +conducted under the direction of three wardens, who are annually made +choice of from the body of guardians and trustees, they being nominated +in the act of parliament.<a name="FNanchor4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4"><sup>[4]</sup></a> In addition to them, the Lords Lieutenants +for the counties of Warwick, Worcester, and Stafford, the members +serving in parliament for the said counties, for the time being, +respectively, and the magistrates acting within seven miles of the town +of Birmingham, are appointed as guardians.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor4">[4]</a><div class=note> +<font face="Courier"> +<br> +John Heeley, Warden.<br> +John Adams, Warden and Treasurer.<br> +<br> +William Allport, |<br> +Bartholomew Redfern, | Auditors of Accounts.<br> +<br> +William Ryan, Warden.<br> +<br> +Robert Wheeler John Oughton John Jones<br> +Richard Sutherland John Smith John Mabson<br> +Joseph Tarton John Olive Stephen Wallis</font></div><br> + +<p>The corn mill at the bottom of Snowhill was erected about the year 1781: +the brick work of this extensive building, which is excellent in its +kind, was executed by Mr. Edward Jones, according to contract; which +was, for bricks, mortar, and labour, one guinea per thousand. This mill, +and also that adjoining, were erected by the late Mr. James Pickard, and +were the first steam engines that worked by a rotatory motion, he being +the person who first applied the crank to those machines, and for which +invention he obtained a patent, but I do not know that he ever erected +any others; for Messrs. Boulton and Watt, in order to evade the patent, +substituted the sun and planet wheels, which they continued to use until +the patent expired.</p> + +<p>At the latter mill, where metal was rolled and other business carried +on, a pump was fixed, and a boy employed to work it, for the purpose of +keeping the machinery cool; but after some time, the youth being +inclined to play, fixed a pole from the engine to the lever of the pump, +which gave rise to the practise that was afterwards followed, of making +the engine supply itself with water for that purpose. The boy for his +ingenuity was afterwards employed withinside the mill.</p> + +<p><i>Union Mill.</i></p> + +<p>There being a great scarcity of corn in the year 1795, the wealthy +inhabitants raised a subscription, and having purchased a large quantity +of foreign corn, at Liverpool, it was soon conveyed here, but it very +unfortunately happened that at the time, neither wind nor water mills +could be worked, to grind it. From this circumstance, Mr. William Bell, +a man who possessed a fertile genius, suggested the idea of erecting a +steam mill, and set on foot a subscription for that purpose, there being +about seven thousand subscribers, at one pound each. It was for several +years very doubtful whether this mill could be supported or not; but +having surmounted those difficulties, it has for several years been a +very profitable concern; shares being at the present time eagerly sought +after, at three pounds ten shillings per share.</p> + +<p>This mill turning out so beneficial, and the boundaries of the town +being extended to a considerable degree, the same Mr. Bell projected +another, which he called +<i>The New Union Mill.</i></p> + +<p>Upon a more extensive scale than the former, which was in time carried +into effect; but like other things in an infant state, it has +difficulties to encounter. The committee having expended as much money +in superfluous buildings, as would have supported the mill in credit.</p> + +<p>Steam engines are erected in every direction round the town, they being +found to accelerate business, and abridge manual labour.</p> + +<p><i>Public Breweries.</i></p> + +<p>Of these there are three; one of them situated in Warstone-lane, +belongs to Forrest and Sons; another in Deritend, is the property of +Richards and Goddington; and the third is near Broad-street, conducted +by a public company.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Glass Houses.</i></p> + +<p>The manufacture of flint glass, and the various methods of ornamenting +it, gives employment to a great number of people in this town; it having +within the last twenty years increased to a very considerable degree; +there being at this time, in the town and its immediate vicinity, six +glass houses in full work.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Beardsworth's Repository for Horses and Carriages,</i></p> + +<p>Is upon an extensive scale, about sixty yards from the S.W. corner of +Smithfield, where there are always a variety of both on sale, and a +public auction takes place every Thursday in the forenoon.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Smithfield</i></p> + +<p>Is situated about sixty yards to the S. of St. Martin's church. Neat +cattle, sheep, and pigs being exposed to sale, upon the identical spot +where the ancient barons of Birmingham were accustomed to hold their +midnight revels, and to feast their dependants. The hospitable mansion +having been demolished long since, the moat was filled up, and the +ground prepared in a very commodious manner for the intended purpose, +against Michaelmas Day, 1817, at which time the fair was proclaimed, and +it has since been used as a market.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Inspection of Raw Hides.</i></p> + +<p>Parliament having passed an act to prevent frauds from being practised +in raw hides, a very convenient situation was fixed upon for their +examination, in Park-street, where two persons are annually appointed to +inspect them.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Public Scales.</i></p> + +<p>A short distance from the statue of Lord Nelson, one of the beadles is +stationed every market day, with the public scales and weights, where +any person may weigh whatever articles of provision they have purchased, +free of expense, which is a very laudable institution, and has proved of +the greatest utility.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Improvements.</i></p> + +<p>Within the last twenty years, the interior of the town has experienced +very considerable improvements; numerous houses adjacent to the church +yard of St. Martin have been entirely removed, and the space they +occupied is thrown open to enlarge the market place.</p> + +<p>The entrance into several streets have been made considerably wider, and +by that means rendered more commodious; some of the streets have been +re-paved, and the water conveyed by culverts, instead of annoying the +pedestrian as it used to do. Some parts of the town are already lighted +by gas, and preparations are making for the general use of it; but in +those streets where it has been introduced, a great part of the +brilliant light it produces is obscured for want of clean lamps. Those +who have the care of them, either do not know how, or will not be at the +trouble of making a strong lie of ash balls and hot water, which with a +little labour and attention will remove the greasy particles that adhere +to them.—It having been customary to fix the lamps adjacent to the +houses, the same method is still pursued; but if light cylindrical lamp +posts of cast iron were fixed between the curb stone and the water +course, every part of the street would be benefited by the alteration. +The lamps should be made with a hole in the bottom, similar to those +used in halls, and fit into a socket at the top of the lamp post.</p> + +<p>This fashionable mode of producing artificial light, gives employment to +great numbers of people in this town, not only for the use of public +streets, but also elegant branches for the interior of houses.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Newspapers.</i></p> + +<p>There are four published in this town: Aris's Gazette, by Mr. Thomas +Knott, jun. on Monday morning; Swinney's Birmingham Chronicle, by Mr. +James Ferrall, on Wednesday evening; the Birmingham Commercial Herald, +by Messrs. Richard Jabet and Co. on Saturday evening; also, the Argus, +on the same evening.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>The Markets.</i></p> + +<p>Although there is not any shelter for the country people, yet in the +most stormy weather this town is abundantly supplied with provisions of +all kinds, every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. This being the grand +mart, the fertile vale of Evesham pours forth its fruit and vegetables +in great profusion; and as auxiliaries, the vicinity of Tamworth and +also of Lichfield send hither great quantities; in short, whatever +provisions of a good quality are brought here, the market is never +overstocked.</p> + +<p>The butchers in this town are dispersed over every part of it, where +they live and enjoy those comforts with their families that it is not +possible to do when they are congregated together in shambles; and in +this extensive town, no person is necessitated to lose much time, or +walk far from home, to provide for his family.</p> + +<p>Considering the distance from hence to the sea coast, the inhabitants +are well supplied with fish of various kinds, and at a moderate price.</p> + +<p>Opposite the quaker's meeting in Bull-street, there is, in front of the +house occupied by Mr. Standley, a most admirable piece of brick-work, +(the lock-maker's arms, under a most beautiful arch), such as is very +seldom seen, and does infinite credit to whoever executed it; but some +simpleton has defaced the arms to a considerable degree, by colouring +them to represent stone. This was about as necessary as paint is for the +faces of women:—to make them look worse afterwards. This exquisite +performance appears to have been done about one hundred and fifty years; +the house having been invariably in the possession of a person eminent +as a lock-maker during the above period.</p> + +<p>In Moor-street, there is another specimen of the same kind, about one +hundred yards above the public office, which was executed in the year +1671, being arms, a chevron between three goats' heads, and a goat's +head for a crest. Such specimens of brick work as these are very seldom +seen.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Square</i>.</p> + +<p>There is near the centre of the town, what is called the Square; the +buildings which surround it were uniform; but one eighth part was some +years back fronted with stone, and converted into a tavern, which is +denominated the Stork. This house of entertainment, from its private +situation and being near the centre of the town, is much resorted to by +travellers; there being capacious stabling behind, and in front there +are some shrubs, inclosed by iron pallisadoes. For those who are at +leisure, there is an excellent billiard table.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>John-a-Dean's Hole.</i></p> + +<p>At the bottom of Digbeth, about forty yards from Deritend Bridge, there +is on the left a water course that receives a small drain from Digbeth, +and also from the adjacent lands; which stream separates the parishes of +Aston and Birmingham, and is known by the name of John-a-Dean's hole, +from a person of that name who is said to have lost his life there.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Baths, near Lady Well,</i></p> + +<p>Are always ready for the accommodation of hot or cold bathing, and also +for immersion or amusement, together with sudorific apartments. The +swimming bath is in length thirty-six yards, and in breadth eighteen +yards, containing more than 2000 hogsheads of spring water, and +gradually slopes from the depth of one to five feet; being situated in +the centre of a garden, wherein are twenty-four apartments to undress +and dress in; the whole being surrounded by a wall, ten feet high, and +fine lofty trees. There are also very decent baths in Newtown-row, near +Lancaster-street.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Houses</i>.</p> + +<p>By an accurate survey, taken in the year 1810, it appears that there +were then 9196 front houses, and 8214 back houses, within the connected +streets of Birmingham, which, reckoning five and a half to a house, +makes the population 97,405. There appears to be about 400 houses +erected annually, which will make the number at the present time 18510, +and the population 101,805.</p> + +<p>The old Roman road, denominated Ikenield-street, that extends from +Southampton to Tyremouth, enters this parish near the observatory in +Ladywood-lane, crosses the road to Dudley at the Sand Pits, and +proceeding along Warstone-lane, leaves the parish in Hockley-brook; but +is distinctly to be seen at the distance of five miles, both in Sutton +park and on the Coldfield, in perfect repair, as when the Romans left +it.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>The Parsonage House</i></p> + +<p>Of St. Martin, situated near Smallbrook-street, is in all probability +one of the most ancient entire buildings in this part of the country; it +being a low, half-timbered erection, surrounded by a moat; in front of +which is, what was the tythe barn, being near sixty yards in length, +now made use of as warehouses.</p> + +<p>By late regulations in the post office, an innovation has crept in that +is highly reprehensible, and ought not to be continued. Before mail +coaches were established, Coleshill was a place of considerably more +note then, as a post town, than Birmingham, it being very common for +people in the north to direct their letters for Birmingham, to turn at +Coleshill. This being the case, if the directors of the post office +think proper to change the route for their own convenience, that is no +reason why the public should be charged with the expense. Dudley and +Coleshill being both of them the same distance from Birmingham, what +reason can be assigned why a letter to Dudley should be four-pence and +to Coleshill six-pence?</p> + +<p>The country for a few miles round the town is in every direction studded +with houses, belonging to the opulent inhabitants of Birmingham, or of +those who have retired from the busy scenes of life.</p> + +<p>Whoever walks much about this town, will perceive one very remarkable +circumstance: at the top of a street you ascend into the houses by a +flight of steps, and in the lower part of the same street, you descend +into some of the houses; this is exemplified in Edmund-street, and +particularly in Newhall-street and Lionel-street.</p> + +<p>There are two fairs in the year, one of them is held on Thursday in the +Whitsun week, and the other on the last Thursday in September: the +horses being exposed for sale in Bristol-street; the neat cattle, sheep, +and pigs in Smithfield.</p> + +<p>The established market is on Thursday, but the town being so populous, +there is a very good market both on Monday and Saturday. Hay and straw +are exposed for sale every Tuesday, in Smithfield.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Jackson's Trust.</i></p> + +<p>George Jackson, of Birmingham, mercer, gave certain premises, in +Deritend, for placing out two apprentices, annually; present rent, six +pounds per annum.</p> + +<p>Some years back, the church of St. Martin being under repair, the +workmen discovered that the four pinnacles, (one at each corner of the +tower), were very much decayed, upon which, the powers at that time in +authority concluded, that they should be re-constructed, and to make a +finish, fixed a vane upon each of them, without considering, that, the +steeple being in the centre, it was not possible for the wind invariably +to act upon all alike; consequently, any other termination would have +been more appropriate.</p> + +<p>In the jurisprudence of this town, there is one remarkable circumstance; +the chief constable of Hemlingford hundred, wherein Birmingham is +situated, is of course superior to the two constables of this town; yet +they, by virtue of their office, preside over the common prison, and of +course the appointment of prison-keeper is vested in them; but, strange +to relate, the chief constable of the hundred is keeper of the prison, +in Birmingham: consequently, although he is their superior, he is at +the same time subservient to them.</p> + +<p><i>Private Carriages</i>.</p> + +<p>Within this town and its immediate vicinity there are more than fifty +carriages, of different descriptions, on four wheels, and upwards of +three hundred on two wheels, that pay the duty.</p> + +<p>The number of hackney coaches that ply in the streets is twelve, under +the following regulated fares.</p> + +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;"><i>Hackney Coach Fares.</i></span><br> +Under one mile .................. 1 6<br> +1 mile and under 1-1/2 .......... 2 0<br> +1-1/2 mile and under 2 .......... 3 0<br> +2 miles and under 2-1/2 ......... 4 0<br> +2-1/2 miles and under 3 ......... 5 0<br> +3 miles and under 3-1/2 ......... 6 0<br> +3-1/2 miles and under 4 ......... 7 0<br> + +<p>An extra half fare if carrying more than four persons.</p> + +<p><i>Time</i>.</p> + +<p>For every forty minutes, one shilling, and for every twenty minutes +afterwards, six-pence in addition. If employed, or kept in waiting, +betwixt the hours of twelve o'clock at night and five o'clock in the +morning, double the above fares are allowed.</p> + +<p>The late Mr. Baskerville, whose printed works are in such high +estimation, both for paper and print, resided at a place called Easy +Hill, at that time quite distant from the town; the house being +encircled by an extensive paddock. At this place he erected a mill for +the making of paper, in which article he excelled all his +contemporaries, as he also did in the formation of his types, which, to +the disgrace of this country, were permitted to be sold into France. +This once delightful spot is now surrounded with buildings, the house +wherein he resided is converted into a manufactory, and the land into +wharfs.</p> + +<p>About twenty yards above the statue in honour of Lord Nelson, there was +within memory the market cross, from whence the roads in every direction +were measured; but from some cause or other, that custom has been +altered, and it is difficult to say from what part of the town some of +the roads are now measured; for example, the road to Walsall. This road +having been considerably shortened and improved, is now considered to be +eight miles distant: (it was some years back, ten miles); but from the +centre of one town to that of the other, will measure nine miles; and +whoever travels that road must very justly pay for that distance.</p> + +<p>The road to Stourbridge and Kidderminster is another instance where the +mile stones are not to be depended upon; for the one mile stone on that +road is considerably more than that distance from the centre of the +town.</p> + +<p>The horse roads round this town were, within memory, from the rains, +constant wear, and no repair, worn into such hollow ways, that in some +instances, particularly in Bordesley, a waggon, when loaded with hay, +the top of it was not so high as the foot path on the side: it was at +one time fifty-eight feet below the surface. There are still remaining +two specimens of the old roads, but they have been for many years +useless, except in going to the adjacent grounds. One of them is +situated a little beyond the sign of the Bell, on the right hand side +of the Worcester road, and leads towards the Five Ways. The other begins +at Edgbaston church, and continues till you arrive at the toll-gate, on +the Bromsgrove road; but, thanks to the trustees of the turnpikes, the +roads in every direction are now upon a par with others, and in one +respect surpass most of them throughout the kingdom, by having on the +side of every one, a foot path, for the accommodation of pedestrians.</p> + +<p>This town, not being restricted by any charter, strangers from whatever +quarter they may come, here find an asylum, and pursue their avocations +with as much freedom, and are no more subject to molestation, than a +native inhabitant. Trade of every kind may be exercised here, and let a +person's religious opinions be whatever they may, he is at liberty to +exercise them; there being in this town eight places of public worship, +according to the establishment, one for the society of friends, two for +protestant dissenters, three for calvinists, two for Roman catholics, +four for methodists, four for baptists, one for Swedenburgians, one for +jews, and one for the followers of Lady Huntingdon.</p> + +<p>The buildings in this town extend to the distance of near three miles in +every direction, reckoning from the top of Camphill, and it was some +years back, upon a certainty, the largest town in the kingdom. This was +ascertained by actual measurement; for soon after Mr. Aikin published +his history of Manchester, Mr. John Snape, a very accurate surveyor, +drew a plan of this town, upon the same scale as Mr. Aikin's. Since that +time, I cannot say which of the two towns have encreased the most; but, +if Manchester has extended its buildings with more rapidity than +Birmingham, it is a very extensive place.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the extent of this town, there is very little +distinction between it and a village; all the difference is, its fairs +and market, for the smallest town has a constable to preside over it, +and this, although so extensive and populous, is governed by two +constables.</p> + +<p>Although this town is of such considerable magnitude, and one of the +principal thoroughfares between London and Dublin, there are no more +than three places where the superior class of travellers can be +accommodated with horses and carriages; the Royal Hotel, near St. +Philip's church; the Swan Hotel, in High-street, and the Hen and +Chickens Hotel, in New-street.</p> + +<p>For the accommodation of the next class, there are the following taverns +and inns: the Stork, in the Square; the Nelson, opposite the statue of +his lordship, in the market-place; the Union, in Union-street; the +Saracen's Head, in Bull-street; the George, and the Castle, in +High-street; the Red Lion, the George, and the White Hart, in Digbeth; +the Rose, in Edgbaston-street; and the, Woolpack, in Moor-street.</p> + +<p>From the Nelson, the Swan, the Hen and Chickens, the Saracen's Head, the +George, or the Castle, those who travel by public carriages may be +conveyed to any part of the kingdom. The principal avenue leading to +and from this town is Great Hampton-street, which, as its name imports, +is on the road to Wolverhampton, but it is also the road to Walsall and +likewise to Dudley. In this capacious road several streets concentrate, +but I would recommend a stranger to proceed down Snowhill.</p> + +<p>The next avenue, in point of importance, is Camphill, on the road to +Stratford, where several streets and roads are united.</p> + +<p>It is deserving of notice, that however large or small the houses are, +the partition walls are uniformly brick and mortar, and with few +exceptions, the floors of small houses are laid with quarries, which in +a great degree accounts for there being so few fires of any consequence +within this extensive town.</p> + +<p>There is not any thing in this town, or its immediate vicinity, that can +attract the attention of an antiquarian: it appears that there once was +a castle, encircled by a moat, situated near the Icknield-street, or +Warstone-lane; the foundation of which is still perceptible, and covered +an area of twenty square perch; but the ground whereon it stood has been +so frequently turned over, that it is only by the difference in the +verdure that it can be discovered.</p> + +<p>The present occupier of the land has at different times taken up about +four thousand of the bricks, which were burnt very hard, and resembled +those now in use, but were not so large.</p> + +<p>About four miles distant there once stood Weoliegh castle, which was +surrounded by a moat; but the site of the castle is now a garden, and +not a vestige of the building remains, except a small part of the +foundation, which may be discovered at the edge of the moat, that +remaining entire.