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diff --git a/old/11416.txt b/old/11416.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..58cf3a4 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11416.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6165 @@ +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: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A DESCRIPTION OF MODERN BIRMINGHAM *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Bradley Norton and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + + + + +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 + +_BY CHARLES PYE_; + +WHO COMPILED A DICTIONARY OF ANCIENT GEOGRAPHY + + * * * * * + + +[symbol] May be had of all Booksellers. +_Anti-Jacobin, May, 1804._ + +PYE'S DICTIONARY OF ANCIENT GEOGRAPHY. + +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, &c. 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. + + +_British Critic, June, 1804._ + +PYE'S DICTIONARY OF ANCIENT GEOGRAPHY. + +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. + + +_Monthly Review, October, 1805._ + +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. + +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. + +TO Wm. Damper, Esq. + +_One of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace_ + +FOR THE + +COUNTIES OF WARWICK AND WORCESTER. + +_SIR_, + +_As you occasionally amuse yourself with topographical pursuits, deign +to accept of the following pages, from + +Your most obedient, + +Humble Servant_, + +CHARLES PYE. + +_ADVERTISEMENT_. + +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[1] 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.[2] 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 + +Their obedient servant, + +_CHARLES PYE_. + +[Footnote 1:--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.] + +[Footnote 2: The Birmingham Fire Office, the three Canals, &c.] + +LINES + +_Written by the late John Morfitt, Esq. Barrister._ + + Illustrious offspring of vulcanic toil! + Pride of the country! glory of the isle! + Europe's grand toy-shop! art's exhaustless mine! + These, and more titles, Birmingham, are thine. + From jealous fears, from charter'd fetters free, + Desponding genius finds a friend in thee: + Thy soul, as lib'ral as the breath of spring, + Cheers his faint heart, and plumes his flagging wing. + + 'Tis thine, with plastic hand, to mould the mass, + Of ductile silver, and resplendant brass; + 'Tis thine, with sooty finger to produce + Unnumber'd forms, for ornament and use. + + Hark! what a sound!--art's pond'rous fabric reels, + Beneath machinery's ten thousand wheels; + Loud falls the stamp, the whirling lathes resound, + And engines heave, while hammers clatter round: + What labour forges, patient art refines, + Till bright as dazz'ling day metallic beauty shines. + + Thy swords, elastic, arm our hero's hands; + Thy musquets thunder in remotest lands; + Thy sparkling buttons distant courts emblaze; + Thy polish'd steel emits the diamond's rays; + Paper, beneath thy magic hand assumes + A mirror brightness, and with beauty blooms. + With each Etruscan grace thy vases shine, + And proud Japan's fam'd varnish yields to thine. + + Thine, too, the trinkets, that the fair adorn, + But who can count the spangles of the morn? + What pencil can pourtray this splendid mart. + This vast, stupendous wilderness of art? + Where fancy sports, in all her rainbow hues, + And beauty's radiant forms perplex the muse. + The boundless theme transcends poetic lays,-- + Let plain historic truth record thy praise. + +_The Roads pointed out_ + +TO PLACES DISTANT FROM BIRMINGHAM. + + Miles Folio + Alcester .. 21 186 + Atherstone .. 20 178 + Banbury .. 42 134 + Barr-beacon .. 7 188 + Barr-park .. 5 122 + Bath .. 87 176 + Bilstone .. 11 101 + Blenheim .. 52 133 + Bristol .. 84 176 + Bromsgrove .. 13 176 + Buxton .. 61 163 + Cheltenham .. 51 176 + Chester .. 75 101 + Coalbrook Dale .. 30 101 + Coleshill .. 10 180 + Coventry .. 18 161 + Derby .. 40 163 + Dublin .. 218 101 + Dudley, thro' Oldbury .. 9 130 + Dudley, thro' Tipton .. 10 125 + Dunchurch .. 29 161 + Edgbaston .. 1 190 + Edinburgh .. 298 113&163 + Evesham .. 31 186 + Glocester .. 52 176 + Hagley .. 12 169 + Halesowen .. 7 169 + Handsworth .. 2-1/2 106 + Harborne .. 3 182 + Henley-in-Arden .. 14 133 + Hockley House .. 10 133 + Holyhead .. 158 101 + Kidderminster .. 18 169 + King's Norton .. 6 186 + Knowle .. 10 134 + Leamington .. 22 133&134 + Leeds .. 109 113&163 + Leicester .. 43 180 + Lichfield .. 16 163 + Liverpool .. 104 113&163 + London, thro' Coventry .. 109 161 + ----, Henley-on-Thames .. 118 133 + ----, Uxbridge .. 114 133 + ----, Warwick & Banbury .. 119 134 + Malvern .. 32 176 + Manchester .. 82 113&163 + Matlock .. 55 163 + Meriden .. 12 161 + Northampton .. 42 161 + Northfield .. 6 176 + Nottingham .. 50 163 + Oxford .. 61 133 + Rowley .. 7 193 + Rugby .. 31 161 + Sedgley .. 14 110 + Sheffield .. 76 163 + Shenstone .. 13 163 + Shrewsbury .. 45 101 + Smethwick .. 2 130 + Solihull .. 7 135 + Stafford, thro' Walsall .. 26 113 + ----, Wolverhamp. .. 30 101 + Stourbridge .. 12 130&169 + Stratford-upon-Avon .. 22 133 + Sutton Coldfield .. 8 163 + Tamworth .. 16 163 + Tipton .. 8 125 + Walsall .. 9 113 + Warwick, by Knowle .. 20 134 + ----, by Hockley House .. 20 133 + Wednesbury .. 8 110 + West-Bromwich .. 6 108 + Wolverhampton .. 14 101 + Worcester .. 26 176 + Yardley .. 3 192 + York .. 