</p> + +<p>Having concluded my observations respecting the public concerns of +Birmingham, I cannot restrain myself from remarking, that there is at +Warwick castle a most magnificent marble bacchanalian vase, of +astonishing dimensions, it being seven feet in diameter and twenty-one +in circumference, which is encircled on the outside with fruit, leaves, +and branches of the vine, the latter being entwined so as to form two +massive handles, with grotesque masks at the end of each; the whole +being in exact proportion to the magnitude of the vase. This unique +specimen of ancient sculpture was discovered in the baths of the Emperor +Adrian, and presented by the Queen of Naples to Sir Wm. Hamilton, the +British ambassador at that court, by whom it was forwarded as a present +to the late Earl of Warwick; who, when it was unpacked, and he had taken +a survey of it, immediately gave orders for the erection of a splendid +green-house, wherein it is now deposited.</p> + +<p>Mr. E. Thomason, of this town, who had been a pupil of the late Mr. +Boulton, at Soho, no sooner saw this remarkable production of the fine +arts, than he conceived the idea of forming one of the same magnitude in +metal; and accordingly solicited permission to make models from it, +which his lordship in the most condescending manner permitted him to do. +Mr. Thomason without delay made preparations for the undertaking, and +the metallic vase has been under the hands of different artists above +four years, and is now nearly completed. This unique performance in +metal, is in every respect a perfect resemblance of the original, and +weighs several tons; the ground of it is bronzed, and at the present +time highly relieved in light and shade; but I understand it will, when +complete, be considerably more so, by two novel and distinct processes +of oxydation, that will endure for ages.</p> + +<p>This sumptuous metallic vase may be seen at Mr. Thomason's, who +manufactures an endless variety of articles, for several of which he has +obtained letters patent. The royal series of medals, and various others, +are exclusively of his manufacture. Persons of rank who are curious may +there see the art of chasing, or sculpturing in basso and alto relievo, +together with various operations in the art of metallurgy.</p> + +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Bankers Draw upon, Taylors and Lloyds, Dale End: Hanbury +and Co.</span><br> + +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Woolley, Moilliet, and Gordon, Cherry-street: Lubbock and Co.</span><br> + +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Attwoods, Spooner, Goddington, and Co. New-street: Spooner and Co.</span><br> + +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Smith, Gibbins, Smith, Gibbins, Goode, and Co. Union-street: Esdaile</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">and Co.</span><br> + +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Freer, Rotton, Lloyd, and Co. New-street: Hanbury and Co.</span><br> + +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Galtons and James, Steelhouse-lane: Barclay, Tritton, and Co.</span><br> + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> +<br> + +<p><i>Post Office</i>,</p> + +<p>UNDER THE SUPERINTENDANCE OF MISS GOTTWALTZ.</p> + +<p>All letters intended to be forwarded by the same day's post, should be +put into the box one hour before the time mentioned below.</p> + +<p><i>Sheffield Mail</i></p> + +<p>Every morning, at nine o'clock; which takes all letters for Lichfield, +Tamworth, Atherstone, Uttoxeter, Rudgley, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, +Gainsborough, Brigg, Barton, Kirton, Caister, Coltersworth, Grantham, +Grimsby, Lincoln, Market Raisin, Sleaford, and Stamford, in +Lincolnshire, Rutlandshire, Sheffield, Barnsley, Wakefield, Leeds, +Halifax, Rotherham, Bradford, Huddersfield, Keighley, Otley, Doncaster, +Ferry-bridge, Howden, Bawtry, and Selby, in Yorkshire.</p> + +<p><i>Manchester Mail</i></p> + +<p>Every morning, at half past nine o'clock; which takes all letters for +Walsall, Willenhall, Wolverhampton, Stafford, Stone, and Newcastle, in +Staffordshire, Cheshire (except Malpas), Lancashire, Scotland, +Northumberland, Durham, Cumberland, Westmoreland, Yorkshire (except +those places which go by the Sheffield mail), Conway, in Carnarvonshire, +Flintshire (except Overton), Denbighshire (except Rhuabon, Wrexham, +Llangollen, and Chirk), Woore and Market Drayton, in Shropshire.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Walsall Mail</i></p> + +<p>Every day, at eleven in the forenoon; which takes all letters for that +town and its delivery.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Holyhead Mail</i></p> + +<p>Every day, at eleven in the forenoon; which takes all letters for +West-bromwich, Wednesbury, Willenhall, Bilston, Wolverhampton, +Shiffnall, and the intermediate places, Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Ellesmere, +Whitchurch, Bridgnorth, Merioneth, and Montgomeryshire, Rhuabon, +Wrexham, Llangollen and Chirk, in Denbighshire, Malpas, in Cheshire, and +Overton, in Flintshire, Ireland (except the south-west part, which goes +by way of Bristol), Anglesea, and Carnarvonshire (except Conway).</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Bewdley Mail</i></p> + +<p>Every day, at half past eleven o'clock; which takes all letters for +Tipton, Dudley, Stourbridge, Kidderminster, Stourport, and places +adjacent.</p> + +<p><i>Oxford Mail</i></p> + +<p>Every day, at ten minutes before three o'clock; which takes all letters +for Henley-in-Arden, Stratford-upon-Avon, all Oxfordshire, Abingdon, +Farringdon, Wallingford, Wantage, and Lambourn, in Berkshire, Cricklade, +Swindon, Highworth, and Wootton Bassett, in Wiltshire, +Bourton-on-the-Water, in Gloucestershire, Shipstone, in Worcestershire, +High Wycombe and Beaconsfield, in Buckinghamshire, Uxbridge and +Southall, in Middlesex.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>London Mail</i></p> + +<p>Every day, at four o'clock (except Saturday); which takes all letters +for Coventry, Nuneaton, Coleshill, Rugby, Southam, Leamington, and +Warwick, Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire (except High Wycombe and +Beaconsfield), Wooburn, Dunstable, Bedford, Silsoe, Leighton Buzzard, +Tempsford, Potton, and Biggleswade, in Bedfordshire, St. Alban's, +Berkhampstead, King's Langley, Tring, Watford, and Barnet, in +Hertfordshire, Wokingham, in Berkshire, Arlesford, Gosport, Basingstoke, +Fareham, Havant, and Petersfield, in Hampshire, Great Bedwin, in +Wiltshire, Surrey, Kent, Suffolk, Essex, Sussex, Norfolk, +Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Middlesex (except Uxbridge and +Southall), which go by the Oxford mail.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Bristol Mail</i></p> + +<p>Every day, at five o'clock in the afternoon; which takes all letters for +the intermediate places: Worcestershire, (except Shipstone and those +parts sent by the Bewdley mail), Stow, Bourton-on-the-Water, and +Moreton-in-Marsh, in Gloucestershire, South Wales, Herefordshire and +Monmouthshire, Ludlow and Bishop's Castle, in Shropshire, Reading, +Hungerford, and Newbury, in Berkshire, Somersetshire, Wiltshire (except +those parts which go by way of Oxford and London), Dorsetshire, +Devonshire, Cornwall, south-west parts of Ireland, and Hampshire (except +those places sent by way of London).</p> + +<p>The various posts arriving so early in the day, the office is shut at +eight in the evening.</p> + +<p>Overcharges allowed from eight in the morning to half past ten in the +forenoon, and from five to eight in the evening.</p> + +<p><i>Arrivals</i>,</p> + +<p>Bristol, at eight in the morning. London, at twenty-five minutes past +ten. Bewdley, at twelve at noon, Oxford, at one. Manchester, at two. +Holyhead, at three. Sheffield, at a quarter past four. Walsall, at half +past five.</p> + +<p>This account of the post is corrected up to the 29th of May, 1819.</p> +<br> + +<p>COACHES.</p> + +<p><i>From the Nelson Hotel, (late the Dog Inn.)</i></p> + +<p>Bridgnorth, the Union coach, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday +mornings, at nine o'clock. Dudley, the royal Defiance, every +afternoon, at four.</p> + +<p>Holyhead, the Union, a light post coach, every morning, at nine.</p> + +<p>London, the Oxford royal mail, every afternoon, at three.</p> + +<p>------, the Union, a light coach, through Oxford, every day, at half +past twelve.</p> + +<p>------, the original post coach, through Oxford, every evening, at a +quarter past six.</p> + +<p>------, a coach, every morning, a quarter before six, and arrives in +London at nine in the evening.</p> + +<p>Shrewsbury, the Union, a post coach, four insides, every morning, at +nine.</p> + +<p>Stourbridge, the royal Defiance, every afternoon, at four.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>From the Swan Hotel.</i></p> + +<p>Bath, a light coach, through Worcester and Glocester, every morning +(except Sunday), at six o'clock.</p> + +<p>Bristol, the Hero, through Worcester, Glocester, and e. every morning +(except Sunday), at half past six.</p> + +<p>Cambridge, a coach through Coventry, Stamford, Stilton, and e. every +morning, at eight.</p> + +<p>------, the Rising Sun, through Coventry, Dunchurch, and Northampton, +every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning, at five.</p> + +<p>Chester, the Prince of Orange light coach, through Wolverhampton, +Shiffnal, Salop, Ellesmere, and Wrexham, every morning (except Monday), +in twelve hours, at half past six.</p> + +<p>Coventry, coaches every morning, at five and eight, and afternoon, at +one, two, and four.</p> + +<p>Dudley and Stourbridge, a coach every afternoon, at four.</p> + +<p>Holyhead, the royal mail, through Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury, etc. every +morning, at eleven.</p> + +<p>------, the Prince of Wales, through Salop, every morning at ten, +(passengers booked throughout.)</p> + +<p>Kidderminster, a coach, every afternoon, at a quarter before four.</p> + +<p>Leamington, a coach, through Knowle, every morning, at eight.</p> + +<p>Leicester, the Alexander, through Coventry, every morning, at eight.</p> + +<p>------, a coach, through Bedworth, Hinckley, etc. every day (except +Sunday), at one.</p> + +<p>Lichfield, the Cobourg, every afternoon, a quarter before four.</p> + +<p>Liverpool, the Regulator, through Wolverhampton, Stafford, Stone, Stoke, +Hanley, Burslem, Lawton, Sandbach, Middlewich, and Northwich, every +morning, at six.</p> + +<p>London, the royal mail, through Coventry, etc. every afternoon at four. +------, a light day coach, carrying four insides and ten out, every +morning, at four, in fifteen hours.</p> + +<p>London, the Royal Balloon, four insides, every afternoon (except +Sunday), at a quarter before three, and on Sunday at one.</p> + +<p>Manchester, the royal mail, the same as from the Hen and Chickens.</p> + +<p>------, the Eclipse, through Wolverhampton, Stafford, etc. every morning, +at seven.</p> + +<p>Nottingham, the royal mail, the same as from the Hen and Chickens.</p> + +<p>------, a coach, through Derby, every morning, at seven.</p> + +<p>Oxford, a light coach, every morning (except Sunday), at eight.</p> + +<p>Sheffield, the royal mail, the same as from the Hen and Chickens.</p> + +<p>------, the Blucher post coach, through Lichfield, Uttoxeter, etc. every +Saturday, Tuesday, and Thursday morning, at six.</p> + +<p>------, the royal Telegraph, through Lichfield, Burton, Derby, etc. every +Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday morning, at seven.</p> + +<p>Shrewsbury, the Prince of Wales, every morning, at eleven.</p> + +<p>------, the royal mail, every morning, at eleven.</p> + +<p>Stourbridge and Kidderminster, every morning, at half past seven.</p> + +<p>Warwick, a coach, through Knowle, every morning, at eight.</p> + +<p>Worcester, the True Blue, through Bromsgrove, every afternoon, at three.</p> + +<br> + +<p><i>From the Hen and Chickens,</i></p> + +<p>Bath, a light post coach, every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday morning, +at six.</p> + +<p>Bristol, the royal mail, every evening, at five.</p> + +<p>Cambridge, the royal pilot post coach, through Coventry, Leicester, etc. +every day, at half past twelve, except Sunday.</p> + +<p>Cheltenham, the royal post coach, through Bromsgrove, Worcester, etc. to +the Plough Hotel, every morning, at eight.</p> + +<p>Holyhead, the Prince of Wales post coach, through Shrewsbury, etc. every +morning, at ten.</p> + +<p>Lichfield, a coach, four times every day.</p> + +<p>London, the Prince of Wales post coach, through Oxford, +Henley-on-Thames, etc. to the George and Blue Boar, Holborn.</p> + +<p>Manchester, the royal mail, every morning, at a quarter past ten.</p> + +<p>------, the Express post coach, through Uttoxeter, Leek, Macclesfield, +etc. to the Moseley Arms Inn, in twelve hours, certain, every morning, at +eight.</p> + +<p>Nottingham, the royal mail, every morning, at a quarter past nine.</p> + +<p>Oxford, the post coach, through Henley, every evening, at six. +Sheffield, the royal mail, every morning, at a quarter past nine.</p> + +<p>------, the royal Telegraph coach, through Lichfield, Derby, etc. every +Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday morning, at seven.</p> + +<p>------, the royal Telegraph, through Lichfield, Uttoxeter Ashbourne, and +Bakewell, every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday morning, at six.</p> + +<p>Wolverhampton, a coach, four times every day.</p> + +<p>Worcester, the new True Blue post coach, every afternoon, at three.</p> + +<p>------, the royal Defiance post coach, every morning, at eight, and +returns in the evening.</p> + +<p>------, a coach, four times every day.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>From the Castle and Saracen's Head Inns.</i></p> + +<p>Aberystwith and Barmouth, a coach, every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday +morning, at eleven.</p> + +<p>Alcester, a coach, every morning, at eight.</p> + +<p>Banbury, the Regulator, through Warwick and Leamington, every morning, +at eight.</p> + +<p>Bath, the Star coach, through Evesham, Cheltenham, etc. every Tuesday, +Thursday, and Saturday morning, at half past six.</p> + +<p>Bilstone, coaches six times a day.</p> + +<p>Bridgnorth, a coach, through Wolverhampton, every Monday, Wednesday, and +Friday morning, at eleven.</p> + +<p>Bristol, the Duke of Wellington, through Bromsgrove, Worcester, and +Glocester, every morning, at seven.</p> + +<p>Cambridge, the Rising Sun, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning, +at half past five, through Daventry, Wellingbrough, and Huntingdon, in +one day; carries four insides.</p> + +<p>Carlisle, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, a coach, by way of Preston and +Lancaster, every morning and evening.</p> + +<p>Cheltenham, a coach, every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings.</p> + +<p>Chester, the Prince of Orange, carrying four insides, every morning, at +six, (Mondays excepted.)</p> + +<p>Coventry, coaches every day, at a quarter before one and half past two.</p> + +<p>Daventry, coaches, every morning, at five, and every afternoon, at half +past two and four.</p> + +<p>Dudley, coaches, every morning, at seven, and every afternoon, at four +and five.</p> + +<p>Exeter and Plymouth, a coach, every morning, at seven, (Monday +excepted.)</p> + +<p>Holyhead, the royal mail, every morning, at eleven, through Salop and +Bangor.</p> + +<p>------, a new post coach, every day, at eleven, sleeps at Shrewsbury, +and arrives the following day in time for the packet.</p> + +<p>Liverpool, the Bang-up post coach, in fifteen hours, carrying four +insides only, through Wolverhampton, Stone, Knutsford, and Warrington, +every morning, at six.</p> + +<p>------, the Defiance, a light coach, through Lichfield and Rudgley, on +Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, and through Walsall, Cannock, +and Stafford, on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday, every afternoon, at +four.</p> + +<p>London, the royal mail, every afternoon, at four.</p> + +<p>------, the Crown Prince day coach, in sixteen hours, every morning, at +five.</p> + +<p>------, the royal Union, through Coventry, every afternoon, at half +past two, (except Sunday), when it goes at one.</p> + +<p>------, the Defiance, a light coach, through Warwick and Leamington, +every afternoon, at half past two, from the Saracen's Head.</p> + +<p>Manchester, the Eclipse, a post coach, through Wolverhampton, Stafford, +Stone, Newcastle, and Congleton, in twelve hours, every morning, at +seven.</p> + +<p>Northampton, a coach, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning, +returns the same day.</p> + +<p>Nottingham, the royal Dart, a post coach, through Tamworth and +Ashby-de-la-Zouch, every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday morning, at +half past eight.</p> + +<p>Oxford, the Bang-up post coach, every morning, at eight.</p> + +<p>Shrewsbury and Chester, a post coach, through Ellesmere, every morning, +at six.</p> + +<p>------, the Prince of Wales post coach, through Wolverhampton and +Shiffnal, every morning, at eleven.</p> + +<p>------, the royal mail, every morning, at eleven.</p> + +<p>Walsall, the royal mail, every day, at twelve, and returns the same day.</p> + +<p>------, a light coach, every afternoon (except Sunday,) at five.</p> + +<p>Warwick and Leamington, the Regulator, every morning, at eight, and +returns the same day.</p> + +<p>------, the Telegraph, every afternoon, at three.</p> + +<p>Wolverhampton, seven coaches every day.</p> + +<p>Worcester, the True Blue, a post coach, every afternoon, at three.</p> + +<p><i>From St. George's Tavern.</i></p> + +<p>Bristol, a coach, every morning, at seven.</p> + +<p>Cheltenham, ditto ditto, at seven.</p> + +<p>Chester, ditto, through Wolverhampton, every morning, at six.</p> + +<p>Coventry, ditto, twice everyday.</p> + +<p>Dudley, ditto, every day.</p> + +<p>Holyhead, ditto, through Wolverhampton, every morning, at nine.</p> + +<p>Kidderminster, ditto, every day.</p> + +<p>Lichfield, ditto, ditto.</p> + +<p>Liverpool, ditto, through Wolverhampton, every morning, at nine.</p> + +<p>London, ditto, through Coventry, every afternoon, at three.</p> + +<p>Shrewsbury, ditto, through Wolverhampton, every morning, at nine.</p> + +<p>Stourbridge, ditto, twice every day.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> +<br> + +<p>Atherstone, a coach, by Samuel Smith, from the Cross Guns, Dale-end, +Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.</p> + +<p>Darlaston, a coach, every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, from +the Saracen's Head, Snowhill.</p> + +<p>Dudley and Stourbridge, a mail cart, from the Warwick Arms, Snowhill, +every day.</p> + +<p>Sutton Coldfield, a coach, by Charles Smith, from the Cross Guns, +Dale-end, Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, Warwick, a coach, by Wm. +Barrows and Co, from the liquor shop, Monmouth-street, every afternoon, +at three.</p> + +<p>Wednesbury, Bilstone, and Wolverhampton, a coach, by Joseph Boddison, +every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, at five.</p> + +<p>Willenhall, a coach, by John Alexander, from the Barrel, Snowhill, every +Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.</p> + + +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;">* * * * *</span><br> +<br> + +<p><i>Carriers by Water.</i></p> + +<p>Bird, George Ryder, three cranes wharf, Crescent, loads fly boats daily, +to Bristol, Dudley, London, Stourbridge, Stourport, Wolverhampton, +Worcester, and all parts of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, +Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, Northamptonshire, Shropshire, +Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and all parts of the united +kingdom.</p> + +<p>Bradley and Co. Broad-street wharf, load fly boats daily, to Liverpool, +Manchester, and all parts of the North.</p> + +<p>Crocket and Salkeld, wharf, Great Charles-street, load fly boats daily, +to Liverpool, Manchester, and all parts of the north.—N.B. No other +firm conveys goods all the way to Liverpool by their own vessels.</p> + +<p>Crowley, Leyland, and Hicklin, Crescent wharf, load fly boats to +Bristol, Coventry, Derby, Gainsborough, Hull, Liverpool, London, +Manchester, and Oxford.—N.B. Wine and spirits are conveyed in boats +secured by locks.</p> + +Danks, Samuel, and Co. Broad-street wharf, and also<br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">one in Gas-street, load boats to Bath, Bridgnorth,</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bristol, Gloucester, Kidderminster, Shrewsbury,</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Stourport, Worcester, and all the western parts of</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">England.</span><br> +<br> +Heath, Tyler, and Danks, Great Charles-street, load<br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">boats daily, for Dudley, Stourbridge, Wolverhampton,</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">etc.; also Chester, Derby, Gainsborough, Hull,</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Liverpool, Manchester, etc.</span><br> +<br> +Jackson, Thomas, wharf in Holt-street, loads boats to<br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Atherstone, Coventry, Fazeley, Hinckley, Stourbridge,</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Tamworth, etc.</span><br> +<br> +Pickford and Co. wharf on the Warwick canal, load<br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">boats daily, and convey goods to London, Liverpool,</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">and Manchester; which they deliver on the fourth</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">day at each place; and to all other parts of the kingdom</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">with the greatest expedition.</span><br> +<br> +Robinson, Corbet, and Co. wharf in Broad-street, load<br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">fly boats to London, Stourbridge, Stourport, Wolverhampton,</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Worcester, and all intermediate places;</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">also to Bristol every spring tide.</span><br> +<br> +Skey, R. S. Worcester wharf, loads boats daily for<br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick, Worcester, and all</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">intermediate places.</span><br> +<br> +Smith, Joseph, and Sons, load boats at Worthington<br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">and Co.'s wharf, Great Charles-street, for Burton</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">and Gainsborough, from whence the goods are forwarded</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">by a steam vessel of their own, in one day</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">certain, to Hull; they also convey goods to Nottingham.</span><br> +<br> +Swaine (late Thomas), Friday-bridge wharf, loads boats<br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">three days every week, for Derby, Leicester, Lincoln,</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lichfield, Nottingham, Shardlow, Tamworth,</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">etc.</span><br> +<br> +Webb, H. and Co. Aston-Junction wharf, load boats to<br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Atherstone, Coton, Coventry, Fazeley, Hinckley,</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Nuneaton, etc.</span><br> +<br> +Wheatcroft, N. and G. Crescent wharf, load fly boats<br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">every Tuesday and Friday, for Barnsley, Derby,</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Leeds, Leicester, Sheffield, Wakefield, and all parts</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of the north.</span><br> +<br> +Whitehouse and Sons, Crescent wharf, load fly boats to<br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">London, and all the intermediate places, every Tuesday</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">and Friday; and slow boats daily.</span><br> +<br> +Worthington and Co. wharf, Great Charles-street, load<br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">fly boats daily, for Chester, Liverpool, Manchester,</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">etc. and deliver goods to responsible and regular carriers</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">to the north of England, and Scotland.</span><p>To enumerate a long list of carriers by land, would +not be in the least interesting to strangers, nor can it be +of any use to the inhabitants, they being published in the +Birmingham almanack, and also in the directory.</p> + +<p>The number of boats specified above, are sufficient to convince any +person, that the manufactures of this town are of the first importance, +they being laden with goods manufactured in this town and its vicinity.</p> + +<p>LINES</p> + +<p><i>Selected by permission of the Author from a manuscript</i>,</p> + +<p>ENTITLED</p> + +<p>Birmingham, a Fragment</p> + +<p>WHICH IS INTENDED FOR PUBLICATION.</p> + +<p>They are supposed to be part of a prophetic oracle, delivered by the +priests of the god Woden.</p> + +Had we, Oh Birmingham, for thee design'd<br> +A trade that's partial, and a sphere confin'd,<br> +Thou'dst been a city, near some stream or shore,<br> +To bless some <i>single</i> district and no more;<br> +But thou must minister to thousand wants,<br> +Of cities, countries, islands, continents:<br> +Hence <i>central</i> be thy station—thus thy town,<br> +Must make each port around the coast her own.<br> +<br> +Let bright invention rove where no one awes,<br> +Unfetter'd by dull, narrow, civic laws,<br> +Which shut out commerce, ingenuity.<br> +Where bloated pride, in sullen majesty,<br> +And drowsy pomp sits notionally great,<br> +While she on every stranger shuts her gate.<br> +<br> +Let ingenuity here keep her seat,<br> +For works minute, or works immensely great,<br> +We to thy native sons the gift impart,<br> +Of bright invention, and of matchless art,<br> +Skill'd to devise, to reason, to compute,<br> +Quick to suggest, and prompt to execute;<br> +What some have but conceiv'd, do thou amend,<br> +Mature and perfect, to some noble end.<br> +<br> +Let fertile genius' bright, inventive powers,<br> +In all their vigorous energy be yours.<br> +<br> +Let savage nations who thy stores behold,<br> +Give Britain in return, their useless gold,<br> +Their gems, their pearls, their diamonds impart,<br> +And boast the change, and prize the gift of art.<br> +<br> +Thus shall thy polish'd wares of choicer worth,<br> +Gain all that's rare, from ev'ry clime on earth.<br> +<br> +Thy skill superior let our monarchs own,<br> +And deem thee <i>a bright jewel in their crown</i>.<br> + +<br> + +<p>OBSERVATIONS</p> + +<p>Made during an Excursion</p> +<br> + +<p><i>To Wednesbury in Staffordshire, distant eight miles, on the road to +Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury</i>.</p> + +<p>You proceed down Snowhill, and having passed the one mile stone, there +are a few trees close to the road side, and opposite to them there is an +extensive view over Barr-beacon, and the adjacent country, including the +lofty trees in Aston park; over whose tops, the elegant spire of that +church is seen. In descending the hill, when you have passed the +buildings, the eye is delighted, on the right hand, with an extensive +view over Hunter's nursery grounds, and on the left is Hockley abbey: +this building was erected upon a piece of waste, boggy land, about the +1779, by Mr. Richard Ford, an ingenious mechanic of Birmingham, who, +among other things, invented a one-wheel carriage, which he constructed +entirely of iron; and for his ingenuity in the formation of that +vehicle, the society of arts presented him with their gold medal. As he +employed a number of hands, several of whom expended nine or ten +shillings each week at the alehouse, it occurred to him, who was not +given to drink, that he would lay aside two shillings every day; and +having done so for a considerable time, as his business required him to +keep a horse and cart; when they were at leisure, he sent them to Aston +furnace,<a name="FNanchor5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5"><sup>[5]</sup></a> to bring away large masses of scoriae, usually termed slag +or dross, that lay there in great abundance. Having collected together a +large quantity of it, he began to erect this building, to represent +ruins; and to add to the deception, there is in the front of the house, +in small pebble stones, the date, 1473; and all this was done, as he +informed the writer of this article, without advancing any other money +than the fourteen shillings per week. It is now nearly overgrown with +ivy, and if no account had been given of the materials with which it is +erected, posterity might have been at a loss to know what substance the +walls were built with. Hubert Galton, Esq. now resides there, who pays +rent for the house, and about fifteen acres of land, more than £100. per +annum, exclusive of the enormous parochial taxes of Birmingham, which +for these premises, from Michaelmas, 1816, to Michaelmas, 1817, amounted +to the astonishing sum of sixty-one pounds and ten shillings, viz. +thirty-six levies for the poor, at 30s. each, three highway levies, at +30s. each, and two levies for the church, at 30s. each. In the back +ground, beyond this, is seen a glass-house, belonging to Messrs. +Shakespear and Fletcher.</p> + +<a name="Footnote_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor5">[5]</a><div class=note> A blast furnace, for the making of pig iron, very near at +hand.</div><br> + +<p>You now cross the Bourn, a small stream of water, that separates +Warwickshire from the county of Stafford, and passing by Mr. Boulton's +plantations on the left, when you are about half way up the hill, there +is on the right hand, Prospect-house, where the late Mr. Eginton carried +on his manufactory of stained glass.</p> + +<p>At the two mile stone, on the left, is the entrance to Soho, where +Matthew Robinson Boulton, Esq. resides, who is proprietor of the +<i>Soho Manufactory</i>.</p> + +<p>The road leading to this magnificent pile of building is on the left, +when you have passed through the turnpike. The spot upon which it is +erected, was, in the year 1764, a sterril, barren heath, and so it +continued until 1793, when it was inclosed by act of parliament. The +late Mr. Boulton, in the first instance, expended more than nine +thousand pounds in the erection of buildings, exclusive of machinery. He +soon after removed his manufactory from Birmingham; and then this +enterprising genius established a seminary of artists; men of ingenuity +being sought after, from all parts of Europe, and patronised with the +greatest liberality: thus fostered by his benevolence, they soon +produced an imitation of the <i>or molu</i>.—These metallic ornaments in +the form of vases, tripods, candelabras, etc. found a ready sale, not +only in this kingdom, but in France, and almost every part of civilized +Europe. This business being established, silver articles were +manufactured in such profusion, that it became necessary to make +application for an assay office to be established in Birmingham; which +was carried into effect in the year 1773. About this time, a +mechanical process was discovered of copying pictures, in oil colours, +which was brought to such perfection, that the most experienced +connoiseurs were sometimes deceived. The process was chiefly under the +direction of Mr. Francis Eginton, who afterwards commenced the business +of staining glass.</p> + +<p>Mr. Watt having obtained a patent for the improvement of steam engines, +came and settled at Soho, in 1769, where he erected an engine, upon his +own principles; which answering the intended purpose, he in 1775, +obtained from parliament a prolongation of his term for twenty-five +years. A partnership being now formed between Mr. Boulton and Mr. Watt, +an extensive manufactory of these engines was established at Soho, and +conveyed from thence to most of the deep mines and extensive works, +where great power was requisite.</p> + +<p>In 1788, a mint was erected at Soho, to be worked by the steam engine; +from the rolling of the copper into sheets, afterwards passing it +through steel, polished rollers, and then cutting out the blanks; all +which was performed with the greatest ease and regularity by girls, +instead of employing able men. This was not the whole, for the coining +machines were worked with greater rapidity and exactness, by boys, from +twelve to fourteen years of age, than could be done, by the former +process, by a number of strong men, and their fingers not being in the +least endangered; the machine depositing the blanks upon the dies, and +when struck, it displaced one piece and deposited another.</p> + +<p>To facilitate the manufacturing of steam engines, they erected an iron +foundry, at Smethwick, on the banks of the Birmingham canal, where +nearly all the laborious part is consigned to the engine. Engines are +here manufactured from one horse to two hundred horse power, all acting +together. Handsworth common being inclosed, enabled Mr. Boulton to extend +his grounds to a considerable degree, which form an agreeable separation +from his own residence, and forms a much admired scene of picturesque +beauty.</p> + +<p>A person wandering through these secluded walks, or on the banks of the +various lakes and water falls, which adorn them, may here enjoy the +sweets of solitude and retirement, with equal composure, as if he was +far distant from the busy scenes that are close at hand.</p> + +<p>What is here enumerated are all of them manufactured or carried on at +the Soho, at the present time:—steam engines of every description, and +for all purposes, where great power is requisite; coining of medals, or +medallions, of any size required; silver and plated articles, of every +description, such as tea urns, vases, tureens, dishes, candelabras, and +every necessary article to decorate the table or the drawing room; +metals of every description are here rolled, to any length or breadth +required; patent copying machines; fine polished steel fire irons; steel +buttons; ornaments for stove grates; fenders, or any other article in +steel, where taste and elegance are necessary.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Handsworth, in Staffordshire, distant two miles and a half</i>. Leaving +Soho, you come to the elegant village of Handsworth, where, the common +lands of the parish being inclosed by act of parliament, in 1793, they +have probably been as productive, if not more so, than others of a +similar nature in any other part of the kingdom; for there are now at +least one hundred and fifty respectable houses erected upon the ground, +which, before it was inclosed, lay entirely waste; and plots of the same +land have been sold from two hundred pounds to a thousand pounds per +acre.</p> + +<p>About one quarter of a mile distant from Soho, is the residence of Miss +Boulton, whose house is secluded from public view, by a lofty brick +wall; and half a mile farther, going down a lane, by the sign of the +Queen's head, a landscape of considerable interest exhibits itself; +including Soho, Birmingham, and the intermediate country, to the +monument. In the grounds, on the right, opposite the three mile stone, +is a grand picturesque view of the whole country, including Barr-beacon, +Aston church, and the lofty trees in the park. About half a mile +farther, you arrive at the verge of Sandwell park, a, seat belonging to +the Earl of Dartmouth, and opposite, on the left, is a grand panoramic +view of the country, including the ruins of Dudley castle.</p> + +<p>The church is an ancient gothic stone building, dedicated to St. Mary, +with a square tower, of grey-stone; the body is of an irregular form, +the workmanship being rude and tasteless. It appears to be much +neglected, and out of repair, both inside and out; and neither in +respect to size or decorations, does it bear any analogy to the number +of the population, or the wealth of the parishioners. Indeed, if the +structure of the church should be a criterion to judge of the opulence +of the inhabitants, a stranger would certainly conclude, that they were +most of them tenants at rack rent, and greatly burdened with poor. The +only objects deserving of notice, are two monuments; one in the inside, +and the other on the out. The one erected to commemorate the late +Matthew Boulton, Esq. is the work of the celebrated Flaxman, and adds +another wreath of laurel to the brow of that classical artist. If is of +white and blue marble, and is surmounted by a bust, which is the best +representation extant of that enterprising and deserving man, to whose +memory it is sacred. The other is an humble tomb-stone, remarkable as +being one of the last works, cut by his own hand, with his name at the +top of it, of that celebrated typographer, Baskerville, but this, being +neglected by the relations of the deceased, has been mutilated, although +the inscription is still perfect, but so much overgrown with moss and +weeds, that it requires more discrimination than falls to the lot of +many passing travellers to discover the situation of this neglected gem. +To those who are curious, it will be found close to the wall, +immediately under the chancel window. This precious relic of that +eminent man is deserving of being removed, at the expense of the parish, +and preserved with the greatest care, withinside the church. Mr. +Baskerville was originally a stone-cutter, and afterwards kept a school, +in Birmingham.<a name="FNanchor6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6"><sup>[6]</sup></a></p> + +<a name="Footnote_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor6">[6]</a><div class=note> Since writing the above, the Rev. T. L. Freer, who is +rector, and the wealthy parishioners have entered into a liberal +subscription, and being aided by government with the sum of five hundred +pounds, they have undertaken to rebuild the body of the church, +according to an elegant plan, designed by W. Hollins, statuary and +architect, of Birmingham, without making any rate on the inhabitants.</div><br> + +<p>There is only one more of his cutting known to be in existence, and that +has lately been removed and placed withinside the church, at Edgbaston; +to which place please to refer.</p> + +<p><i>West-Bromwich, in Staffordshire, distant five miles</i>.</p> + +<p>The church is an old tower structure of stone, dedicated to St. Clement; +the body having been of late years rebuilt, has two side aisles, +handsomely pewed, and galleries all round. The officiating clergyman is +the Rev. Charles Townsend.</p> + +<p>The waste lands in this parish being inclosed by act of parliament in +the year 1804, has produced a very beneficial effect; for, by the side +of the main road, which scarcely produced a blade of grass, there are +now numerous houses erected, and the lands about them are very +productive. The new inclosed lands now let from three pounds to five +pounds per acre, and a great part of it is in tillage.</p> + +<p>In this extensive parish, the new inclosed land has been sold from one +hundred to eight hundred and forty pounds per acre; and the +neighbourhood is now become so populous, that it is in contemplation to +erect a new church, there being in the beginning of October last more +than three thousand pounds subscribed for that purpose.</p> + +<p>The following works of considerable magnitude are, already established, +and now in full work:—</p> + +Birmingham brass company, in Spon-lane.<br> +James Taylor, cast steel manufactory.<br> +Archibald Kenrick and Co. iron-founders.<br> +Samuel and John Dawes, iron and steel-masters.<br> +Izons and Whitehurst, foundry for kitchen furniture.<br> +Elwell and Hortons, iron-founders.<br> +Thomas Price, iron-master.<br> +Bagnall and Son, iron-masters.<br> +William Bullock and Co. iron-founders, and manufacturers<br> +of kitchen furniture, improved coffee mills, etc.<br> +Charles Bache, manufacturer of bar and sheet iron, old<br> +forge.<br> +William Chapman, grinder and polisher, Burstelholme mill.<br> +Samuel Elwell, iron-master, Friar-park forge,<br> +---- Tickell, iron-master.<br> +Isaac Horton, boiler-maker.<br> +Edward Fisher and Co. iron-masters.<br> +John U. Rastrick, manufacturer of steam engines.<br> + +<p>Before you arrive at the six mile stone, the road divides, and you +proceed on the right hand for another mile, when, on a sudden, the eye +is highly gratified with a view of <i>Wednesbury</i>. Which is erected on a +declivity; and on the summit, the church, with its lofty spire, makes a +very unusual and respectable appearance. This church is a beautiful +gothic edifice; the body and tower of which is coated with Parker's +cement, but the chancel remains as before. Tradition says, that on this +spot there was, in former times, a Saxon castle. Withinside the church +there are numerous ancient monuments, and an inscription, signifying that +William Hopkins, yeoman, Richard Hawkes, and Robert Carter, caused the +chimes of this church to be made and set up, at their equal and proper +cost and charges, A. D. 1635. The clock, which is represented to be a +remarkable good one, has a pendulum upon an unusual construction, the +rod being fourteen yards in length, and the ball of it weighs 100 pounds.</p> + +<p>Here are eight musical bells, the two trebles being fixed in 1558; the +sixth has an inscription, "William Comberford, lord of this manor, gave +this bell, 1623."—"On the seventh is, Sancta Bartholomew, ora pro +nobis." And on the tenor is inscribed, "I will sound and resound to +thee, O Lord, to call thy people to hear thy word."</p> + +<p>The church yard is of considerable extent, and being in such an elevated +situation, those who profess to delineate panoramas may here find ample +scope to display their abilities; for there is not only a view of the +following churches, but the towns and villages wherein they are +situated, are several of them under the eye of the spectator from this +lofty eminence, viz. Walsall, Willenhall, Darlaston, Wolverhampton two +churches, Bilstone, Sedgley, Dudley, two churches and the ruins of the +castle, West-bromwich, Tipton, Wednesfield, Brierly-hill, and Rushall; +in addition to the above, by ascending the roof of the church, you +command Birmingham and Aston, together with numerous engines that are at +work in its vicinity; the whole when combined form such a rich and +variegated scene as probably cannot be equalled in any other situation.</p> + +<p>In the vicinity of Wednesbury there are numerous mines of coal, wherein +great numbers of people are employed, whilst others pursue the different +branches of gun-making; springs, steps, and other articles used by +coach-makers, are also manufactured here, together with wood screws, +hinges, and of late, apparatus for the gas lights.</p> + +<p>In the year 1742, when the methodists were spreading their doctrines +through the kingdom, some disturbances took place here on that account; +and soon after, Mr. Wesley, the preacher, was waited upon by Sir John +Gonson, one of the Middlesex justices, who notified to him that he and +his brethren had received orders from above to do justice to him and his +friends, whenever they should make application; his majesty being +determined, that no man in his dominions should be persecuted for +conscience sake. Posterity will scarcely credit, that in Britain, and at +so late a period as 1742, justice was not to be obtained but by an order +from court; and that such order was issued, reflects infinite credit on +the sovereign, George 2d, who commanded it. This mandate was not by any +means premature; for it became absolutely necessary, to quell the +increasing tumults. In Staffordshire, the populace rose upon their +employers, from whom they demanded money, and if that was not complied +with, they threatened to serve them as they had done the methodists. A +quaker, when riding through Wednesbury, was attacked by them, pulled +from off his horse, and dragged to a coal pit, where it was attended +with difficulty to prevent their throwing him in. This gentleman, not +being so much attached to his principles as to refuse the protection of +the law, prosecuted them at the assizes, which caused those tumults to +subside in Staffordshire.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Darlaston</i>.</p> + +<p>This place, being only one mile distant, I went there; but neither on +the road or in the village could I perceive any thing deserving of +attention; the inhabitants being employed in the same pursuits as at +Wednesbury.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Walsall, in Staffordshire, distant nine miles, on the direct road to +Stafford</i>.</p> + +<p>You proceed down Snowhill, and having passed the buildings, you perceive +on the right hand Hunter's nursery grounds, from whence there is a good +prospect of the town of Birmingham, in a clear day. On the left, Hockley +abbey, and the plantations of Mr. Boulton, present a rich scene in +front, with a glass-house in the back ground. At the bottom of the hill +you cross a small stream of water, which separates Warwickshire from +the county of Stafford. In ascending the opposite hill, on the right +hand is Prospect-house, where the late Mr. Eginton carried on his +manufactory of stained glass. Soon after the road divides, when, turning +to the right hand, it leads you by a row of respectable houses, and when +through the toll gate, you leave what was once Handsworth common, and +immediately on the left is a handsome house, with a beautiful avenue of +lime trees; once the seat of the ancient family of Sacheverel, but now +the property of Joseph Grice, Esq.</p> + +<p>A little farther on the right is a simple though tasteful lodge, leading +to Heathfield, the elegant mansion of the celebrated James Watt, Esq. +who is well known to all scientific men, for the great improvements he +has made in steam engines, and various other useful works. A few years +back, the adjacent ground was a wild and dreary waste, but it now +exhibits all the beauty and luxuriance that art assisted by taste can +give it. Woods and groves appear to have started up at command, and it +may now vie with any seat in the neighbourhood, for rural elegance and +picturesque beauty. Descending the hill, the parish church of Handsworth +presents itself to view, and a short distance before you arrive at it, +is the parsonage-house, where the Rev. Lane Freer resides.—It is a very +excellent house, and possesses more conveniences and luxuries than are +usually to be met with in the habitations of the clergy. About a mile +farther on the right is the elegant residence of N. G. Clarke, Esq. one +of the king's counsel; a gentleman highly distinguished for acuteness +and perspicuity in his profession, and thorough hospitality in his +house. Still farther on the left, as you descend a steep hill, there is +a fine view, at a considerable distance, of the domains of Hamstead +hall. It is a very elegant and modern-built mansion, the old one having +been taken down some years since, which was for many generations the +seat of the ancient and respectable family of the Wyrleys, who possessed +the manor and very large property in this parish. On the demise of the +late John Wyrley, Esq. the whole of this estate was left by will to +George Birch, Esq. at whose decease it devolved upon his only son, the +present Wyrley Birch, Esq. It is difficult to conceive a more beautiful +residence than this, as it contains all that hill and dale, wood and +water, aided by extensive views, can do, to make a place delightful and +desirable: these seem here to have been combined in the most beautiful +manner; for the river Tame meanders through this enchanting and +extensive domain; on whose banks are numerous groves of trees, and from +a solid rock there arises a lime tree, of unusual magnitude, whose +branches spreading in an horizontal direction became so heavy, and +injured the trunk to such a degree, that in order to preserve the body, +it not only became necessary to lop off the principal branches, but to +bind it together with iron in different ways, by hooping of it, and +passing a bar of iron through it, in the same manner as buildings are +frequently done, to preserve them. At the height of three feet, it +girths twenty-three feet and rises to the height of seventy feet. The +rock upon which this tree grows, is of such a nature, that there is a +grotto of considerable size cut in it, wherein the roots from this tree +spread themselves in different directions. This inestimable estate, +although for so many generations the patrimonial possessions of the +family, has been lately transferred by the proprietor to the Earl of +Dartmouth, and is now in the possession of William Wallis, Esq.