132 113&163 + +INDEX. + + Air, + Assay office, + Assembly rooms, + Asylum for children, + ---- for deaf & dumb, + Ball rooms, + Baptist's meeting, + Barracks, + Baths, + Beardsworth's repository + Birmingham canal, + ---- fire office, + ---- metal comp., + Births and burials, + Blue coat school, + Bodily deformity, + Brass, + ---- works, + Breweries, + Brickwork, neat, + Burial ground, + Butchers, + Calvinist's meeting, + Canal, Birmingham, + ----, Warwick, + ----, Worcester, + Carriers by water, + Catholic chapel, + Chamber of commerce, + Chapel, St. Bartholomew, + ---- St. James's, + ---- St. John's, + ---- St. Mary's, + ---- St. Paul's, + Charities, private, + Church, Christ, + ---- St. Martin's, + ---- St. Philip's, + Clubs, + Coaches, + Coaches, stage, + Copper, + Corn mill, + Court leet, + ---- of requests, + Crescent, + Crown copper company, + Crowley's trust, + Deaf and dumb, + Deritend house, + Dispensary, + Dissenter's school, + Duddestonhall, + Factoring, origin of, + Fairs, + Fentham's trust, + Fire office, + Fish shops, + Free grammar school, + General hospital, + ---- provident society, + Glass houses, + Gold and silver, + Gun trade, account of, + Hackney coach fares, + Hen and chicken's inn, + Hides, raw, + Hospital, + Hotel, hen and chicken's, + ----, Nelson's, + ----, royal, + ----, swan, + Houses, + Humane society, + Huntingdon's meeting, + Jew's synagogue, + Ikenield street, + Improvements in the town, + Inland commercial society, + Innovation of the post office, + Interesting information + John-a-Dean's hole + Lady well + Lancasterian school + Lench's trust + Liberality of the town + Library, new + ----, public + ----, theological + Magistrates + Manufactories + Markets + Metal company + Methodist meeting + Mining and copper comp. + Miscellaneous information + Musical festival + National school + Neat brick work + Nelson's statue + ---- tavern + New library + ---- meeting + Newspapers + New union mill + Old meeting + Origin of factoring + Panorama + Parsonage house + Philosophical society + Piddock's trust + Places of worship + Population + Post office + ---- innovation + Principal manufactories + Prison + Private charities + Proof house + Protection of trade + Provident society + Public breweries + ---- library + ---- office + ---- scales + Quaker's meeting + Raw hides + Remarkable circumstance + Roman road + Rose copper company + Royal hotel + Scales, public + Schools + Situation + Smithfield + Square + Stage coaches + Statue of Lord Nelson + Steam engines improved + Steel house + Sunday schools + Swan hotel + Swedenburgians + Theatre + Theological library + Town improved + Trade protected + Trust, Crowley's + ---- Fentham's + ---- Jackson's + ---- Lench's + ---- Piddock's + Vase, a remarkable one + Vauxhall + Union mill + Warwick canal + Water + Worcester canal + Workhouse + Worship, places of + +MODERN + +BIRMINGHAM, + +EMPHATICALLY TERMED + +_THE TOY-SHOP OF EUROPE._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The superficial contents of the parish is two thousand, eight hundred, +and sixty-four acres. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +_LADY WELL._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +_ST. MARTIN's CHURCH_ + +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. + + + +_ST. PHILIP's CHURCH._ + +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.[3] 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. + +[Footnote 3: He also designed the church of St. John, in Westminster.] + +The money expended by the commissioners, two years after the +consecration, did not amount to quite L5000; 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. + +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.--(_See Blue Coat School._) + + +_CHRIST CHURCH._ + +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--"_The poor have the gospel +preached unto them._"--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 +L1200 and the latter L1500, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +_ST. BARTHOLOMEW's CHAPEL._ + +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. + + +_ST. MARY'S CHAPEL._ + +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. + + +_ST. PAUL'S CHAPEL._ + +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. + + +_ST. JOHN'S CHAPEL, DERITEND_ + +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. + + +_ST. JAMES'S CHAPEL, ASHSTED._ + +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. + + +_Burial Ground._ + +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 L1600 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. + + +_Births and Burials._ + +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 numerous, that nothing like a regular +estimate can be made. + + +_Chapel in Broad-street,_ + +FOR CATHOLICS. + +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. + + +_Meeting in Bull-street,_ + +FOR THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. + +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. + + +_Old Meeting,_ + +FOR PROTESTANT DISSENTERS. + +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. + + +_New Meeting,_ + +FOR PROTESTANT DISSENTERS. + +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. + + +_Meeting in Carres Lane,_ + +FOR CALVINISTS. + +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. + +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. + + +_Meeting in Cherry-street,_ + +FOR METHODISTS. + +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. + +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. + + +_Meeting in Cannon-street,_ FOR PARTICULAR