</p> + +<p>In the valley is a corn mill, worked by the river Tame, over which there +is a substantial bridge. Near the summit of the opposite hill, the road +passes close by the residence of Mr. Wren, who is well known in +Staffordshire, as an agriculturist. Near half a mile farther on the left +is an ancient white house, which has been occupied as a school for a +number of years. From the green opposite, if you face about, there is an +extensive view over the country; two of the Birmingham churches and the +monument being conspicuous objects. A very short distance farther is a +gravel pit, opposite to which is a rich and luxuriant view for a +considerable distance. At the finger post, two miles before you arrive +at Walsall, there is a beautiful landscape, and when you approach near +the town, by looking the contrary way, there is a rich and variegated +view over the country. A little before you enter the town, there are two +respectable houses, one on each side of the road; that on the left is +the residence of Mr. Richard Jesson, an attorney, and at the other, +which is built of stone, Mr. John Adams, a merchant, resides.</p> + +<p>This road to Stafford is nearer by five miles than going through +Wolverhampton, and the accommodations are in every respect equal: +independant of that circumstance, whoever travels this road is not +incommoded by the numerous colleries and engines that are adjacent to +the other.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Walsall</i>.</p> + +<p>This town, being considered a borough, by prescription for a number of +years, was incorporated by letters patent, bearing date 22d February, in +the 13th year of King Charles 2d; the government thereof is vested in a +mayor, with the assistance of twenty-four capital burgesses, who are +authorised to sue and are liable to be sued, by virtue of a common seal. +William Webb was appointed the first mayor, whose successor is to be +elected and sworn into office on the feast of St. Michael. The mayor and +his brethren are authorised to fix upon a recorder and town clerk, who +are empowered to hold a court of record, whenever it is requisite, to +determine any actions or pleas, for sums of money exceeding forty +shillings, and not more than twenty pounds. There are also two serjeants +at mace, who are under their directions; the late mayor, and one other +capital burgess, being in the commission of the peace for the borough +and foreign, they have authority to take cognizance of all crimes +committed within their jurisdiction, except conspiracy, murder, felony, +or any thing touching the loss of life. They are also empowered to have +a common prison, where all offenders may be detained, until discharged +by due course of law. By this charter, the mayor, recorder, and +twenty-four capital burgesses are exempt from serving upon any juries at +Stafford.</p> + +<p>The seal of this corporation is three fleur de lis and three lions +quarterly, with two lions as supporters; over the arms is a crown +without an arch, and over the rim of the crown there are five fleur de +lis. It is nearly the size of a crown piece, with a latin inscription, +in very ancient characters. It is deposited with Joseph Stubbs, who is +town clerk, and steward of the manor to Lord Bradford. The arms of the +town appear to be a bear with a ragged staff.</p> + +<p>The guildhall is situated in the High-street, one wing of which is the +Dragon inn, and the other is a large room where the corporation assemble +to transact business, and is called the mayor's parlour, under which is +the prison for the town.</p> + +<p>The ancient wooden staves belonging to the corporation are still +deposited in the hall, and are curious relics of antiquity, being +ornamented with heads of various animals, rudely carved.</p> + +<p>The sheriff of the county, by his deputy, holds a court in this town, at +the Castle inn, every third Monday, for the recovery of debts, under +forty shillings; but the expenses are excessive to both debtor and +creditor, and if the latter loses his cause, his expenses alone will +amount to six or seven pounds.</p> + +<p>In the year 1452, Thomas Mosely, of Moxhull, in Warwickshire, being then +lord of Bascote, in that county, gave it in trust to William Lyle and +Thomas Magot, for the use of the town of Walsall. In 1539, the +inhabitants were summoned by the bellman to repair to the church, where +a dole was distributed, amounting to the sum of seven pounds, ten +shillings, and nine-pence. Some time after, an attempt was made to +discontinue this dole, which caused the populace to assemble, who forced +the same to be continued; at which time it was distributed to about +fourteen thousand people, nine thousand of whom were supposed to reside +in Walsall.</p> + +<p>The church is a vicarage, dedicated to St. Matthew, or All Saints: it is +an ancient pile of building, singular in its appearance, being in the +form of a cross, the transept of which is composed by large side +chapels, whose roofs lie east and west, parallel to the body of the +church. The tower, which is situated at the south-west angle of the west +front, is strong, plain, and far from inelegant, being built with coarse +lime stone, on which a new spire was erected since 1775, when a set of +eight musical bells were fixed there, by Mr. Rudhall, of Glocester; the +weight of the tenor being more than twenty-three hundred, and the key +note E flat.</p> + +<p>The following inscriptions are round the bells:—</p> + +<p>1. "When us you ring, we'll sweetly sing." </p> + +<p>2. "Fear God, honour the king." </p> + +<p>3. "Prosperity to the parish." </p> + +<p>4. ditto ditto. </p> + +<p>5. "The Rev. John Darwall, vicar." </p> + +<p>6. "Thomas Rudhall, Glocester, founder." </p> + +<p>7. "Thomas Hector, Edward Licet, Thomas Overton, Deykin Hemming, church-wardens."</p> + +<p>8. "I to the church the living call, And to the grave do summon all."</p> + +<p>The font of this church is alabaster, of an octagon form, with shields, +richly sculptured.</p> + +<p>On each side of the chancel are eleven stalls, very entire, the seats of +which, being lifted up, exhibit a series of grotesque figures, curiously +carved, in bas relief; no two of which resemble each other. Over the +communion table is a large painting, representing the last supper.—The +vicarage, where the Rev. Philip Pratt resides, is in a delightful +situation, being on an eminence, and encompassed with lofty and majestic +trees.</p> + +<p>There are three fairs in the year, viz. February 24th, Tuesday in the +whitsun week, and the Tuesday before St. Michael; at which time the +races take place, and have been for a number of years both numerously +and genteely attended; as a proof of it, the inhabitants in the year +1809 expended the sum of thirteen hundred pounds in the erection of a +grand stand; in the lower apartments of which is a billiard table, where +they resort for recreation. The fair at whitsuntide is not held by +charter, but being market day, at that holiday time is considered a fair +by prescription. There is in this town a charity school for twenty-four +boys and sixteen girls, who are all cloathed in blue: they are +instructed and cloathed gratis, but neither lodged nor boarded. The +expenses attending this school are defrayed by subscriptions, donations, +and sermons preached on the wake Sunday, which is the Sunday before St. +Michael. The school-room is near the George hotel. There is also a free +grammar school, near the church, founded by Queen Mary, in the first +year of her reign, which she endowed with certain lands that are vested +in trustees. The High-street is spacious, and therein are some +respectable shops, and a conduit for the use of the +inhabitants.—Park-street is also a wide one, but there are numerous low +houses in it.</p> + +<p>The town has a singular appearance; its situation being upon a bold +eminence, from whose summit arises a fine old gothic church, with a +lofty spire, the streets and houses descending in every direction. In +the vicinity are numerous lime stone quarries, some of which are open +from the surface, and from others it is drawn up through a shaft, +similar to coal mines.</p> + +<p>Mr. Siddons, the husband of the celebrated actress, was born in +Rushall-street, in this town, whilst his father kept a public-house, +known by the sign of the London apprentice, whose death was occasioned +by sparring or wrestling with a person named Denston. The present Mr. +Siddons was originally a barber, but having an inclination for the +stage, he joined the itinerant company of Mr. Kemble, and married one of +his daughters, who afterwards proved the heroine of the stage. Another +well-known character was also a native of this town, viz, Thomas Haskey, +the celebrated ventriloquist, who was by trade a bridle bit maker; but +whilst an apprentice he left his master, and entered into the army, +where he lost a leg and obtained a pension. When young, he did not know +the abilities he possessed, but hearing O'Burn, he endeavoured to +imitate him; and when Mr. Stanton's company of performers were at +Walsall, he repeatedly from the gallery entertained the audience by sham +dialogues, in two voices, between himself and Tommy. He was an ignorant +man, but possessing this unusual faculty, he was frequently sent for by +Lord Dudley, to entertain the company at Himley, upon which occasions, +he always hired a post chaise to convey him there. He afterwards went to +London, and performed at Sadler's Wells in the year 1796, and when his +benefit came on, he cleared £200.</p> + +<p>About one mile from the town, on the road to Wolverhampton, is a strong +chalybeate water, called Alum well.</p> + +<p>About one mile and a half from Walsall, near to Bentley hall, at a place +called Pouck hill, as some workmen were opening a quarry, they +discovered numerous basaltic columns, some of which are from four to +five feet in diameter, of various lengths, some singularly waved, others +straight; some of the joints short and others extend to the length of +five or six feet: they lie nearly in an horizontal position, and +resemble at a distance large trees piled one upon another.</p> + +<p>The chief articles manufactured in this town and its vicinity are bridle +bitts, stirrups, spurs and other articles either used or sold by the +saddlers.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Barr Park, distant five miles, on the road to Walsall</i>.</p> + +<p>The hospitable mansion of Sir Joseph Scott, Bart, is surrounded by a +park of considerable extent, wherein there is the greatest variety of +undulating hills and dales, wood and water, together with such extensive +views, as can only be found in this part of the kingdom. To this park +there are three entrances, and at every avenue the worthy proprietor has +erected an elegant lodge, from whence there are capacious carriage roads +to the mansion. One of these lodges is about five miles on the road to +Walsall, to which you approach by taking the right hand road, opposite a +house of entertainment, the Scott's arms, and then taking the second +turning to the left conducts you to the lodge. On entering the park, a +circular coach drive leads to the holly wood, through which you proceed +by a serpentine road near half a mile, when a beautiful sheet of water +presents itself to view, along whose banks you pass near a mile before +you arrive at the mansion.</p> + +<p>The situation of the building is low in front of the water, but being +screened by rising ground and lofty trees, it must be very warm in the +winter. On the left of the house, a walk leads you to the flower garden, +which is laid out with great taste, containing flowers and small shrubs +of the choicest and rarest kinds, together with a fountain in the +centre. From hence there are delightful views, and among others over the +adjacent country, Birmingham is distinctly seen. At the distance of +about two miles farther, towards Walsall, there is another lodge, which +is the entrance from Walsall, and leads you by a spacious serpentine +road through the Marrian wood, which is composed of various shrubs and +evergreens, and conducts you to a most elegant chapel, with a beautiful +and well-proportioned spire, underneath which you enter into one of the +most sumptuous places of worship in the universe. There are in the whole +eleven lofty windows, and seven of them are ornamented in the most +elegant manner with stained glass, by Eginton: they are all full length +figures, large as life, with their proper attributes. The first +represents Fortitude, the second Temperance, the third Justice, in the +fourth, which is over the communion table, is the apotheosis of a child, +after the Rev. Mr. Peters, the fifth represents Hope, the sixth Charity, +and the seventh Prudence. The pews and every other part correspond, +there being a sumptuous organ, with a gallery in front of it, which +extends on each side, before two windows. In a spacious cemetary there +are some tombs, much more elegant than are usually met with; there is +also a yew tree of large dimensions, which is grown much higher than +trees of that species do in general, and also some venerable elms, +together with the village school. Close adjoining is another lodge, and +the road from it conducts you over an elegant bridge, on the right of +which is a cascade.</p> + +<p>There is also another lodge, at a place called the Quieslet, about six +miles on the road to Barr-beacon, where a spacious road conducts you for +a considerable distance, by a plantation of oaks, and so through the +park, wherein there are fixed numerous seats, which command delightful +and comprehensive prospects, and among others may be seen the extensive +sheet of water in the vale, backed by a grand screen of venerable oaks +and verdant hills; at same time, from amidst the nearer trees and +shrubs, the house appears to emerge, and adds considerably to the scene. +From the various knolls with which this park abounds, there are several +that command a view of Birmingham, and also of the woods in Sandwell +park.</p> + +<p>There is also a view of the ruins of Dudley castle, and from another +eminence the churches of Wolverhampton and Wednesbury are seen, with the +elegant spire of Barr chapel in front. From the lodge at the approach +from Walsall there is an extensive view over the country, bounded in the +horizon, to the left by Dudley castle, the Rowley hills, etc. and to the +right by the Wrekin and other mountains in Shropshire.</p> + +<p><i>To Dudley, in Worcestershire, through West-bromwich, ten miles on the +road to Stourbridge</i>.</p> + +<p>You proceed down Snowhill, pass by the Soho, through Handsworth and +West-bromwich, and along the Wolverhampton road, near six miles, when +the road divides, and you take to the left, having the ruins of Dudley +castle full in view. After crossing the Birmingham canal, you come to +<i>Tipton, eight miles</i>.</p> + +<p>In this parish the following works are carried on in an extensive +manner:—</p> + +Blair and Stevenson, soap and lead.<br> +Harrison, Oliver, and Co. Horsley iron-works.<br> +Walker and Co. Gospel-oak iron-works.<br> +Dixon, Turton, and Co. have three furnaces.<br> +Round, Caddick, and Co. Old church forge.<br> +Messrs. Parkers, iron-masters.<br> +Zephaniah Parkes and Co. iron-masters.<br> +Messrs. Willets, iron-masters.<br> +Birmingham Co. iron-masters.<br> +Bagnall and Co. iron-masters.<br> +Moat colliery.<br> +Horsley ditto.<br> +New Church ditto.<br> +Tibbington ditto.<br> +Glebe Land ditto.<br> +Ockerhill ditto.<br> +Puppy Green ditto.<br> +Dudley Port ditto.<br> +Birmingham Co. ditto.<br> +Brookhouse ditto.<br> + +<p>The church is dedicated to St. Lawrence, of which the Rev. James Bevan +is perpetual curate. From hence you pass by the Dudley brewery, and +having ascended the hill, arrive at +<i>Dudley, ten miles</i>.</p> + +<p>In this town there are two parish churches, one of which is dedicated to +St. Thomas, and is now rebuilding in a magnificent manner, to which a +lofty spire is attached; it being in height 170 feet, and therein are +ten musical bells: of this church the Rev. Luke Booker, L.L.D. is vicar. +The other is dedicated to St. Edmund, wherein a free gallery has been +erected by subscription; over which the Rev. Proctor Robinson presides.</p> + +<p>The different sects of presbyterians, baptists, quakers, methodists, and +independants, have each of them their respective places of worship.</p> + +<p>There is a free school, founded by King Edward 6th, two national +schools, on the plan of Dr. Bell, and one Lancasterian ditto. The +inhabitants who have a taste for reading, have established a library, +wherein there are more than three thousand volumes.</p> + +<p>There are here five glass houses, two of which belong to Messrs. T. and +G. Hawkes, where the most superb articles are manufactured; another to +Mr. John Roughton; a fourth to Price, Cook, Wood, and Co.; and the fifth +is at Holly-hall, belonging to Zephaniah Parkes and Co.</p> + +<p>There are also the following iron-works established:—</p> + +Zephaniah Parkes and Co.<br> +Messrs. Attwoods, three furnaces.<br> +Glazebrook and Whitehouse.<br> +Salisbury, Hawkes, and Co.<br> +---- Banks.<br> +Wainwright, Jones, and Co.<br> + +<p>At the priory, there is a powerful steam engine, belonging to Mr. +Benson; and on the road to Birmingham is a brewery, belonging to a +public company. In the environs are numerous mines of coal, ironstone, +and lime; which land, where the mines have not been worked, sells in +general for about one thousand pounds per acre.—Nails and heavy +iron-work employ a great part of the population.</p> + +<p>The ancient castle, of which there still remains the keep and the +gateway, is said to have been erected about the year 700, by a person +named Dodo, from whom the name of the town is derived. Underneath the +hill, whereon the castle was situated, there are stupendous caverns, +from whence the lime stone has been conveyed away, which are truly +august, being of considerable extent, and proportionably high; the roof +being supported by rude pillars of vast dimensions, which have been left +by the miners for that purpose. There is one tunnel that perforates the +hill entirely, being in length near two miles: it is in height thirteen +feet, in width nine feet, and in one part sixty-four feet below the +surface.</p> + +<p>These enormous subterranean works, with the method of procuring the +stone, are highly deserving the attention of strangers, who have there +an opportunity of seeing this useful article forced from its natural +situation by means of gunpowder; raised from the bowels of the earth, +and conveyed through the country by means of inland navigation, to serve +the purpose of the agriculturist, and also the architect. In these rocks +there are numerous marine productions, and among others, one which the +miners denominate a locust, for which they have been known to refuse its +weight in gold; it being understood that there is only one other place +in the kingdom where they are to be found. The mines of coal in this +vicinity are from ten to twelve yards in thickness, which circumstance +it is said does not take place in any other part of the kingdom. A +stranger approaching Dudley after it is dark, will be astonished to see +the numerous fires in different directions, which proceed from the +furnaces, forges, and collieries; the latter converting their small coal +into coke.</p> + +<p>The noble proprietor of these extensive mines and the ruins above them +has for several successive years planted innumerable trees of different +kinds around the castle hill, and during last summer (1818) he caused +avenues to be cut through them, which form the most romantic, +picturesque, and diversified shady walks, extending over numerous hills +and dales, that can be imagined; the views that occasionally present +themselves when least expected, are enchanting, and when you arrive at +the summit, there is a most extensive prospect over the counties of +Worcester, Stafford, Derby, Leicester, Warwick, Salop, Hereford, and +part of Wales: it is not only extensive, but full of variety, comprising +hills and dales, woods and villages, populous towns, and busy seats of +manufacture; a scene that may be justly termed, of various view, warm +and alive with human habitations.—From this eminence eighteen churches +are discernable; viz, those of Dudley, Birmingham, West-bromwich, +Walsall, Rushall, Wednesbury, Darlaston, Tipton, Bilston, Wednesfield, +Wolverhampton, Sedgley, Briery-hill, Oldswinford, and Pedmore; also the +fine obelisk and castle at Hagley; the elegant seat of Lord Westcote; +Envil, the admired seat of Lord Stamford; and part of the woods at +Himley, the spacious and beautiful seat of the humane, generous, and +noble proprietor of these ruins. The stupendous mountains of Malvern +(though near forty miles distant), bounding the horizon towards the +south, are grand and noble features in the scene; as are also those of +Clent, Abberley, the Cleys, and the Wrekin;</p> + +"Mountains, on whose barren breast<br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">The lab'ring clouds do often rest."</span><br> + +<p><i>To Dudley, in Worcestershire, through Oldbury, distant</i> <i>nine miles.</i></p> + +<p>Having passed the Sand-pits and Spring-hill, you cross the Birmingham +canal and enter upon what was Birmingham heath, which being inclosed in +the year 1800, was found to contain 289 acres, which land now lets from +thirty to fifty shillings per acre.</p> + +<p>On the right hand is a boat-builder's yard, and on the left a +glass-house, belonging to Messrs. Biddle and Lloyd. Proceeding towards +the windmill, you perceive at a short distance on the right hand another +glass-house, belonging to Messrs. Shakespear and Fletcher. Ascending the +hill, there is on the right an extensive view over the adjacent +country, including Barr-beacon, Mr. Boulton's plantations, and +Winson-green, a neat house, in the possession of Mrs. Steward. On the +left is Summerfield-house, late the residence of John Iddins, Esq. but +now of James Woolley, Esq. and beyond it, a neat white house, occupied +by Mr. Hammond. Over an apparently wooded country, you have a windmill +in full view, and when at the foot of the hill, on the right is +Smethwick grove, the residence of John Lewis Moilliet, Esq.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> + +<p>You now enter Smethwick, which is in Staffordshire, and ascending the +hill, a neat brick house makes its appearance on the right hand, where +John Reynolds, Esq. resides, who, by succeeding to what was considered +by Mr. Lane, his predecessor, to be a worn out trade, accumulated a +considerable fortune, and has retired from business to enjoy it near +twenty years. At the summit of the hill on the left is Shireland hall, +which is now converted into a seminary for young ladies, under the +superintendance of Miss Marmont.</p> + +<p>There are in Smethwick some works of considerable magnitude, viz. +Messrs. Boulton and Watt's manufactory for steam engines; an extensive +soap work, belonging to Messrs. Adkins and Nock; a manufactory of brass, +under the denomination of the Smethwick brass company; and also one of +British crown glass, belonging to Thomas Shutt and Co. There is a house +called the Beakes, where Wm. Wynne Smith, Esq. resides.</p> + +<p>The place of worship is a chapel of ease to the parish of Harborne, and +is a neat modern brick tower building, of a single pace, lofty and +coved, about sixty feet by twenty-four, and well paved, with a gallery +at the west end. The present incumbent is the Rev. Edward Dales, who +resides in the neat parsonage-house on the south side of the chapel +yard.