BAPTISTS. + +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. + +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. + + +_Meeting in King-street,_ + +FOR THE FOLLOWERS OF LADY HUNTINGDON. + +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. + + +_New Jerusalem Temple,_ + +FOR SWEDENBURGIANS. + +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. + + +_Synagogue_, + +FOR THE JEWS. + +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. + +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. + + +_Lench's Trust._ + +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 L600 per ann. + +_Fentham's Trust._ + +In the year 1712,--Fentham bequeathed L100 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. + + +_Crowley's Trust._ + +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. + +PRIVATE CHARITIES. + +_Society for cloathing destitute Women and Children._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +_The Female Benevolent Society._ + +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 L417. 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. + +_The Depositing Society_ + +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, &c. The last printed report +states, that from the 1st of January, 1815, to Midsummer, 1816, the +deposits amounted to L538. 11s. 6d. and that the sum of L120. 3s. 2d. +had been paid in premiums to 189 poor persons, making in the whole the +sum of L658. 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. + +_Institution for providing Nurses for poor married Women, when lying +in._ 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. + +_Institution for providing Clothes for new-born Infants._ + +The object of this society is to raise a fund, and to purchase linen, +flannel, &c. 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. + +_Lying-in Charity at the Five Ways._ + +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. + +_Deritend and Bordesley Society for assisting the sick_ _Poor with +clean Linen._ + +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. + +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. + +_Sick Society, Cannon-street_. + +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. + +A society was established about seven years back, and is still +continued, for lending blankets to poor people during the winter +season. + +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. + +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. + +_The Free Grammar School_ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +_The Blue Coat School_ + +Is situated in St. Philip's church-yard: it was erected in the year +1724, but considerably enlarged in 1794, at the expense of L2800. +It possesses an annual income of L700, and therein are educated, +maintained, and cloathed 108 boys and 54 girls, in the arts of +reading, writing, arithmetic, sewing, knitting, &c. 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. + +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 _'True Blues,'_ 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. + +_The Protestant Dissenters' Charity School_ + +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. + +_The National School_ + +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. + +_The Royal Lancasterian Free School_ + +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. + +Upon a similar plan there is a school established for the instruction +of females, which is situated in Park-street. + +_Sunday Schools._ + +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. + +_The General Hospital._ + +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, + +IN-PATIENTS. + +Discharged cured .. .. .. 135 + +Relieved .. .. .. 38 + +Absented themselves .. .. .. 3 + +For irregularity .. .. .. 2 + +Incurable .. .. .. 1 + +Died .. .. .. .. 5 + +Remained on the books .. .. .. 41 + + +OUT-PATIENTS. + +Discharged cured .. .. .. 108 + +Relieved .. .. .. 55 For non-attendance .. .. .. 5 + +Made in-patients .. .. .. 5 + +Remained on the books .. .. .. 71 + +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 L8476. 6s. 9d., of which the +treasurers of the hospital received the sum of L4290. 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. + +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. + + PHYSICIANS. + + DR. J. JOHNSTONE, DR. MALE, + DR. BOOTH, DR. DE LYS. + + SURGEONS. + + MR. FREER, MR. DICKENSON, + MR. WOOD, MR. VAUX. + + House Apothecary, Mr. ALFRED JUKES. + Matron, .. Mrs. RANDALL. + +_The Dispensary._ + +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 L599.11s. + +PHYSICIANS. + + DR. DE LYS, DR. ECCLES, + DR. LEE, + + SURGEONS. + + MR. BARR, MR. RUSSELL, + MR. VICKERS, MR. INGLEBY, + MR. J.S. BLOUNT, MR. HODGSON. + + Resident Surgeon and Apothecary, Mr. J. M. BAYNHAM. + Dispensing Apothecary, Mr. JOHN TOMPSON. + +_The Workhouse._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +_Asylum for the Infant Poor belonging to the Parish of_ _Birmingham_. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +_Philosophical Society._ + +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 _A General +Institution for the Instruction of Deaf and_ _Dumb Children._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +_General Institution for the Relief of Persons labouring under bodily +Deformity._ + +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. + +_Magistrates_. + +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. + +_The Public Office_ + +Is a neat stone-fronted building, erected in the year 1806, at the +expense of L9000, 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. + +_The Prison._ + +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. + +_The Prison, in Bordesley._ + +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. + +_Court Leet._ + +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. + +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. + +_Court of Requests._ + +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. + +_Humane Society._ + +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. + +_Society for the Protection of Trade against fraudulent Bankrupts, +Swindlers, &c._ + +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. + +_Chamber of Commerce._ + +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. + +_The Assay Office_ + +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. + +_Gold and Silver._ 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. + +_Copper._ + +There being a great consumption of this article in the different +manufactories, a society was formed in the year 1790, under the title +of _The Birmingham Mining and Copper Company._ + +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. + +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 _The Rose Copper Company,_ + +Who established smelting works at Swansea, in Wales, and principally +vend the article in this town. + +Trade continuing to increase, a third establishment took place, in +1803, under the name of _The Crown Copper Company,_ + +Who erected smelting houses, and render the article in a proper state +for sale, at Neath, in Wales. + +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. + +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. + +_Brass._ + +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 _The Birmingham Metal Company._ + +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. + +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. + +_Steel House._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +_Principal Manufactories._ + +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. + +_Birmingham Canals._ + +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 L70000, being 500 shares at L140. each, which in 1782 was +sold for L370. in 1792, L1170 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 L1375. 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, L900 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. + +_The Worcester Canal_ + +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. + +_The Warwick Canal_ + +Was opened for the passage of boats, by forming a junction with the +Birmingham canal, in the year 1800. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +_The Theatre._ + +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. + +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, +&c. 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. + +As a theatre, it opens in June and closes in September. + +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. + +_Musical Festival._ + +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 L4296. 10s. 10d. the total receipts being L8476. +6s. 9d. + +The next festival is intended to be celebrated in October, 1820. + +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. + +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. + +_Panorama._ + +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. + +_Deritend House._ + +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. + +_Duddeston or Vauxhall,_ + +So called after that place of fashionable resort near London, is +little more than a mile from the centre of the town. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +_The Crescent._ + +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. + +_The Barracks._ + +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. + +_Birmingham Fire Office._ + +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 L1000. each. Their office is in Union-street, which +for chasteness of design is equal to any other building in the town. + +_The Inland Commercial Society._ + +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. + +_Theological Library._ + +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. + +_Public Library._ + +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: + + AD MERCATURAM BONARUM ARTIUM PROFECTUS, ET TIBI ET + OMNIBUS DITESCES. + +Which is thus englished,-- + + RESORTING TO THE MART THE SCIENCES, YOU WILL GROW RICH, + BOTH FOR YOURSELF AND OTHERS. + +This library contains about sixteen thousand volumes, and there are +about five hundred and sixty subscribers. + +_New Library._ + +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. + +_General Provident Society._ + +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. + +_Clubs._ + +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. + +_Piddock's Trust._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +_Wilday's Royal Hotel, Temple-row._ + +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 L100 +per share, and there are at this time, October, 1818, forty-five of +the parties, whose lives were nominated, now alive. + +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. + +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. + +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, +&c. &c. 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. + +_Statue to the Memory of Lord Nelson._ + +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 L2500, 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. + +On the scaffolding being removed, and the statue exhibited to public +inspection, the following illustration of it was distributed by Mr. +Westmacott:-- + +"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." + +In front of the pedestal is the following inscription:-- + + THIS STATUE + IN HONOUR OF + ADMIRAL + LORD NELSON, + WAS ERECTED + BY THE + INHABITANTS OF BIRMINGHAM + A. D. MDCCCIX. + +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. + +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. + +_Proof House._ + +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. + +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. + +In order to expedite the business, a proof house was established by +government, in Lancaster-street, under an inspector from the board of +ordnance. + +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. + +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.[4] 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. + +[Footnote 4: + + John Heeley, Warden. + John Adams, Warden and Treasurer. + + William Allport, | + Bartholomew Redfern, | Auditors of Accounts. + + William Ryan, Warden. + + Robert Wheeler John Oughton John Jones + Richard Sutherland John Smith John Mabson + Joseph Tarton John Olive Stephen Wallis] + +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. + +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. + +_Union Mill._ + +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. + +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 _The New Union Mill._ + +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. + +Steam engines are erected in every direction round the town, they +being found to accelerate business, and abridge manual labour. + +_Public Breweries._ + +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. + +_Glass Houses._ + +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. + +_Beardsworth's Repository for Horses and Carriages,_ + +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. + + +_Smithfield_ + +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. + +_Inspection of Raw Hides._ + +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. + +_Public Scales._ + +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. + +_Improvements._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +_Newspapers._ + +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. + +_The Markets._ + +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. + +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. + +Considering the distance from hence to the sea coast, the inhabitants +are well supplied with fish of various kinds, and at a moderate price. + +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. + +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. + +_Square_. + +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. + +_John-a-Dean's Hole._ + +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. + +_Baths, near Lady Well,_ + +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. + +_Houses_. + +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. + +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. + +_The Parsonage House_ + +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. + +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? + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +_Jackson's Trust._ + +George Jackson, of Birmingham, mercer, gave certain premises, in +Deritend, for placing out two apprentices, annually; present rent, six +pounds per annum. + +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. + +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. + +_Private Carriages_. + +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. + +The number of hackney coaches that ply in the streets is twelve, under +the following regulated fares. + + _Hackney Coach Fares._ + Under one mile .................. 1 6 + 1 mile and under 1-1/2 .......... 2 0 + 1-1/2 mile and under 2 .......... 3 0 + 2 miles and under 2-1/2 ......... 4 0 + 2-1/2 miles and under 3 ......... 5 0 + 3 miles and under 3-1/2 ......... 6 0 + 3-1/2 miles and under 4 ......... 7 0 + +An extra half fare if carrying more than four persons. + +_Time_. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The next avenue, in point of importance, is Camphill, on the road to +Stratford, where several streets and roads are united. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + Bankers Draw upon, Taylors and Lloyds, Dale End: Hanbury and Co. + + Woolley, Moilliet, and Gordon, Cherry-street: Lubbock and Co. + + Attwoods, Spooner, Goddington, and Co. New-street: Spooner and Co. + + Smith, Gibbins, Smith, Gibbins, Goode, and Co. Union-street: + Esdaile and Co. + + Freer, Rotton, Lloyd, and Co. New-street: Hanbury and Co. + + Galtons and James, Steelhouse-lane: Barclay, Tritton, and Co. + + * * * * * + +_Post Office_, + +UNDER THE SUPERINTENDANCE OF MISS GOTTWALTZ. + +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. + +_Sheffield Mail_ + +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. + +_Manchester Mail_ + +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. + +_Walsall Mail_ + +Every day, at eleven in the forenoon; which takes all letters for that +town and its delivery. + +_Holyhead Mail_ + +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). + +_Bewdley Mail_ + +Every day, at half past eleven o'clock; which takes all letters for +Tipton, Dudley, Stourbridge, Kidderminster, Stourport, and places +adjacent. + +_Oxford Mail_ + +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. + +_London Mail_ + +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. + +_Bristol Mail_ + +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). + +The various posts arriving so early in the day, the office is shut at +eight in the evening. + +Overcharges allowed from eight in the morning to half past ten in the +forenoon, and from five to eight in the evening. + +_Arrivals_, + +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. + +This account of the post is corrected up to the 29th of May, 1819. + +COACHES. + +_From the Nelson Hotel, (late the Dog Inn.)