</p> + +<p>Leaving Smethwick, you proceed towards Oldbury, upon which road the +trustees are making great improvements, by widening the road and turning +the course of a brook, over which they are building a bridge, which when +finished will be a great accommodation. This village is situated in the +county of Salop, and is a chapel of ease to Halesowen. A new +court-house was erected here in the year 1816, where the court of +requests is held once a fortnight. The protestant dissenters have here a +neat place of worship, as have also the methodists. Close to the village +are several coal mines, and a blast furnace, belonging to Mr. Parker.<a name="FNanchor7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7"><sup>[7]</sup></a></p> + +<a name="Footnote_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor7">[7]</a><div class=note> From this place you have an excellent view of Rowley hills, +the ruins of Dudley castle, and the fine woods in Sandwell park.</div><br> + +<p>About a mile distant, on the left of the road is the Brades, where +Messrs. William Hunt and Sons have established a considerable +manufacture of iron and steel, which they form into scythes, hay knives, +trowels, and every kind of hoe now in use. This road from Birmingham +to Dudley is at least one mile nearer than going through West-bromwich, +and in my opinion will be sufficiently commodious for the traffic there +is between the two towns. The distance is only nine miles, and in +travelling that short space of ground you are in four different +counties; Birmingham being in Warwickshire; Smethwick, in Staffordshire; +Oldbury, in Shropshire; and Dudley in the county of Worcester.</p> + +<p>N. B. Since writing the above, the bridge is completed, and the whole +line of road improved to a considerable degree.</p> + +<p><i>To Hockley-house, ten miles, on the road to Stratford-upon-Avon and +also to Warwick.</i></p> + +<p>You proceed through Deritend, up Camp-hill, and when near the summit, +there is on the right hand an ancient brick building, called the +Ravenhurst, the residence of Mr. John Lowe, attorney, who is equally +respectable in his profession, as the house is in appearance. A short +distance beyond on the left is Fair-hill, where Samuel Lloyd, Esq. +resides, and on the opposite side of the road is the Larches, the abode +of Wm. Withering, Esq.—This house, when it belonged to Mr. Darbyshire, +was known by the name of Foul Lake, but when Dr. Priestley resided +there, he gave it the name of Fair-hill; afterwards, being purchased by +Dr. Withering, he altered the name of it to the Larches. Having passed +through the turnpike, on the left is Sparkbrook-house, John Rotton, Esq. +resident. At the distance of one mile and a half the road to Warwick +branches off to the left, and on the summit of the hill is +Spark-hill-house, inhabited by Miss Morris. Opposite the three mile +stone is a very neat pile of building, called Green-bank-house, where +Benjamin Cooke, Esq. has taken up his abode. A little beyond, at a place +called the Coal-bank, there is a free school, which is endowed with +about forty pounds per annum.</p> + +<p>At a short distance on the left is Marston chapel, which is usually +called Hall-green chapel: it was erected and endowed by Job Marston, +Esq. of Hall-green hall, with about ninety acres of land, and other +donations.</p> + +<p>At the distance of five miles, you pass through a village called Shirley +Street; and at the distance of another fire miles, you arrive at +Hockley-house; a place of entertainment, where travellers of every +denomination are accommodated in a genteel manner, and on reasonable +terms. About one mile from hence, on the road to Stratford, is +Umberslade, or Omberslade, where the Archer family were used to reside, +but it is now untenanted.</p> + +<p><i>From Hockley-house to Warwick, ten miles.</i></p> + +<p>At the distance of one quarter of a mile, there is on the right a view +of Lapworth church, and on the left is Pack wood-house, which is at +present unoccupied. At Rowington, the Warwick canal is carried at an +immense expense over a deep valley, and also through a tunnel of +considerable length; on the left is the village church, to which you +ascend by steps cut in the solid rock, and near to it is the handsome +residence of Samuel Aston, Esq. from hence you proceed through Hatton to +Warwick.</p> + +<p><i>To Warwick, twenty miles</i>—<i>Leamington, twenty-two miles.</i></p> + +<p>You proceed through Deritend and Bordesley, continuing upon the +Stratford road for one mile and a half, when you turn to the left; and +at the distance of two miles there is a view over a well-wooded country, +with the spire of Yardley church on the left. At Acock's-green there is +a prospect nearly similar; and in a field, opposite the five mile stone, +there is an extensive picturesque landscape, with a sheet of water in +front, which covers about thirty acres;<a name="FNanchor8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8"><sup>[8]</sup></a> in the midst of which is a +small island, with some trees upon it, that adds considerably to the +scene.</p> + +<a name="Footnote_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor8">[8]</a><div class=note> This sheet of water is the reservoir of the Warwick canal.</div><br> + +<p><i>Solihull, distant seven miles.</i></p> + +<p>This beautiful, neat, and clean village had at one time a market, but +that has been discontinued for a long time. There are still three fairs +annually; one on the 29th of April, another on the 11th of September, +and the third on the 12th of October. There are here several genteel and +commodious houses; the vicinity being very respectable. The, church is +an ancient gothic pile of building, with an elegant spire. The Rev. +Charles Curtis is rector.</p> + +<p>Leaving the village, on the right you pass by Malvern-hall, the +residence of H.G. Lewis, Esq. and afterwards arrive at Balsall Temple, +which in former days belonged to the knights templars, and at their +dissolution the knights hospitallers became possessed of it, in whom it +remained till the general dissolution of the abbies. It was afterwards +converted into an hospital, for the reception of indigent women, either +unmarried or widows, to be selected from Balsall and Long Itchington, in +Warwickshire, Trentham, in Staffordshire, or Lillenhall, in Shropshire. +This institution is now in great prosperity, the annual income amounting +to near £1500; the number of its alms-women is at present thirty. The +buildings are extensive and substantial, forming a complete square, and +healthfully situated on the verge of a spacious and fertile green. The +trustees are the bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, together with the +Earls of Warwick and Aylesford, assisted by other respectable gentlemen +in the county, who have placed the whole institution under the immediate +charge of a master, with a salary of £150. per annum, who is at this +time the Rev. J. Short.</p> + +<p>To those who admire antiquity, Balsall church will be a pleasing +object, as it now remains nearly in the same state as it was when first +erected, about seven hundred years back. Its dimensions are one hundred +and two feet long, thirty-eight broad, and fifty-seven high. At the east +and west ends are lofty windows, extending from the roof nearly to the +ground, and on each side are three noble windows. The heads of all the +windows are ornamented with beautiful tracery, and no two of them +resemble each other. There are no divisions withinside, and what +distinguishes the chancel from the body of the church is an ascent of +three steps. The walls are very substantial, and so clustered with ivy, +that it forces its way through any small fissures into the interior. +Over the west door there is a low turret, and below the cornice is a row +of ten heads, in a good state of preservation, which are considered to +be of excellent workmanship.</p> + +<p>Near the church is the ancient hall of the templars, formerly a splendid +apartment, but now it is converted into a barn, which is represented to +have been one hundred and forty feet in length.</p> + +<p>A little farther is Springfield, the elegant and delightful mansion of +Joseph Boultbee, Esq. and at a short distance is Knowle, which is a +small old town, on elevated ground, in the midst of fertile fields. This +church is of considerable size, and exhibits marks of antiquity in its +remains of stained glass and grotesque carved work.</p> + +<p>Not far from hence is Baddesley-Clinton-hall, the seat of Edward +Ferrers, Esq. and about one mile beyond is a small inn, known by the +name of Tom o'Bedlam, near to which is a venerable oak tree, supposed to +be two hundred years old, measuring in girth twenty yards, from which +one branch extends across a road thirty feet wide. You next come to +Wroxhall abbey, the residence of Christopher Wren, Esq. a descendant +from the noted Sir Christopher Wren, who erected St. Paul's cathedral, +in London. The church of Wroxhall is an ancient structure, forming one +side of a square, the buildings of the abbey forming the other three +sides. The windows, which are ornamented with stained glass, are +remarkably fine: the two figures of Moses and Aaron are admired, not +only for the drapery, but also for the splendid colours.</p> + +<p>About one mile before you arrive at Hatton, there is to the left a +pleasant view over a well-wooded country, in the midst of which the +ivied towers and magnificent battlements of Kenilworth castle present +themselves to view. Hatton is a small village over which the celebrated +and learned Dr. Parr presides. At Hatton-hill, near the two mile stone, +there is an extensive and diversified prospect over the fertile tract +that surrounds Warwick; in every part highly cultivated, and adorned +with woods, encircled by gently-rising hills; and in the back ground are +seen Shuckburgh-hill on one side and Edge-hill on the other.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Warwick</i>. This ancient town is seated on a rock, to which you ascend +in every direction, there being four avenues; one from Birmingham, +another from Stratford, a third from Coventry, and a fourth from +Banbury. The eminence on which the town is erected is itself encircled +by hills at the distance of from two to three miles, which bound the +prospect in every direction, except to the N.E. where you may see into +Northamptonshire, and to the S.W. where the eye ranges over an extensive +country, backed by the hills in Glocestershire and Worcestershire. The +surrounding country is very fruitful, being cultivated with great care, +and the enclosures separated by beautiful hedges, which are richly +adorned with trees in a flourishing condition, and also by the river +Avon, which meanders here in a considerable stream, and near Warwick is +augmented by the junction of the Leam. The town being seated on a dry +eminence, is exposed to the genial influence of the sun, which rarifies +the air, and renders the atmosphere so salubrious and warm, that in its +vicinity the seasons are frequently earlier by a fortnight than they are +at the distance of twenty or thirty miles. The four principal streets +cross each other at right angles, and lead to the cardinal points.</p> + +<p>Great improvements have of late been made in them, by the introduction +of culverts, repaving the carriage roads, and laying the footpaths with +flags. Lamps are lighted during the winter months, at the expense of the +corporation, who have in a commendable manner widened the narrow parts +of some streets, and removed numerous obstructions; which gives an air +of liveliness to this once sleepy town, and the inhabitants, being +rowsed from their lethargy, are now become active and industrious.—The +canal from Birmingham comes to this town, from whence it is continued to +Napton, where it unites with the Oxford, and by means of it, with the +grand junction canal.</p> + +<p>The town is governed by a mayor, twelve aldermen, and twelve principal +burgesses, with a town clerk and a recorder, who are empowered to make +laws for the regulation of the borough, and upon all offenders to impose +reasonable fines and penalties. Here are two manufactories of cotton, +one of lace, and one of worsted, all of them upon an extensive scale, +which contribute considerably to the cheerful activity and increasing +population. There are here held twelve fairs annually; the market, which +is well supplied, is on a Saturday; the quarter sessions for the county, +and also the assizes.—The horse races take place in September, and a +second meeting of the same kind is held in November. This borough sends +two members to parliament, who are elected by those who pay scot and +lot; the number of electors being about five hundred.</p> + +<p>Here are two churches; one dedicated to St. Mary and the other to St. +Nicholas: there, are also places of worship for presbyterians, quakers, +independants, baptists, and Wesleyans.</p> + +<p>In the vicinity, the following places are deserving of attention:—Guy's +cliff, the ruins of Kenilworth castle, Stoneleigh abbey, +Charlcott-house, and Combe abbey. Passing over the new bridge, on the +road to Leamington, there is a grand picturesque view of Warwick; there +being in the foreground the rich meadows, with the Avon meandering +through them, the church of St. Nicholas, and the trees behind, which +form a dark shade. Near to it is the castellated entrance into the +castle, and the elegant tower of St. Peter's chapel. On the right is the +priory, with its beautiful woods. The town is perceptible in the centre, +with the tower of St. Mary's, which rises above the variegated and +extensive groves of the castle. On the left is the principal object, the +castle, which raises its lofty embattled towers over the shady groves +with which it is surrounded. The elegant bridge, whose span is 105 feet, +is a prominent feature in the landscape.</p> + +<p>On the road leading to Tachbrook, about one mile from the town, the eye +is gratified with a rich and luxuriant landscape, wherein appears the +church of St. Nicholas, the priory, the hospital of St. John, the tower +of St. Mary's church, and, to crown the whole, the castle.</p> + +<p>The walks and rides in the vicinity of this town present innumerable +objects deserving of attention, and whoever takes delight in rural +scenery, may here be amply gratified.</p> + +<p>In addition to these works, there is a considerable manufactory of hats, +and an iron-foundry; to which may be added a corn mill, wherein are five +pair of stones, and three of them constantly in motion, by which means +they are enabled to grind and dress three hundred bushels of flour +every day.</p> + +<p><i>The County Hall.</i></p> + +<p>This is an elegant pile of building, with a stone front, ornamented with +pillars of the Corinthian order, to which, the ascent is by a flight of +steps, through folding doors, into a noble room of just proportions, +being ninety-four feet in length and thirty-six in breadth. At each end +are semicircular recesses, surmounted by cupolas, and fitted up with +convenient galleries, where the two courts of justice are held; the +criminal court being on the right, and that for civil causes on the +left; between which there is accommodation for the servants and +attendants upon the court. Above there is an apartment where the petit +juries occasionally retire, and adjoining it is the room where the grand +jury assemble. The quarter sessions for the county are also held in this +hall, and in it all county meetings are convened. During the races there +is a temporary boarded floor laid down, and the hall is converted into a +ball-room, the two recesses being fitted up for card parties: the +pillars with which it is ornamented are encircled with wreaths of lamps, +and what was before the solemn court of justice, is now converted into a +brilliant and sportive scene, where gaiety and fashion take place of +their predecessors.</p> + +<p><i>The Court House.</i></p> + +<p>This spacious and elegant pile of building is appropriated to the use +of the body corporate, there being two rooms on the ground floor; that +on the right is where the mayor and aldermen hold their assemblies, and +the other is fitted up as a court, where the sessions are held for the +borough. On the second floor, there is a commodious, well-proportioned +apartment, sixty feet by twenty-seven, which is fitted up in an elegant +manner with superb cut-glass chandeliers of large dimensions, at one end +of which is an orchestra and also a card room adjoining. In this room +annual entertainments are given by the mayor, and public meetings for +the borough are convened. In it public lectures upon any particular +subject are occasionally delivered, and it is also sometimes used as a +ballroom.</p> + +<p><i>The Market House.</i></p> + +<p>This substantial building does credit to the town; it being very +convenient for those who bring the produce of their farms to market. The +upper apartments are made use of as store-rooms for the arms and +accoutrements of the military within the county. From its summit there +is a fine view of the town, and also a prospect of the surrounding +country.</p> + +<p><i>The Stone Bridge</i>.</p> + +<p>This elegant structure, which is erected across the river Avon, consists +of one arch, measuring 105 feet in the span, at the expense of four +thousand pounds: one thousand was contributed by the corporation, and +the remainder was defrayed by the Earl of Warwick.</p> + +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;"><i>The Iron Bridge</i>.</span><br> + +<p>The rock whereon this town is erected being cut away, to make a road +into it twenty-four feet wide, Charles Mills, Esq. one of the members +for the borough, caused an iron bridge to be erected at his expense, +across this road, and thereby formed a junction between the marketplace +and the Saltsford.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>The Theatre</i>.</p> + +<p>The town not being very extensive, this building was erected to +correspond with the population: it is no ways remarkable in its external +appearance, but it is fitted up in a neat and convenient manner within, +and is always opened during the races.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>College School</i>.</p> + +<p>This ancient pile of building is of considerable size, and in it the +native children of the parish, who think proper to take advantage of the +institution, are educated free of expense; but as the course of +instruction is prescribed to the learned languages only, its utility as +a free school for general education is very contracted. The salary of +the master, who must be a clergyman of the established religion, is +seventy-five pounds, and he having but little employment, has an +assistant, who receives annually thirty pounds, exclusive of other +emoluments. To this school two estates were left in trust, to provide +two exhibitions of seventy pounds each, for two young men, natives of +the town, towards defraying the expense of their education, at Oxford, +for the space of seven years.</p> + +<p>There is also a public library, wherein is a considerable collection of +well-chosen books, chiefly of modern literature; but the building that +contains it is not deserving of notice.</p> + +<p>The charitable donations and benefactions that have been left to this +town are very numerous, and amount to a large sum of money.</p> + +<p>Here are six different alms-houses, one school wherein thirty-nine boys +are taught reading, writing, and arithmetic, and thirty-six girls are +instructed in reading, writing, sewing, and knitting. There is also a +school of industry, and four sunday schools. A lying-in charity is also +established here, for the relief of poor married women, residing within +the borough, who each of them are accommodated with a set of child-bed +linen for one month, one pound of candles, one pound of soap, and during +the winter months, with two hundred weight of coals. They are also +provided with a sufficient quantity of caudle, together with proper +attendants, and all necessary medical advice. In addition to the +before-mentioned there are two poor-houses.</p> + +<p>There is also a very ancient building, denominated Leicester's hospital, +for the reception of twelve indigent men, who are termed brethren, +together with a master, who must be a clergyman of the established +church, and in preference to all others, if he offers himself, the vicar +of St. Mary's. It is endowed with land, which at the time was valued at +£200 per annum, but now amounts to near £2000, exclusive of the vicarage +of Hampton-in-Arden, which is in the gift of the brethren, who usually +bestow it upon the master. It had long been ascertained that the clear +annual rental of the estate far exceeded all that could be required for +the support of the number of brethren in the hospital, and that the +salary of the master was fixed at fifty pounds per annum.</p> + +<p>In the year 1813, this important business was brought before parliament, +when it appeared, that each of the brethren received, clear of all +deductions, about £130 per year each, which sum the act leaves them in +the possession of; but it provides, as vacancies occur, either by death +or otherwise, on the admission of every new member, his annual income +shall not exceed £80, and that the surplus £50 shall one half of it go +to the increase of the master's salary, until it amounts to £400 per +annum, and the remainder is to form a fund for the support of ten +additional members. The qualification for admission being now fixed at +£50 per annum: no candidate is to be possessed of an income exceeding +that. Adjoining to the hospital is a chapel, which is neatly fitted up +for the use of the brethren, the master, and his family, who daily +assemble there for morning and evening prayer, except on those days when +service is performed at St. Mary's, where their attendance is then +required.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>St. Mary's Church</i>.</p> + +<p>This stately building taken altogether makes a very respectable +appearance, particularly the tower, wherein are eight bells and a set +of chimes; what is very remarkable, the principal entrance into the +church is under the tower; therefore it admits of a grand view down the +middle aisle, which being terminated by the east window, is seen to +great advantage. There is in this church an excellent organ, and +numerous monuments, but none of them any ways remarkable. From the south +transept of this church, you descend by a flight of steps to St. Mary's +chapel, and enter therein by folding doors, which, when opened, the eye +is astonished upon viewing the interior of this beautiful and +magnificent structure, which is considered to be as fine a specimen of +gothic architecture as any in the kingdom, it being in the pointed style +of the middle order. This chapel, having been twenty-one years in +building, was finished in the year 1464, and including the monument +erected to commemorate the Earl of Warwick, cost £2481, an amazing sum +at that period. In the chapel there are five sumptuous monuments.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>St. Nicholas's Church</i>.</p> + +<p>This incongruous pile of building is of modern date, being opened for +divine service on the 17th September, 1780.</p> + +<p><i>County Gaol.</i></p> + +<p>This extensive, substantial, and commodious pile of building is of solid +stone, and in all respects so complete, that every purpose it was +intended to answer is fully accomplished. The area of this prison +contains near an acre of ground, which is surrounded by a wall +twenty-three feet high, and of proportionate strength.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>County Bridewell.</i></p> + +<p>This building is of stone, and contains numerous apartments, in every +one of which there is a glazed window and an iron door, the sleeping +rooms being furnished with iron bedsteads and chaff beds, with two rugs +to each. A donation is made to every prisoner, on being released, +according to the distance he is from home and behaviour during +confinement. One or two shirts or shifts, a pair of shoes, or a jacket, +are presented to those who have been in prison six months.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>The Castle.</i></p> + +<p>The necessary limits to which this work is confined, will not admit of +describing that magnificent and sumptuous pile of building; therefore +those who are desirous of seeing a description of it, are referred to +the local historian.