_ + +Bridgnorth, the Union coach, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday +mornings, at nine o'clock. Dudley, the royal Defiance, every +afternoon, at four. + +Holyhead, the Union, a light post coach, every morning, at nine. + +London, the Oxford royal mail, every afternoon, at three. + +------, the Union, a light coach, through Oxford, every day, at half +past twelve. + +------, the original post coach, through Oxford, every evening, at a +quarter past six. + +------, a coach, every morning, a quarter before six, and arrives in +London at nine in the evening. + +Shrewsbury, the Union, a post coach, four insides, every morning, at +nine. + +Stourbridge, the royal Defiance, every afternoon, at four. + + +_From the Swan Hotel._ + +Bath, a light coach, through Worcester and Glocester, every morning +(except Sunday), at six o'clock. + +Bristol, the Hero, through Worcester, Glocester, &e. every morning +(except Sunday), at half past six. + +Cambridge, a coach through Coventry, Stamford, Stilton, &e. every +morning, at eight. + +------, the Rising Sun, through Coventry, Dunchurch, and Northampton, +every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning, at five. + +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. + +Coventry, coaches every morning, at five and eight, and afternoon, at +one, two, and four. + +Dudley and Stourbridge, a coach every afternoon, at four. + +Holyhead, the royal mail, through Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury, &c. every +morning, at eleven. + +------, the Prince of Wales, through Salop, every morning at ten, +(passengers booked throughout.) + +Kidderminster, a coach, every afternoon, at a quarter before four. + +Leamington, a coach, through Knowle, every morning, at eight. + +Leicester, the Alexander, through Coventry, every morning, at eight. + +------, a coach, through Bedworth, Hinckley, &c. every day (except +Sunday), at one. + +Lichfield, the Cobourg, every afternoon, a quarter before four. + +Liverpool, the Regulator, through Wolverhampton, Stafford, Stone, +Stoke, Hanley, Burslem, Lawton, Sandbach, Middlewich, and Northwich, +every morning, at six. + +London, the royal mail, through Coventry, &c. every afternoon at four. +------, a light day coach, carrying four insides and ten out, every +morning, at four, in fifteen hours. + +London, the Royal Balloon, four insides, every afternoon (except +Sunday), at a quarter before three, and on Sunday at one. + +Manchester, the royal mail, the same as from the Hen and Chickens. + +------, the Eclipse, through Wolverhampton, Stafford, &c. every +morning, at seven. + +Nottingham, the royal mail, the same as from the Hen and Chickens. + +------, a coach, through Derby, every morning, at seven. + +Oxford, a light coach, every morning (except Sunday), at eight. + +Sheffield, the royal mail, the same as from the Hen and Chickens. + +------, the Blucher post coach, through Lichfield, Uttoxeter, &c. +every Saturday, Tuesday, and Thursday morning, at six. + +------, the royal Telegraph, through Lichfield, Burton, Derby, &c. +every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday morning, at seven. + +Shrewsbury, the Prince of Wales, every morning, at eleven. + +------, the royal mail, every morning, at eleven. + +Stourbridge and Kidderminster, every morning, at half past seven. + +Warwick, a coach, through Knowle, every morning, at eight. + +Worcester, the True Blue, through Bromsgrove, every afternoon, at +three. + +_From the Hen and Chickens,_ + +Bath, a light post coach, every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday +morning, at six. + +Bristol, the royal mail, every evening, at five. + +Cambridge, the royal pilot post coach, through Coventry, Leicester, +&c. every day, at half past twelve, except Sunday. + +Cheltenham, the royal post coach, through Bromsgrove, Worcester, &c. +to the Plough Hotel, every morning, at eight. + +Holyhead, the Prince of Wales post coach, through Shrewsbury, &c. +every morning, at ten. + +Lichfield, a coach, four times every day. + +London, the Prince of Wales post coach, through Oxford, +Henley-on-Thames, &c. to the George and Blue Boar, Holborn. + +Manchester, the royal mail, every morning, at a quarter past ten. + +------, the Express post coach, through Uttoxeter, Leek, Macclesfield, +&c. to the Moseley Arms Inn, in twelve hours, certain, every morning, +at eight. + +Nottingham, the royal mail, every morning, at a quarter past nine. + +Oxford, the post coach, through Henley, every evening, at six. +Sheffield, the royal mail, every morning, at a quarter past nine. + +------, the royal Telegraph coach, through Lichfield, Derby, &c. every +Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday morning, at seven. + +------, the royal Telegraph, through Lichfield, Uttoxeter Ashbourne, +and Bakewell, every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday morning, at six. + +Wolverhampton, a coach, four times every day. + +Worcester, the new True Blue post coach, every afternoon, at three. + +------, the royal Defiance post coach, every morning, at eight, and +returns in the evening. + +------, a coach, four times every day. + +_From the Castle and Saracen's Head Inns._ + +Aberystwith and Barmouth, a coach, every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday +morning, at eleven. + +Alcester, a coach, every morning, at eight. + +Banbury, the Regulator, through Warwick and Leamington, every morning, +at eight. + +Bath, the Star coach, through Evesham, Cheltenham, &c. every Tuesday, +Thursday, and Saturday morning, at half past six. + +Bilstone, coaches six times a day. + +Bridgnorth, a coach, through Wolverhampton, every Monday, Wednesday, +and Friday morning, at eleven. + +Bristol, the Duke of Wellington, through Bromsgrove, Worcester, and +Glocester, every morning, at seven. + +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. + +Carlisle, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, a coach, by way of Preston and +Lancaster, every morning and evening. + +Cheltenham, a coach, every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings. + +Chester, the Prince of Orange, carrying four insides, every morning, +at six, (Mondays excepted.) + +Coventry, coaches every day, at a quarter before one and half past +two. + +Daventry, coaches, every morning, at five, and every afternoon, at +half past two and four. + +Dudley, coaches, every morning, at seven, and every afternoon, at four +and five. + +Exeter and Plymouth, a coach, every morning, at seven, (Monday +excepted.) + +Holyhead, the royal mail, every morning, at eleven, through Salop and +Bangor. + +------, a new post coach, every day, at eleven, sleeps at Shrewsbury, +and arrives the following day in time for the packet. + +Liverpool, the Bang-up post coach, in fifteen hours, carrying four +insides only, through Wolverhampton, Stone, Knutsford, and Warrington, +every morning, at six. + +------, 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. + +London, the royal mail, every afternoon, at four. + +------, the Crown Prince day coach, in sixteen hours, every morning, +at five. + +------, the royal Union, through Coventry, every afternoon, at half +past two, (except Sunday), when it goes at one. + +------, the Defiance, a light coach, through Warwick and Leamington, +every afternoon, at half past two, from the Saracen's Head. + +Manchester, the Eclipse, a post coach, through Wolverhampton, +Stafford, Stone, Newcastle, and Congleton, in twelve hours, every +morning, at seven. + +Northampton, a coach, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning, +returns the same day. + +Nottingham, the royal Dart, a post coach, through Tamworth and +Ashby-de-la-Zouch, every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday morning, at +half past eight. + +Oxford, the Bang-up post coach, every morning, at eight. + +Shrewsbury and Chester, a post coach, through Ellesmere, every +morning, at six. + +------, the Prince of Wales post coach, through Wolverhampton and +Shiffnal, every morning, at eleven. + +------, the royal mail, every morning, at eleven. + +Walsall, the royal mail, every day, at twelve, and returns the same +day. + +------, a light coach, every afternoon (except Sunday,) at five. + +Warwick and Leamington, the Regulator, every morning, at eight, and +returns the same day. + +------, the Telegraph, every afternoon, at three. + +Wolverhampton, seven coaches every day. + +Worcester, the True Blue, a post coach, every afternoon, at three. + +_From St. George's Tavern._ + +Bristol, a coach, every morning, at seven. + +Cheltenham, ditto ditto, at seven. + +Chester, ditto, through Wolverhampton, every morning, at six. + +Coventry, ditto, twice everyday. + +Dudley, ditto, every day. + +Holyhead, ditto, through Wolverhampton, every morning, at nine. + +Kidderminster, ditto, every day. + +Lichfield, ditto, ditto. + +Liverpool, ditto, through Wolverhampton, every morning, at nine. + +London, ditto, through Coventry, every afternoon, at three. + +Shrewsbury, ditto, through Wolverhampton, every morning, at nine. + +Stourbridge, ditto, twice every day. + + + * * * * * + +Atherstone, a coach, by Samuel Smith, from the Cross Guns, Dale-end, +Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. + +Darlaston, a coach, every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, +from the Saracen's Head, Snowhill. + +Dudley and Stourbridge, a mail cart, from the Warwick Arms, Snowhill, +every day. + +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. + +Wednesbury, Bilstone, and Wolverhampton, a coach, by Joseph Boddison, +every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, at five. + +Willenhall, a coach, by John Alexander, from the Barrel, Snowhill, +every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. + + +* * * * * + +_Carriers by Water._ + +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. + +Bradley and Co. Broad-street wharf, load fly boats daily, to +Liverpool, Manchester, and all parts of the North. + +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. + +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. + + Danks, Samuel, and Co. Broad-street wharf, and also + one in Gas-street, load boats to Bath, Bridgnorth, + Bristol, Gloucester, Kidderminster, Shrewsbury, + Stourport, Worcester, and all the western parts of + England. + + Heath, Tyler, and Danks, Great Charles-street, load + boats daily, for Dudley, Stourbridge, Wolverhampton, + etc.; also