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>The Priory.</i></p> + +<p>This ancient edifice is in the immediate vicinity of Warwick: it was +originally a complete square, three sides of which still remain, the +fourth having been removed.—The western side appears to have been part +of the ancient chapel, there still remaining part of the baptismal +font, which is of stone, richly ornamented, and is highly deserving the +attention of an antiquarian.</p> + +<p>It is situated on a pleasing eminence, embosomed in the ancient and +majestic groves, surrounded by delightful gardens and an extensive park, +and presents such a beautiful sylvan scene as is rarely to be met with. +The undulated surface of the ground, intermingled with numerous sheets +of water, are richly adorned with trees of various kinds, of vigorous +growth and the most beautiful forms, among which the elm and the chesnut +are particularly conspicuous. Through this park there are several +footpaths open to the public, and are the most rural and delightful +walks imaginable.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Guy's Clift</i>.</p> + +<p>Leland, the antiquarian, who wrote in the time of Henry 8th, speaking of +this delightful and romantic place, says, "It is the abode of pleasure, +and a place delightful to the muses: there are natural cavities in the +rocks, small but shady groves, clear and chrystal streams, flowery +meadows, mossy caves, a gentle murmuring river running among the rocks, +and to crown all, solitude and quiet, friendly in so high a degree to +the muses."</p> + +<p>The approach to this romantic place is from the Coventry road, by the +side of shady plantations, until you arrive at a lofty stone arch, +through which you enter the court yard, the whole of which is hewn out +of the solid rock, and underneath there are subterraneous passages and +cellars, wherein the atmospheric air produces so little effect, that +during the heats of summer or the colds in winter the thermometer only +varies one degree. In this court there are numerous stables excavated +out of the solid rock, as are some of the lower apartments of the house, +which is an elegant modern mansion, and near to it is the ancient +chapel, with its embattled towers and gothic windows, as it was +originally built in the reign of Henry 6th, and is still in good repair. +Those who admire the productions of early genius will here be highly +gratified, there being great numbers of original paintings, and some +copies, executed by the only son of the worthy proprietor of Guy's +clift, whose premature death at the age of twenty-two, caused +inexpressible grief to all who were honoured with his acquaintance. +Exclusive of these, there are others by artists of the greatest +celebrity.</p> + +<p>The ancient pleasure grounds exhibit a great variety of pleasing +objects, and also numerous curiosities; among others, a mill that was in +being before the Norman conquest, it being mentioned in doomsday book. +There is also Guy's well, where this renowned champion was accustomed to +slake his thirst, which is described by Leland as follows, it still +remaining in the same state as it was then—"The silver wells in the +meadows were enclosed with pure white sleek stones, like marble, and a +pretty house, erected like a cage, one end only open, to keep corners +from the rain." The apartments under the chapel, where the chantry +priests were used to reside, still remain entire, without having +undergone any alteration. Near to this spot is Guy's cave,</p> + +"Where with his hands he hew'd a house,<br> +Out of a craggy rock of stone,<br> +And lived, like a palmer, poor,<br> +Within that house alone."<br> + +<p>This bears the appearance of being a natural eave, for the upper part +does not exhibit any marks where the tool has been made use of, but the +lower part does; and here, tradition says, this mighty warrior was +interred, and also his wife, fair Phillis. Over this cave is fair +Phillis's walk, who, it is related, was accustomed to resort here, +whilst her husband, though not known to her as such, was performing his +devotions in the cave below. From these delightful and romantic walks +there are numerous opportunities for an expert draughtsman to exercise +his abilities.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Leamington Priors.</i></p> + +<p>The distance between Warwick and Leamington is only two miles, and there +are two distinct roads, both of them excellent; and whether a person +rides or walks, if the mind is susceptible of pleasing ideas, neither +time nor fatigue will be thought of. The roads about Leamington are in +excellent order, and present numerous delightful and picturesque views, +which are fully described by Mr. Field, and also by Mr. Moncrief in his +Guide to Leamington, wherein he has introduced some appropriate, +entertaining, and amusing poetry. Whoever resorts to these saline +springs in search of amusement, if he has money and time at command, +cannot fail, during the season, between May and November, of being +highly gratified, except the mind is entirely depraved. To every +visitant, the guide of Mr. Moncrief will not only be useful but +entertaining. The poetical epistles of Miss Fidget are not only +descriptive but very humorous, and the poetry of Mr. Pensile is very +appropriate.</p> + +<p>Before Leamington rose into esteem, there was a facetious man resided +there, named Benjamin Satchwell, by trade a shoemaker, who, when any +differences arose among the villagers, he was in general the mediator; +they not being at that time cursed with either a wrangling lawyer or an +hypocritical methodist. He was also the village poet, and frequently +exercised his talents in praise of the waters, and likewise of any +respectable person who came with intent to derive benefit from them. He +is said to have kept annals in verse of its rise and progress, and also +cases of cures performed by the virtues of the saline spring, and that +he let them out to the visitors for their amusement, on certain terms. +Admitting this to be true, is it not very singular that Mr. Bisset, nor +his predecessor, Mr. Pratt, should neither of them introduce these jeu +des esprits, for the entertainment of their readers, or why did not Mr. +Moncrief collect them together; they certainly would have increased the +sale of his work? As they are overlooked by the local historians, it is +not likely that a casual visitor should stumble upon them.</p> + +<p>This village having for a series of years been celebrated for a spring +of saline water, it has for some time become fashionable to resort +there. The first baths were erected in the year 1786, now called the +Centre well, by Mr. Thomas Abbotts, a native of the place; the +beneficial effects of the water having been noticed and recommended by +Dr. Kerr, of Northampton, and Dr. Allen. At this time there were two +baths, one of them hot and the other cold, which for several years +afforded sufficient accommodation for all invalids who resorted there, +and were in general lodged at the adjacent cottages, there being no more +than two small inns, the Bowling Green and the sign of the Dog.</p> + +<p>Dr. Edward Johnstone, of Birmingham, having recommended the use of these +waters to several of his patients, the number of visitants increased +annually, so that in 1790, Matthew Wise, Esq. caused another well to be +opened, now called the Road well, where he erected a range of baths, +more spacious than the others, to which was annexed considerably more +conveniences, with some pretensions to elegance; but as yet no +additional apartments were provided for the accommodation of strangers, +except a few more of the cottagers fitting up additional rooms, it being +no more than a rural and retired village.</p> + +<p>In the year 1794, Dr. Lambe, a physician of eminence, who resided at +Warwick, published in the fifth volume of the Memoirs of the Manchester +Philosophical Society, an accurate analysis of the Leamington water, by +which it appears to possess the same genial influence on the human frame +as the water of Cheltenham, which was then rising into celebrity. There +was one very material difference between the waters of Leamington and +those of Cheltenham, there being at the former place an abundant supply +of the mineral water, not only for drinking but for hot and cold +bathing; whilst, on the contrary, the saline spring at Cheltenham +scarcely produced a sufficient quantity for drinking. The influx of +visitors to Leamington now increased with such rapidity, that every +cottager exerted himself to fit up lodgings, and every house to which +lodgers resorted improved their appearance; in short, new wells were +opened, new houses erected, and not only new streets formed in the old +town, as it was now called, but a plan was drawn for the erection of a +new town, which has within a few years increased in a most astonishing +manner.</p> + +<p>The Dukes of Bedford and Gordon, attended by their Duchesses, having +visited and remained at Leamington for some time, it induced the Earl of +Aylesford, who is lord of the manor, and of course, proprietor of the +spring, to visit Leamington, where, having made the necessary enquiries, +he gave orders that the spring should be properly inclosed, at his +expense, securing to the poor the benefit of the waters, and had he +lived, it was his intention to have erected baths for their +accommodation. The visitants increasing in number, Mr. Wise has +augmented the number of his baths, there being one cold bath, four hot +for the use of gentlemen, seven for ladies, and one for children, all +fitted up with Dutch tiles, or Derbyshire marble, and furnished for the +convenience of invalids, with hand rails: to each of the baths is +attached a dressing room, with a fire-place in it. Adjoining these baths +there is a small but elegant pump-room; the water being raised by a +horse engine.</p> + +<p>In 1810, a fourth well was opened, which is called the Bridge well, and +is situated near the bridge, close to the river: it belongs to Mr. +Robbins, who has erected one large cold bath, three hot baths, and one +for children.—These, with the exception of the last, are accompanied by +convenient dressing-rooms; the water being raised by a horse engine.</p> + +<p>The South well, the property of the Rev. Mr. Read, was opened in the +same year, (1810), where there are one cold bath, formed with Dutch +tiles, three hot baths, one of them being marble, and one for children: +these baths are very neat, but they have not the convenience of +dressing-rooms.</p> + +<p>During the same year, (1810), a sixth well was opened on the north side +of the river, where a magnificent suite of baths and a spacious +pump-room are erected, at the expense of twenty-five thousand pounds; +there are twenty in number, hot, cold, tepid, vapour, and shower; one of +them being a chair bath, which is an admirable contrivance to immerge +the invalid, on the chair where he was undressed, into the bath, in a +secure and easy manner.—These baths are spacious, and admirably +constructed with Dutch tiles, and most of them have the accommodation of +dressing-rooms. The water is raised by a steam engine of two horse +power; and to the great credit of the proprietors, they have devoted one +hot and two cold baths to the use of the poor. This extensive building +exhibits a noble front, the central part being one hundred and six feet +in length and thirty in height, to which there are two wings, each of +them extending thirty-feet and in height twenty. A spacious colonade, +formed by double pillars of the Doric order, encompass it on three +sides, all of native stone, makes this building rank among the first and +most magnificent structures in the kingdom. It was designed and executed +by Mr. C.S. Smith, architect of London. The baths for the use of the +ladies are nearest to the river, and those at the other end are for +gentlemen, the entrance to them being from the two wings. The entrance +to the pump-room, which is extensive, lofty, and of exact proportions, +is through folding doors at each extremity of the central building.—The +ornaments of the ceiling, the cornices, and in fact, the whole interior +embellishments, are chaste and simply elegant. On one side the light is +introduced through seven windows, and on the opposite side by one window +of large dimensions, composed of stained glass. Underneath this window +there are two elegant chimney pieces, formed of Kilkenny marble. At the +western extremity of the room, on an ornamental pedestal of Derbyshire +marble, there is the pump, if it may be so called, it having a bason in +the centre, which is enclosed by a neat mahogany ballustrade. The +visitors receive the water in glasses from beautiful damsels, and to +whom it is usual to give a gratuity. The terms for drinking the water at +these baths is 3s. 6d. per week, exclusive of the gratuity. At the other +wells it is 2s. 6d. per week, and the gratuity. The terms for bathing +appear to be in general, 3s. for a warm bath, 2s. for that of a child, +and 1s. 6d. for a cold bath, with a gratuity to the attendant.</p> + +<p>In the year 1816, a seventh well made its appearance in Clemens-street, +which bears the pompous title of the imperial sulphuric medical font, +and ladies' marble baths. There are here four baths, with a +dressing-room to each, and also an elegant pump-room.</p> + +<p>Lest seven wells and fifty baths should not be sufficient to accommodate +the visitors at Leamington, preparations are making for the eighth well, +near Ranelagh gardens, where the baths are intended to be more splendid +than any of the former, and also the pump-room, under the title of the +Spa.</p> + +<p>From the hour of seven to nine in the morning is the accustomed time to +promenade and drink the water, though numbers defer it till after +breakfast, and bathe in the evening before they retire to rest.</p> + +<p>When the warm baths are not in use, they are invariably kept and shewn +empty, being filled in presence of the visitor, or during the time he is +preparing to use them; the process of filling not requiring more than +three minutes. The cold baths are in general emptied and of course +filled every day, or more frequently if required; but of late they are +not much resorted to, the warm or tepid bath being preferred. The +prevailing opinion among medical men is, that the latter is by far the +more efficacious in most disorders, and more conducive to health than +the former; because, where a person continues immersed in saline water +for some time, it enters into the pores of the skin, and by that means +is more likely to be of benefit in cutaneous or other disorders for +which it is usually recommended.</p> + +<p>The houses in Union-parade, Upper Union-street, Cross-street, and +others, being erected, some public-spirited gentlemen, in order to +attract the attention of the public, in the year 1813 resolved to erect +an assembly-room that might vie with, if not excel those of Bath and +Cheltenham.</p> + +<p>This, at the expense of ten thousand pounds, was carried into execution +by a pupil of the celebrated Wyatt. The spacious front of this beautiful +edifice is constructed with native stone, wherein no superfluous +ornaments are admitted. In the central part there are a range of seven +windows, supported by light pilasters of the Ionic order, surmounted by +a plain entablature. Two handsome wings project from the main building, +and judiciously relieve it; they contain those apartments that are usual +and necessary appendages to a large assembly room.—There are two +entrances into this building; one on the eastern side, from +Union-parade, through a small porch, supported by four Ionic columns; +the other, the principal entrance, is from Upper Cross-street, through a +pair of large folding doors in the right wing, into the hall. The hall +is spacious and well-proportioned, the refectory being opposite to the +entrance. To the right is a billiard-room, containing a massive mahogany +table, made by Fernyhough, of London, said to be worth one hundred +guineas, and to the left a flight of stairs conducts you to another +billiard-room, which, although it is not quite so spacious, is equally +commodious as the other. On the same side you enter the ball-room +through a pair of folding doors: this magnificent room measures in +length eighty-two feet, in width thirty-six, and in height twenty-six. +From the ceiling, which is beautifully ornamented with stucco, three +superb chandeliers of cut glass are suspended, which with those in the +other apartments are said to have cost one thousand guineas. The range +of windows aforementioned are furnished with curtains of crimson +moreen, edged with black fringe. On the opposite side of the room there +are two fire-places, the chimney pieces being formed of Kilkenny marble, +highly polished, over which are two ornamental mirrors of large +dimensions. At the upper end is the orchestra, to the left of which is a +door leading into the card room, which is a spacious and elegant +apartment, and beyond it is a reading-room, well provided with the +London and provincial newspapers, to which are added some of the most +esteemed periodical publications. On ball nights, this room is +appropriated for tea. From the month of June till November balls are +held every Thursday night, at eight o'clock, and card assemblies +occasionally throughout the season. The whole concern is under the +direction of a committee, the master of the ceremonies being C. +Stevenson, Esq.</p> + +<p>Mr. George Stanley, mason, of Warwick, laid the first brick of the first +house erected at new Leamington, 8th October, 1808. This first house was +built by Mr. Frost, of Warwick, and stands at the comer of Upper +Cross-street, opposite the assembly rooms; in honour of him there is now +a street bears his name, (Frost-street.)</p> + +<p><i>The Theatre.</i></p> + +<p>This neat building, upon a diminutive scale, was erected in 1814, +immediately in front of the Bath hotel, the exterior appears to be +coated with Parker's cement, and the interior is ornamented with views +of Leamington, Warwick, Guy's Clift, and c, and fitted up with some taste.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>The Post Office.</i></p> + +<p>This necessary and convenient place for all descriptions of people to +resort to, is situated about two hundred yards east of the church, where +there are gardens, kept in neat order, for the accommodation of those +who wait with impatience for their letters; or they may promenade from +the office to Gordon house.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Ranelagh Gardens</i></p> + +<p>Are regularly improved every season, and with their various amusements, +are deserving of attention.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>The Church</i></p> + +<p>Is an ancient pile of building, dedicated to All Saints, which, from the +great influx of visitors, being found too small for their accommodation, +an entire new wing was constructed in 1816, and it still requires to be +farther extended, or a new one erected. A moderate subscription from the +wealthy visitors would do much towards it. The officiating minister, the +Rev. E. Trotman, is only engaged to do single duty on a Sunday, but to +accommodate the visitors, he performs a second entire service, and to +remunerate him for his attention, subscription books are opened. +During the season of 1818, another hotel was begun, upon which twenty +thousand pounds being appropriated to the completion of it, is a sum +sufficient to render it equal to any other house of entertainment in the +kingdom.</p> + +<p>An elegant suite of rooms have recently been opened, entitled the +Apollo, where assemblies were held every fortnight, during winter. +Boarding houses are continually opening every week, and in every quarter +of the town there are good houses in a state of forwardness, against the +present season.</p> + +<p><i>A Hint from the Editor</i>.</p> + +<p>From the rapid manner in which the buildings encrease at Leamington, it +is evident that there is a superabundance of money, and as soft water is +a scarce article within the town, could not a portion of that +superfluous money be advantageously employed in conveying that useful +and necessary article to the respective houses, by means of a steam +engine, there being a powerful spring at no great distance?</p> + +<p><i>To Meriden, twelve miles, on the road to Coventry.</i></p> + +<p>You proceed through Deritend and Bordesley, when you take the left hand +road, and having crossed the Warwick canal, the ruins of Bordesley house +are in full view; they having continued in that state ever since the +year 1791, when the house was demolished by an infuriated mob. The land +by which it is surrounded has been parcelled out, and advertised to be +let for building. On the left is a farm-house, denominated the Garrison, +from whence there is an extensive view over the town of Birmingham; and +on this eminence it is supposed that Oliver Cromwell planted his +artillery to overawe the town; but the majority of the inhabitants being +favourable to his cause, there was no necessity to make use of it; and +what gives weight to this supposition is, that this spot being about +one mile and a half from Aston hall, it is very probable that from +thence the artillery played upon that mansion, as a ball penetrated into +the interior of it. At the distance of three miles and a half, there is +a road on the left, which leads to the village of Yardley.</p> + +<p>Having passed the four mile stone, you ascend a gently rising hill, and +when at the summit a delightful and extensive view presents itself; +there being a windmill in the front, and on the left the tower of +Sheldon church is seen, and also the steeple of Coleshill church.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Elmdon Hall.</i></p> + +<p>The seat of A. Spooner Lillingston, Esq. is an elegant modern pile of +building, on the right of the road, at the distance of six miles. It is +situate in an extensive lawn, interspersed with shrubberies, from whence +there are variegated and extensive prospects, the churches of +Birmingham, Solihull, and Yardley being distinctly seen, backed by +Barr-beacon, the Rowley hills, etc. and withoutside of the lawn the +spire of Coleshill church is a pleasing object. The church, which is a +neat stone building, was erected by Abraham Spooner, Esq. the entrance +is under the tower, which admits of exhibiting to great advantage, an +elegant window composed entirely of stained glass. In the centre is a +representation of the last supper, delicately executed in a circle, +about nine inches in diameter, date 1532. There are also three ovals, +representing Faith, Hope, and Charity, executed in a masterly manner, +apparently about the same period. There is also a neat organ, of a size +suitable to the place.</p> + +<p>At a short distance farther, there is on the right a church upon an +eminence, with a delicate spire, at a place called Church Bickenhill; +and a short distance beyond is an extensive and variegated prospect, +with Coleshill church on the left. Having crossed the river Cole at +Stonebridge, at the distance of half a mile on the left is Packington +hall, the seat of the Earl of Aylesford, which is a substantial modern +stone building, situated in a park, wherein are some of the most noble +oak trees that are to be found in the kingdom. There are also numerous +sheets of water, and the church, which was erected by the late Earl, +after a plan of Bonomi's, which is an immense arch, both interior and +exterior, after the manner of the Italians, and is nearly in the centre +of the park. The organ was made by order of Handel, and presented by him +to the late Earl; it being esteemed a very fine toned one.—The +altar-piece represents angels paying adoration to the Saviour, and is +painted in a masterly style by Rigaud.</p> + +<p>The archery ground made use of by the woodmen of Ardeu is bounded by a +plantation on the left of the road, about one mile before you arrive at +Meriden. The members of this society hold several meetings each summer, +when they shoot for various prizes. On the ground there is an elegant +building erected, where the members dine, or take refreshment, and at +other times it serves as a general deposit for their bows and arrows. +This is almost the only society of woodmen now in the kingdom. At +Meriden there is a commodious inn, adjacent to which are delightful +gardens, and the accommodation for travellers are excellent.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>To Sutton, distant eight miles, on the road to Lichfield.</i></p> + +<p>You leave Birmingham, through Aston-street and the adjacent buildings in +the parish of Aston, which extend for a considerable distance along the +road. Having passed the buildings, you soon after cross a small stream +of water, that has performed its office of turning a corn mill, which +you perceive on your left hand. This mill was within memory a forge, for +the making of bar iron.—There is another mill upon the same stream, a +short distance above, known by the name of Aston furnace, which was a +blast furnace for the purpose of making pig iron to supply the forge +below, and must have been made use of as such for a prodigious number of +years, the slag or refuse from it forming an immense heap only a few +years back, which has been conveyed away to make and repair the roads, +and in some instances to erect buildings.<a name="FNanchor9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9"><sup>[9]</sup></a> This mill has been +considerably enlarged, and a steam engine erected contiguous to it, and +is now used as a paper mill. From an adjacent hill there is a good +view over the town of Birmingham.</p> + +<a name="Footnote_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor9">[9]</a><div class=note> See Hockley abbey, on the road to Wolverhampton.</div><br> + +<p>A lofty brick wall now presents itself to view, by which the park +belonging to Aston hall is surrounded: it being by computation three +miles in circumference; within which there is a great abundance of +valuable timber, and it is also well stocked with deer. When the wall +recedes from the high road, keep by the side of it, which leads you to +the parish church, and also to the mansion house or hall, which is a +brick building, erected by Sir Thomas Holt, about the year 1636, at the +same time that he enclosed the park. He also erected alms houses, for +five men and five women, which he endowed, with eighty-eight pounds per +annum, out of the manor of Erdington. The hall has of late years been in +the possession of Heneage Legge, Esq. but is at present unoccupied, and +the whole estate is upon sale.<a name="FNanchor10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10"><sup>[10]</sup></a></p> + +<a name="Footnote_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor10">[10]</a><div class=note> Since writing the above, the mansion of Aston, together +with the park, has been purchased by Messrs. Greenway and Whitehead, of +Warwick, who have converted the house into two tenements, disposed of +the deer, turned the park into enclosures, and fallen the timber.</div><p> + +The church which is dedicated to St. Peter and Paul, is a stone +building, with a lofty spire, and contains several monuments of the Holt +family; it is also ornamented with two windows of stained glass, by +Eginton. In the church-yard there is a remarkable grave stone, which is +fixed east and west.<a name="FNanchor11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11"><sup>[11]</sup></a> The present incumbant is the Rev. Benjamin +Spencer, L.L.D.<br> + +<p>Sir Lister Holt, the late proprietor of this estate, not having any +children, and being at variance with his only brother, (who succeeded to +the title), he entailed the estate upon four different families, none of +whom had or are likely to have any children, although they have been in +possession of it for the space of near forty years.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor11">[11]</a><div class=note> It is a thick stone, about two foot in height, on which is +the following inscription:— + +EAST SIDE; +<br> +HERE<br> +LIETH THE<br> +BODY OF<br> +REBECKAH<br> +PEMBORTON<br> +WIF OF ISAAC<br> +PEMBORTON<br> +BVRI 27 OF<br> +DECEM 1660<br> +<br> +HERE<br> +LIETH THE<br> +BODY OF<br> +ISAAC PEM-<br> +BERTON HE<br> +DEPARTED<br> +DECEM 4: 1697<br> +AGED 76<br> + +WEST SIDE. +<br> +THO I AM<br> +HERE LAID<br> +LOW IN GRAVE<br> +THINK ON THE<br> +COVNSEL WICH<br> +I GAVE THO TRO<br> +VNLES MAY TO Y<br> +DECEND: A GRAC<br> +LOVS BLESSIN<br> +IN THE END<br> +<br> +THE FIRST<br> +STONE SET VP<br> +IN THIS YARD<br> +THO OTHERS SINCE<br> +MORE FINLY CARVED<br> +WAS IN REMEMBERANCE<br> +OF SHE<br> +AN OBJECT OF<br> +MORTALITY</div><br> + +<p>Returning into the main road, you perceive on the left a double row of +lofty elms, that extend about half a mile; and at the termination of the +vista, Aston hall and the lofty spire of the church produce a grand +effect. On the right there is a sheet of water that turns a mill for the +use of the Birmingham manufacturers. You soon after cross Salford +bridge, to the right of which is an aqueduct that conveys the Birmingham +canal over the river Tame. The village of Erdington does not contain any +object deserving of attention, but a little beyond on the right is Pipe +hall, an ancient seat of the Bagot family, now occupied by the Rev. +Egerton Bagot.</p> + +<p>In the vicinity there are several neat houses, which are chiefly +inhabited by wealthy people, who have retired from Birmingham. A short +distance from hence Mary Ashford was found drowned on the 27th May, +1817.</p> + +<p>About the fifth mile stone, the eye is gratified on the left with an +extensive view over the country, which continually varies for a +considerable distance, until a most beautiful and picturesque landscape +presents itself; a white house belonging to a mill and an extensive +sheet of water being in front, Barr-beacon in the back ground, and the +woods in Sutton park on the right.</p> + +<p><i>Sutton Coldfield.</i></p> + +<p>This remarkably neat and clean town is situated about midway between the +town of Birmingham and the city of Lichfield; lying south from the +latter place, its name is supposed to be derived from South Town, and by +corruption, Sutton. There is a very considerable portion of land near +this town, where travellers say the air is equally sharp and cold as it +is upon the highlands of Scotland, and from this circumstance the latter +part of its name originates. Independant of this tract of land, there is +another contiguous to it, which is denominated the park, wherein a part +of the Roman road, called Icknield Street, still remains perfect; there +is also a spring called Rounton well, whose water is remarkably cold and +produces a very copious stream, to which numerous people who are +afflicted with cutaneous disorders resort, and derive considerable +benefit from drinking and bathing therein. It cures the most virulent +itch in the human species, and also the mange in dogs, if sufficient +care is taken to wash them well in the stream, but a slight washing will +not produce the desired effect.</p> + +<p>The church is an ancient stone building, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, +and the present rector is the Rev. John Riland, who is also patron of +the living. Within the church there is an organ, and some monuments +deserving of attention; there are also three vaults, two of which having +been opened, the coffins and their contents were mouldered into dust, +although they had been deposited there within the memory of man.</p> + +<p>This town was incorporated by the eighth Henry, at the solicitation of +Vesey, bishop of Exeter, who was his chancellor, and a native of this +place. It is denominated a corporate body, by the name of the warden and +society of the king's town of Sutton Coldfield, and consists of +twenty-four members besides the warden, with a grant to them of the +whole manor and lordship of the parish, together with a tract of waste +ground, called the park, containing about 3500 acres, wherein is great +abundance of valuable timber, on condition of paying into the exchequer +a fee farm rent of fifty-eight pounds per annum.</p> + +<p>The said Bishop Vesey erected fifty-one stone houses in the parish and +also a free grammar school, which he liberally endowed with land, and +ordained by the statutes, that the master should be a layman, which is +strictly adhered to. He also procured for the inhabitants a market, and +the extraordinary privilege that every person who erected a house in +Sutton, should be entitled to sixty acres of land in the park.</p> + +<p>Here are two fairs annually, for horses, neat cattle, and sheep; the one +on Trinity Monday and the other on the 8th of November; when, for every +horse that is sold, a toll must be paid of four-pence, and a reputable +voucher produced by the person who sells it; the marks and age of the +animal being registered. By the same charter, the inhabitants of Sutton +are exempt from toll in all fairs and markets. The deputy steward or +town clerk holds a court of record every three weeks, for the trial of +civil actions, and holds to bail for forty shillings and upwards.</p> + +<p>Sessions, court leet, and other customary courts are held, and the +charter expressly says, that they shall have and exercise as much +privilege and power as the city of Coventry; but this they do not +practise, for they commit felons to the county gaol. Every inhabitant is +a landed man, which is drawn by ballot every four years; and no county +officer can enter this franchise, to arrest, etc. without especial +license.</p> + +<p>The town of Sutton is seated on such an eminence, that although there +are fourteen large pools of water within the parish, and some of them +very extensive, there is not the smallest stream runs into it; the town +being supplied with water by springs within it. The air is very +salubrious, the water in general soft, the situation delightfully +pleasant, the neighbourhood genteel, and accommodations in general very +excellent. In the vicinity is Four-oaks hall, the seat of Sir E.C. +Hartopp; Moor hall, the residence of ---- Hacket, Esq. and +Ashfurlonghouse, which is at present unoccupied.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>To Halesowen, seven miles, on the road to Hagley, Stourbridge and +Kidderminster.</i></p> + +<p>You proceed up Broad-street and Islington, through the five ways +toll-gate; when the road inclining to the right, there is a double range +of respectable houses, denominated Hagley-row, which have been erected +by the opulent inhabitants of Birmingham; where they not only enjoy +fresh air, but the parochial taxes of Edgbaston do not bear any +proportion with those of Birmingham. On the right hand is an +observatory, a lofty brick building, seven stories high, which bears the +name of the Monument: it was erected by John Perrot, Esq. about the year +1758, from whence there is an extensive view over the adjacent country +in every direction. The house adjourning is the residence of John Guest, +Esq. Having passed the one mile stone, the admirer of nature will +proceed with solemn pace and slow, every step he takes varying the +scene; one object being lost to view, which is succeeded by another +equally beautiful. On the left there is an extensive and picturesque +prospect, which continues without interruption for a considerable +distance; and when the scene closes on that side, turn your eyes to the +right, where there is a landscape equally fine; which, over the +inclosures, takes in Smethwick, with Shireland hall in the front. A very +short distance farther on the left there is an extensive and variegated +landscape, with a house called the Ravenhurst in full view; the prospect +being bounded by Bromsgrove Lickey and Frankley Beeches. At the three +mile stone is the Lightwoods, a neat brick house, the property and +residence of Miss Grundy, from whence there are some enchanting +prospects. In these woods there are small shrubs grow in great +abundance, which produce black fruit, known by the name of bilberries, +of which during some years the poor people make a plentiful harvest.— +Ascending the hill there is a delightful view over the enclosures, +commanding the villages of Harborne and King's Norton; the two parish +churches being conspicuous objects. From the Beech-lane there is a fine +view, having the hills of Clent and Cofton in the distance.</p> + +<p>At a place called the Quinton, near the five mile stone, there is a +grand prospect, and from this eminence there arise two springs, one of +which flows into the Severn and the other into the Trent. On the left is +Belle Vue, the residence of James Male, Esq. from whence, as its name +imports, there is a grand panoramic view of the country, that fills the +mind with the most sublime ideas, such as cannot be described either by +pen or pencil. In descending the hill opposite some cottages, there is a +road leading to +<i>The Leasowes.</i></p> + +<p>Wherein the inimitable Shenstone took so much delight, and decorated in +such a manner, that in his days they were spoken of and resorted to by +all people of refined taste, who came within a day's ride; and not an +individual ever left them without expressions of astonishment at what +they had seen and heard from the worthy proprietor, who warbled forth +his verses in such a melodious manner, and on such subjects, that +delighted every ear, as his diversified shady walks did every eye.</p> + +<p>His remains were interred in the church-yard of Halesowen, to whose +memory, some years afterwards, a small stone pillar, with an urn on the +top of it, was fixed near the vestry door, within the church, but has +since been removed within the chancel, to make room for a magnificent +marble monument, to the memory of Major Halliday, executed by Banks, for +which he received about one thousand pounds; there being on each side of +it a figure, large as life; one representing Patience and the other +Fortitude.</p> + +<p>On the pillar to the memory of Shenstone is the following inscription:—</p> + +Whoe'er thou art, with rev'rence tread<br> +These sacred mansions of the dead.<br> +Not that the monumental bust,<br> +Or sumptuous tomb, here guards the dust<br> +Of rich, or great,(let wealth, rank, birth,<br> +Sleep undistinguished in the earth.)<br> +This simple urn records a name,<br> +That shines with more exalted fame.<br> +Reader! if genius, taste refin'd,<br> +A native elegance of mind;<br> +If virtue, science, manly sense;<br> +If wit that never gave offence;<br> +The clearest head, the tend'rest heart,<br> +In thy esteem e'er claim'd a part;<br> +Ah! smite thy breast, and drop a tear;<br> +For know, thy Shenstone's dust lies here,<br> +<br> +R.G. and J. HODGETS.<br> +A.O.P.<br> + +<p>The Leasowes are now in the possession of Matthias Attwood, Esq. and +these delightful walks, although their beauties have been curtailed to a +considerable degree, by conveying the Netherton canal across the valley, +close by them, are still highly deserving the attention of all persons +who take delight in rural scenery; and for the accommodation of those +who are inclined to meditate and contemplate, numerous seats are +affixed, in different directions. Such scenes as these walks afford are +very seldom to be met with in any part of England; therefore those who +are in pursuit of amusement, will not regret if they devote one day to +view them; and as they consist of hill and dale, it will of course cause +some fatigue, which may with ease be alleviated, there being close at +hand a neat and comfortable house of entertainment, kept by Betty +Taylor. The source of the river Stour is in these grounds.</p> + +<p>When near the bottom of the hill, the road divides; that on the right +leads to Stourbridge, and the other to +<i>Halesowen, in Shropshire.</i></p> + +<p>This place has been considered as a borough, by prescription, from time +immemorial, and is supposed to have been represented in parliament at a +very early period; but what ancient writings they were in possession of, +being (as I am informed), conveyed to London and never returned, they +have now none to exhibit. A court leet is held annually, when two +officers are appointed, under the appellation of high and low bailiff; +but I cannot understand that they enjoy any emolument, or are in +possession of any jurisdiction. In the reign of King John, he founded a +monastery here, and the church is supposed to have been erected about +the same period; it being an ancient building, dedicated to St. John; +with a lofty spire. The present incumbent is the Rev. ---- Robinson. +Near a mile distant there are still some remains of the monastery, and +to the professed antiquary there is probably something deserving of his +attention. In digging two holes to fix a gate, a short time since, there +was found a considerable quantity of stained glass, in small fragments, +some few of which are preserved, as are also some square tiles or +quarries, about five inches broad and one thick, with curious devices +upon them. It is now denominated the manor farm, and is the property of +Lord Lyttleton. Dr. Nash, in his appendix to the history of +Worcestershire, gives the following extract from the papers of Bishop +Lyttleton.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Halesowen Abbey.</i></p> + +<p>This ancient structure was situated about half a mile south of the town, +on what is now called the manor farm, near the road leading to +Northfield. King John, in the 16th year of his reign, granted a charter +to Peter de Rupibus, bishop of Winton, by which he gave the manor and +advowson of the church of Hales, with its chapels, to found a religious +house in this place. In consequence of this grant, a convent of +Praemonstratensians was established A.D. 1218, dedicated to the Virgin +Mary and St. John the evangelist, and furnished with monks from the +abbey of Welbeck, in Nottinghamshire. This religious order were canons, +who lived according to the rule of St. Austin, and afterwards reformed +by St. Norbet, at Praemonstre, in Picardy. They were called white +canons, from their habit; which consisted of a white cossack, with a +rotchet over it, a long white cloak, and a white cap. They continued +under the jurisdiction of the abbot of Praemonstre, who received +contributions from them, till the year 1512, when they were exempted by +Pope Julius 2d. The churches and a large proportion of the tythes of +Walsall, Wednesbury, Rushall, Clent, and Rowley, were granted to this +convent, by successive monarchs, which was also richly endowed by +opulent individuals. The abbot and convent held ten large farms in their +own hands. In the reign of Henry 8th, the clear income amounted to +£380 13s 2d. a large sum, considering the value of money in those days. +In 1489, when the whole number of religious amounted only to seventeen, +there were every week consumed in bread 20 bushels of wheat and rye. And +in the course of the year, 1110 quarters of barley, 60 oxen, 40 sheep, +30 swine, and 24 calves; a proof that great hospitality and charity +prevailed here at that time. The monastery consisted of an abbot, prior, +sub-prior, sacrist, chanter, cellarer, and custos infirmorum: the monks +never exceeded twenty in number.</p> + +<p>At the visitations of their superiors, punishments if requisite were +inflicted for immoralities. The house and church appear to have been +stately edifices; the chancel, if not the whole of the choir, being +paved with flat tiles, painted in a curious manner, some of them being +now occasionally found; and the few ruins still extant cover an +extensive plot of ground, exhibiting fine specimens of Saxon and Gothic +architecture.</p> + +<p>Several persons of note have been buried in the church, particularly +John, Lord Botetourt, baron of Weoleigh castle, near the high altar, +under a tomb of alabaster; Sir Hugh Burnell, also baron of Weoleigh; Sir +William Lyttleton, of Frankley, and others, about the year 1507.</p> + +<p>This monastery was dissolved A.D. 1558, by Henry 8th. The common +sigillum, or chapter seal, was in the reign of Henry 4th, a +representation of the blessed Virgin, in a sitting posture, with the +infant Christ on her left knee, and in her right hand a sceptre. The +arms of this abbey were, azure a chevron argent, between three fleur de +lis.</p> + +<p>The situation of Halesowen is in a deep valley, and the surrounding +country presents the most majestic appearance; being diversified with +hills and dales in such a manner, that at every step you take new +beauties arise, and the scene varies so much, that the eye is +unceasingly delighted, without dwelling upon any particular object. This +district cannot, properly speaking, be described, either with pen or +pencil: the innumerable varieties of similar objects that present +themselves to view, must be seen before any person can form the least +idea of them.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>To Bromsgrove, in Worcestershire, distant thirteen miles,</i> <i>on the road +to Worcester, Glocester, and Bristol.</i></p> + +<p>You proceed up Smallbrook-street, when a spacious road opens to the +left, and being clear of the buildings, the spire of King's Norton +church, which is six miles distant, forms a pleasing object.</p> + +<p>On the left you have a picturesque view of the country, which continues +without any intermission nearly the space of three miles. There is in +this valley, what is very unusual to be seen in such a situation, a +windmill; and as you proceed, there are in the same valley several water +mills, that are made use of by the Birmingham manufacturers. This view +is skirted by buildings erected on the road to Alcester, and when near +the two mile stone, you perceive among the trees, Moseley hall, which is +a modern stone building; the residence of Mrs. Taylor. Exactly, +opposite, on the right hand, is the parish church of Edgbaston, and also +the hall, which is surrounded by a park, wherein are some lofty trees, +and an extensive sheet of water. This mansion house, or hall, is now +occupied by Edward Johnson, M.D. a person of considerable eminence in +his profession.</p> + +<p>A short distance beyond the three mile stone the road crosses the +Worcester canal; from which bridge, if you look towards Birmingham, +there is a rich and variegated landscape, consisting of hill, dale, +wood, and water. At the four mile stone there is a most extensive view +on each side of the road, and also in front; the spire of King's Norton +church, Frankley Beeches, and the Clent hills, being prominent features.</p> + +<p>Having passed the five mile stone, there is on the right a beautiful +view over the enclosures, backed by the beeches, at Frankley. Before you +arrive at the six mile stone is Northfield, from whence there is on the +left a beautiful landscape; the elegant spire of King's Norton church +being distinctly seen. From hence to Bromsgrove is seven miles, in great +part over the Lickey, where the eye is gratified with numerous extensive +views, from one of the highest spots of land in the kingdom. This is +ascertained by two springs that issue from it, one of which, flows into +the Severn and the other into the Trent.</p> + +<p><i>To Coleshill, distant ten miles, on the road to Atherstone.</i></p> + +<p>You leave Birmingham through Coleshill-street, and having passed by +Ashted-row, you perceive the lofty trees in Vauxhall gardens, which must +be left on the right hand, and a few hundred yards afterwards, keeping +the right hand road, you pass by, on the right, Duddeston, an elegant +pile of building, the residence of Samuel Galton, Esq. but it is +scarcely discernable, on account of the shrubberies by which it is +surrounded. You now pass through the village of Saltley, and at the +extremity, on the left, is Bennett's hill, where Mr. William Hutton, the +venerable historian of Birmingham resided, and ended his days. This +residence, so denominated by the proprietor, was originally a very small +house, with the entrance in the centre, and a small room on each side, +to which has been added two wings, or rather rooms, being only one story +in height: there is a wall by the road side, five feet high, the top of +which is on a level with the top of the parlour windows; the entrance to +it having been altered from the front to the side. The eccentricity of +the owner appears, by terming that a hill, which on inspection will be +found in a low situation, on the side of a hill. This is noticed, +because his peculiar manner of writing, his quaint expressions, and the +tales he relates of himself, have caused a considerable sale for his +productions, and numerous people, when they are taking an excursion, +will travel some distance to view the residence of their favourite +author.</p> + +<p>A short distance beyond, on the summit of the hill, commands an +extensive view of Birmingham, the venerable trees in Aston park, the +spire of that church, and Barr-beacon. As you pass along the road, this +delightful prospect varies every step you take for a considerable +distance. These lands, formerly known by the name of Washwood heath, +being inclosed in the year 1803, now let from forty to fifty shillings +per acre. At the four mile stone, there is on the right a cheerful +prospect over the country, with the lofty spire of Yardley church in +full view. About half a mile farther, on entering a small common, the +eye is delighted with an extensive and variegated view; the spire of +Coleshill church being very discernable.</p> + +<p><i>Castle Bromwich, distant five miles and a half</i>.</p> + +<p>Here is an ancient venerable mansion, where that eminent statesman, Sir +Orlando Bridgeman, used to reside. His successor having been honoured +with the title of Earl of Bradford, the eldest son of the present Earl, +Lord Newport, has fixed his residence here. In the village is a neat +place of worship, erected by Sir Orlando Bridgeman, who endowed it with +the tythes of the parish, it being a chapel of ease to the parish of +Aston.</p> + +<p>About half a century back, when there was considerable traffic between +London and Chester, the road passed through this village, and supported +two respectable inns, but the mode of conveyance being changed, one of +the inns is converted into a farm-house, and the other has very little +custom; for the road from Birmingham to Coventry also passed through +here; but it is totally deprived of that also, and is now little more +than the road to Coleshill. On the road you pass by Coleshill park, an +ancient seat of Lord Digby; within which there are numerous hawthorn +trees of unusual magnitude: one of them produces five stems, each equal +in size to a moderate man's body. Time, that devours every thing, has +here made great havoc among them, and also destroyed some oaks of large +dimensions.</p> +<br> + +<p><i>Coleshill</i>.</p> + +<p>Yew trees being of slow growth, and the wood of close texture, are +little subject to decay; yet there is in this church-yard, the remains +of a yew tree, still alive, three parts at least of which is mouldered +away, and only a small part of the trunk remains.</p> + +<p>The architecture of the church is the decorated gothic or English style: +it is erected on a considerable eminence, from whence there is an +extensive and variegated view over the adjacent country. The interior of +the church, which is dedicated to St. Peter, is spacious, and contains +some monuments that are well executed; among others, there are two +recumbent effigies of cross-legged knights, supposed to be of the +ancient Clinton family, and those to commemorate the Digby's are +numerous. It has a beautiful tower, from whence there arises an elegant +spire, which being injured by lightning, it was of course taken down, +and the present erection is not so lofty by fifteen feet as the former.</p> + +<p>Coleshill has a weekly market on Wednesday, and five annual fairs, where +there are numerous horses and cattle exposed to sale. Before the +establishment of mail coaches it was a very considerable post town, but +that is not the case now, the route being changed. The town is situated +on an ascent, and in the valley flows the river Cole, from whence its +name is derived. The domestic buildings are in general of a respectable +appearance, and there are some modern erections that unite ornament +with spacious dimensions.</p> + +<p><i>Shustock</i>.</p> + +<p>This village is situated three miles from Coleshill, on the road to +Atherstone, and is noticed as being the birthplace of that celebrated +antiquarian, Sir William Dugdale, whose father being a clergyman, he was +born at the rectory house, and dying at Blythe hall, his remains, and +those of his lady, were deposited in a vault on the north side of the +chancel in Shustock church.</p> + +<p><i>Maxstoke Castle</i></p> + +<p>Is situated about one mile east of Coleshill, and is erected in the form +of a parallelogram, encompassed by a moat. At each corner is an +hexagonal tower, with embattled parapets. The entrance is by an august +and machicolated gateway, strengthened on each side by a tower of +hexagonal form. The gates are covered with plates of iron, and the marks +of the useless portcullis are yet visible. A portion of this edifice was +accidentally destroyed by fire, but the greatest part of the ancient +building still remains, and is an interesting specimen of the +architectural arrangements in the 14th and 15th centuries. Among other +apartments, are the spacious hall, an extensive dining room, with a door +and chimney piece, which are carved in a very curious manner, and also +the chapel. In the walls of the great court, there are yet remaining the +caserns or lodgments for the soldiers. This venerable pile of building +is now the habitation of Mrs. Dilke. A short distance from the castle +are the remains of a priory, whose ruins are rendered mournfully +picturesque, by the varieties of ever-green foliage with which they are +cloathed in almost every direction.</p> + +<p><i>To Hat-borne, in Staffordshire, distant three miles.</i></p> + +<p>Passing up Broad-street and Islington, when you are through the +Five-ways<a name="FNanchor12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12"><sup>[12]</sup></a> toll-gate, the centre road leads to Harborne. On the left +is a neat white building, called Greenfield-house, the properly and +abode of Hyla Holden, Esq. and a little farther on the same side of the +road is the parsonage-house of Edgbaston; the resilience of the Rev. +Charles Pixell.</p> + +<a name="Footnote_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor12">[12]</a><div class=note> There are now six ways, Calthorpe's road being opened in +the year 1845.</div><br> + +<p>Passing by Harborne heath cottage, when you arrive at the summit of the +hill, is an excellent house, where Mr. Richard Smith resides; from whose +premises there is an extensive view over the adjacent country, +particularly Edgbaston and King's Norton.</p> + +<p>A short distance beyond, on the right, there is a delightful view of +enclosed ground, and the Lightwoods; with a white-fronted house, called +the Ravenhurst, in the centre, the residence of Mr. Daniel Ledsam, which +altogether forms a beautiful landscape. Where the roads divide pass on +the left, leaving the village, called Harborne Town, which is +principally inhabited by men who obtain a livelihood by forging of +nails, and proceed down the road which leads to Bromsgrove, where on the +left is a preparatory school, for boys under ten years of age, which is +conducted by Mrs. Startin. This house commands a pleasant view over the +grounds that have been laid into a paddock by Mr. Price, whose neat and +elegant residence, with its beautiful undulated grounds, are also on the +left.</p> + +<p>A few paces below Mr. Price's, you arrive at a small triangular grass +plot, which is called the cottage green, and is surrounded by cottages, +superior in neatness of appearance to what are usually met with. From +hence there is a most delightful landscape of Mrs. Careless's house, +which is surrounded with verdant meadows, having a considerable sheet of +water in front, and in the back ground are Frankley Beeches, with the +adjacent hills of Cofton and the Lickey.</p> + +<p>There are in this vicinity some most delightful prospects, which are +seen to great advantage from the handsome houses of Mr. Green Simcox, +and also of his father, George Simcox, Esq. the former on the right hand +and the latter on the left, as you proceed towards the church. This is +an ancient tower Structure, the body having of late years been rebuilt +in a neat and commodious manner; consisting of a single pace, well +pewed, with a modern gallery at the west end and another at the north +east comer; It is a vicarage, dedicated to St. Peter; the present vicar +being the Rev. Richard Robinson.</p> + +<p>From this church-yard the eye is again delighted with extensive and +beautiful prospects; and from thence, proceeding towards Northfield, a +bridge has been lately erected by subscription, which separates the +parishes of Harborne and Northfield, and also the counties of Stafford +and Worcester. The stream of water gives motion to a mill, belonging to +Mr. Price, and feeds the mill pond, which is a fine sheet of water +covering twenty-four acres. Not far from hence there is a delightful +shady walk, which extends through the grounds of Mr. Price and Mr. Simcox for near a mile, and at intervals commands delightful and +romantic prospects.—Within a few yards of the aforesaid bridge, the +counties of Stafford, Worcester, and Warwick unite.</p> + +<p>Returning towards Birmingham, at the sign of the Golden Cross you pass +up Mitchley-lane, which separates the counties of Stafford and Warwick; +the land on the right being in the parish of Edgbaston, the property of +Lord Calthorpe, and on the left in Harborne, belonging to Theodore +Price, Esq. About half a mile up this lane, on the left, at Fulford's +farm, there is an interesting view over Mr. Price's paddock, of King's +Norton, with its lofty spire, Cofton hills, Bromsgrove Lickey, Frankley +Beeches, Cleat hills, etc. etc. Passing by a neat cottage belonging to Mr. +Frears, you come again into the Harborne road, at Mr. Smith's.</p> + +<p>In this village there is a free school for the children of the +inhabitants, and also for those in the hamlet of Smethwick; but the +endowment is slender. Here are also three Sunday schools, which are +equal to any in the kingdom, the children being cloathed in a very neat +manner, by each of them subscribing one penny per week; and as all the +respectable inhabitants are honorary members, they subscribe one penny +each also. Formerly this was a very poor village, and the roads leading +to it were in all directions very bad, until the late worthy Thomas +Green, Esq. having purchased the manor house and a large estate there, +he afterwards improved the roads, and was at all times anxious to +improve this his native spot. A monument in the church describes his +character.----The old manor house was the residence of Judge Birch, and +the only respectable building in the parish; which is now a common +farmhouse, where there are some vestiges of old village elegance, and +some comfortable apartments: it is the property of Mr. Simcox. Harborne +being situated upon very high ground, and the soil light, renders the +air very salubrious; instances of longevity being very numerous, +particularly one couple, James Sands and his wife, one of whom; as is +recorded in Fuller's Worthies, lived to the age of 140, and the other to +120.</p> + +<p><i>To King's Norton, in Worcester shire, distant five Mile</i>.</p> + +<p>You leave Birmingham, either through Alcester-street or up Camphill, +where there is a half-timbered house, inhabited by Mr. John Simcox, an +attorney. In a field nearly opposite there is perhaps the best view over +the town of Birmingham that can be taken. A short distance beyond, on +the right, is a row of houses, to which is given the name of Highgate. A +little farther, on the left, is a tan-yard, upon an extensive scale, the +property of Mr. Avery Homer.</p> + +<p>In a field near the two mile stone, there is a grand panoramic view of +Birmingham, and the adjacent country for several miles on each side of +it, which is seen to the greatest advantage in an afternoon. A little +beyond is Moseley hall, an elegant stone building, erected about +twenty-five years since, by the late John Taylor, Esq. and is now the +residence of his widow.</p> + +<p>The village of Moseley has nothing to attract attention. The place of +worship is a chapel of ease to King's Norton: it has an ancient stone +tower, but the body of it has been rebuilt of late years with brick; the +officiating clergyman being the Rev. Edward Palmer. In this +neighbourhood William Villers, Esq. resides, who has for a number of +years been an active magistrate for the town of Birmingham. A little +beyond Moseley hall there is on the right an extensive and picturesque +view over Edgbaston and the adjacent country, with the monument oa the +right. Proceeding only a few yards farther, the scene varies in a +considerable degree; the monument being on the left, a glass-house in +the centre, and the front of Moseley hall in full view; over the roof of +which is seen some of the buildings in Birmingham.</p> + +<p>Upon a turn of the road, the eye is gratified with a fine view over +Bromsgrove Lickey, Frankley Beeches, and the adjacent hills; with the +spire of King's Norton church on the left. You next pass through the +village of King's Heath, and about one mile before you reach King's +Norton, there is on the right a most noble, picturesque, and variegated +view over an extensive country, diversified with wood, hill, and dale; +the Worcester canal being in the valley. When you arrive at the finger +post, the eye is delighted with a grand view over the country; the +village and church being in front..</p> + +<p><i>King's Norton</i></p> + +<p>The land for a considerable distance round this village being the +property of the crown, as King's-heath, King's-wood, etc.; denote, King +Edward 6th founded a free grammar school on the north east side of the +church-yard, and endowed it with the sum of fifteen pounds per annum, +(the inhabitants at that time preferring money to land), for a master +and usher; which still remains the same to the present day. In the time +of King William 3d, when the land-tax was first established, the +inhabitants, to express their loyalty, gave an account of their estates, +at the full value, and on that account they have ever since been rated +in the same manner; this district paying four shillings in the pound, at +the same time that Birmingham did not pay four-pence. This being the +case, the stipend allowed for the master and usher was of course reduced +in that proportion. The Worcester canal passing through this parish, and +the land being considerably elevated, it enters a tunnel sixteen feet +wide and eighteen feet high, which continues for the distance of two +miles, and is so accurately formed, that it is said any person may look +in at one end and perceive the light at the other end; and in this +parish the Worcester and Stratford canals form a junction.</p> + +<p>The church, is a richly ornamented gothic building, with a lofty spire, +although only a chapel of ease to Bromsgrwe. The officiating-clergy man +is the Rev. ---- Edwards.</p> + +<p><i>To Barr-beacon and Aldridge, on the road to Stafford.</i></p> + +<p>Proceeding down Walmer-lane, otherwise Lancaster-street, you pass by a +small portion of Aston park wall, keeping it on your right hand, and +some time after cross the river Tame over Perry-bridge, when there is a +road to the left which conducts you to Perry hall, an old moated +mansion, within a small park; the property and residence of John Gough, +Esq. who is an eccentric character. In the winter he courses with his +tenants, who are all of them subservient to him; and during summer, +having some deer, he disposes of the venison. If any of the neighbouring +gentry send him an order for a haunch or a neck, he waits until further +orders arrive; and when the principal part is engaged, he then kills a +buck, and executes his orders; the inferior parts serving for self and +family, although his annual income must be at least ten thousand pounds. +He is said to be in possession of some valuable paintings, but there are +very few people indeed who can obtain a sight of them.</p> + +<p>At the distance of five mites, when the roads intersect each other, +proceeding on the right hand, at the distance of three quarters of a +mile is the catholic college, at Oscott. About one-mile farther is a +place called the Quieslet, where the left hand road conducts you to an +elegant lodge, the entrance into Barr-park, which is described on the +road to Walsall, that being a turnpike road. You soon after arrive at a +clump of trees, on the summit of a hill, which is Barr-beacon, from +whence there is perhaps a prospect equally extensive and beautiful as +any in the kingdom. From hence there is a view over great part of the +following counties, viz. Warwick, Leicester Derby, Stafford, Chester, +Salop, Worcester, Nottingham Northampton, Oxford, Crlocester, Hereford, +Monmouth, Brecknock, Radnor, and Montgomery; whilst the scene to the +south west commands a view of Birmingham and its most populous vicinity +of mines, manufactories, etc. This beacon, being the property of Sir +Joseph Scott, when he is at home, a very large flag is hoisted, and upon +any public occasion several pieces of cannon are fired, which produce a +grand effect. The adjacent ground, for a very considerable extent, lay +waste, until an act of parliament was obtained in 1798 for its +inclosure. This land now lets from five shillings to twenty shillings +per acre.</p> + +<p><i>Aldridge, in Staffordshire, nine miles.</i></p> + +<p>The principal road from Birmingham to Stafford lay through this village, +until of late years the turnpike road through Walsall and Cannock having +been considerably improved, this road to the county town is nearly if +not quite abandoned; yet it leads to Hednesford (usually pronounced +Hedgeford), where numerous horses are annually trained for the turf, +upon Cannock heath. <i>To Edgbaston, in Warwickshire, distant one mile.</i></p> + +<p>Having passed up Broad-street and Islington, when you are through the +turnpike, the left hand side of Ladywood-lane, the whole of Hagley-row, +the road to Harborne, Calthorpe's road, and the right hand side of +Islington-row, are all of them in this parish. Indeed the lands +hereabouts are almost exclusively the property of Lord Calthorpe, whose +ancestors purchased this estate, early in the last century for £25,000, +and he will not permit any manufactories to be established upon his land +which tends in a great degree to make the neighbourhood respectable and +genteel.</p> + +<p>The first Houses in Calthorpe's-road were erected in the year 1815; the +establishment for the deaf and dumb being erected about two years +before. This asylum is under the superintendance of Mr. Braidwood, and +is described among the public institutions in Birmingham.—(See page +39.)</p> + +<p>There were, in former times, within this parish, three parks, +Edgbaston-park, Mitchley-park, and Rotten-park, but the two latter have +many years since been thrown into inclosures. The park of Edgbaston +remains entire, and the mansion within it is now the residence of Edward +Johnson, M.D. who is very eminent in his profession.—The church is an +ancient gothic tower, the body having of late years been very much +modernized, and fitted up withinside in a very neat and commodious +manner. The officiating clergyman is the Rev. Charles Pixell. There have +been within the last three years a great number of genteel houses +erected by the opulent inhabitants of Birmingham, who not only enjoy +fresh air, but the parochial taxes of this parish do not bear any +proportion with those of Birmingham. At this toll-gate, which bears the +name of Five-ways, there are now, by the opening of Calthorpe's road, +six separate and distinct roads. About half a mile from the toll-gate, +there is on the right of the Hagley road, an observatory, a very +conspicuous pile of building, seven stories high, which is usually +called the Monument: it was erected by John Perrot, Esq. about the year +1758, from whence there are extensive views over the adjacent country, +in every direction. The adjoining house is the residence of John Guest, +Esq.</p> + +<p>There was in this church-yard a grave-stone, cut by the hands of that +celebrated typographer, Baskerville, (who was originally a stone-cutter, +and afterwards kept a school in Birmingham), which is now removed and +placed withinside the church. The stone being of a flaky nature, the +inscription is not quite perfect, but whoever takes delight in looking +at well-formed letters, may here be highly gratified: it was erected to +the memory of Edw. Richards, an idiot, who died 21st September, 1728, +with the following inscription :—</p> + +If innocents are the favourites of Heaven,<br> +And God but little asks where little's given,<br> +My great Creator has for me in store<br> +Eternal joys; what wise man can have more?<br> + +<p>There is another head-stone, cut by him, with his name upon it, in the +church of Handsworth, and are the only two known to be in existence.</p> + +<p><i>Yardley, in Worcestershire, distant three miles.</i></p> + +<p>The road to this village lies up Deritend and Bordesley, then crossing +the Warwick canal, you leave the ruins of Bordesley-house, and when +through the turnpike, there being three roads you proceed along the +centre, in which there are good accommodations for the pedestrian, but +the carriage road does not appear to have experienced any improvement +since it was first formed; for before you reach the village, the road is +for a considerable distance from twenty to forty feet below the surface +of the ground, on each side of it.</p> + +<p>The church, which is dedicated to St. Giles, is an ancient pile of +building. The tower and elegant spire above it appear at this time as +firm and substantial as at their first erection, although they are so +ancient that there are not any records to say when they were built: the +body of the church is not so perfect. In the chancel there are several +monuments to commemorate the Greswolds, an ancient family, formerly +resident in this parish. The patronage rests with Edmund Mesey Wigley, +Esq. The present vicar is the Rev. Joseph Fell. Adjoining the +church-yard is an half-timbered building of large dimensions, which is a +free school, liberally endowed, the salary of the master being £100 per +annum.</p> + +<p>The land in this parish being very suitable for making of tiles, +innumerable quantities are there manufactured, for the supply of +Birmingham.</p> + +<p><i>To Rowley Regis, in Staffordshire, distant seven miles</i>.</p> + +<p>You proceed towards Kidderminster, until you arrive at the toll-gate, +two miles and a half distant, when the right hand road leads to this +village; where, in all probability, there are more jew's harps +manufactured than there are in all Europe beside.</p> + +<p>The admirer of nature, (for no art has ever been practised here,) may be +gratified with various extensive and luxuriant views. There is not any +thing either in the church or in the village deserving of notice; but +there is, not far distant, a rude, rugged, and misshapen mass of stone, +which is situated on the summit of a hill, and projects itself several +yards higher than the ground adjoining: it is by the inhabitants +denominated Rowley hail-stone; and when at a considerable distance from +it, on the foot road from Dudley, it has the appearance of some +considerable ruins.</p> + +<p>From this spot the views are more extensive than can easily be imagined, +over a beautiful and romantic country, Birmingham being vary visible.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> + +<p> +<img border="0" src="Image/finish.bmp" width="338" height="142" alt=" +finish"></p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>W. Talbot, Printer, Exeter-row,</p> + +<p>Birmingham.</p> + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Description of Modern Birmingham, by Charles Pye + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A DESCRIPTION OF MODERN BIRMINGHAM *** + +***** This file should be named 11416-h.htm or 11416-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/4/1/11416/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Bradley Norton and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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