Chester, Derby, Gainsborough, Hull, + Liverpool, Manchester, &c. + + Jackson, Thomas, wharf in Holt-street, loads boats to + Atherstone, Coventry, Fazeley, Hinckley, Stourbridge, + Tamworth, &c. + + Pickford and Co. wharf on the Warwick canal, load + boats daily, and convey goods to London, Liverpool, + and Manchester; which they deliver on the fourth + day at each place; and to all other parts of the kingdom + with the greatest expedition. + + Robinson, Corbet, and Co. wharf in Broad-street, load + fly boats to London, Stourbridge, Stourport, Wolverhampton, + Worcester, and all intermediate places; + also to Bristol every spring tide. + + Skey, R. S. Worcester wharf, loads boats daily for + Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick, Worcester, and all + intermediate places. + + Smith, Joseph, and Sons, load boats at Worthington + and Co.'s wharf, Great Charles-street, for Burton + and Gainsborough, from whence the goods are forwarded + by a steam vessel of their own, in one day + certain, to Hull; they also convey goods to Nottingham. + + Swaine (late Thomas), Friday-bridge wharf, loads boats + three days every week, for Derby, Leicester, Lincoln, + Lichfield, Nottingham, Shardlow, Tamworth, + &c. + + Webb, H. and Co. Aston-Junction wharf, load boats to + Atherstone, Coton, Coventry, Fazeley, Hinckley, + Nuneaton, &c. + + Wheatcroft, N. and G. Crescent wharf, load fly boats + every Tuesday and Friday, for Barnsley, Derby, + Leeds, Leicester, Sheffield, Wakefield, and all parts + of the north. + + Whitehouse and Sons, Crescent wharf, load fly boats to + London, and all the intermediate places, every Tuesday + and Friday; and slow boats daily. + + Worthington and Co. wharf, Great Charles-street, load + fly boats daily, for Chester, Liverpool, Manchester, + &c. and deliver goods to responsible and regular carriers + to the north of England, and Scotland. + +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. + +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. + +LINES + +_Selected by permission of the Author from a manuscript_, + +ENTITLED + +Birmingham, a Fragment + +WHICH IS INTENDED FOR PUBLICATION. + +They are supposed to be part of a prophetic oracle, delivered by the +priests of the god Woden. + + Had we, Oh Birmingham, for thee design'd + A trade that's partial, and a sphere confin'd, + Thou'dst been a city, near some stream or shore, + To bless some _single_ district and no more; + But thou must minister to thousand wants, + Of cities, countries, islands, continents: + Hence _central_ be thy station--thus thy town, + Must make each port around the coast her own. + + Let bright invention rove where no one awes, + Unfetter'd by dull, narrow, civic laws, + Which shut out commerce, ingenuity. + Where bloated pride, in sullen majesty, + And drowsy pomp sits notionally great, + While she on every stranger shuts her gate. + + Let ingenuity here keep her seat, + For works minute, or works immensely great, + We to thy native sons the gift impart, + Of bright invention, and of matchless art, + Skill'd to devise, to reason, to compute, + Quick to suggest, and prompt to execute; + What some have but conceiv'd, do thou amend, + Mature and perfect, to some noble end. + + Let fertile genius' bright, inventive powers, + In all their vigorous energy be yours. + + Let savage nations who thy stores behold, + Give Britain in return, their useless gold, + Their gems, their pearls, their diamonds impart, + And boast the change, and prize the gift of art. + + Thus shall thy polish'd wares of choicer worth, + Gain all that's rare, from ev'ry clime on earth. + + Thy skill superior let our monarchs own, + And deem thee _a bright jewel in their crown_. + + +OBSERVATIONS + +Made during an Excursion + +_To Wednesbury in Staffordshire, distant eight miles, on the road to +Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury_. + +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,[5] 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 L100. 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. + +[Footnote 5: A blast furnace, for the making of pig iron, very near at +hand.] + +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. + +At the two mile stone, on the left, is the entrance to Soho, where +Matthew Robinson Boulton, Esq. resides, who is proprietor of the _Soho +Manufactory_. + +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 _or molu_.--These metallic ornaments +in the form of vases, tripods, candelabras, &c. 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +_Handsworth, in Staffordshire, distant two miles and a half_. 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. + +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. + +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.[6] + +[Footnote 6: 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.] + +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. + +_West-Bromwich, in Staffordshire, distant five miles_. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The following works of considerable magnitude are, already +established, and now in full work:-- + + Birmingham brass company, in Spon-lane. + James Taylor, cast steel manufactory. + Archibald Kenrick and Co. iron-founders. + Samuel and John Dawes, iron and steel-masters. + Izons and Whitehurst, foundry for kitchen furniture. + Elwell and Hortons, iron-founders. + Thomas Price, iron-master. + Bagnall and Son, iron-masters. + William Bullock and Co. iron-founders, and manufacturers + of kitchen furniture, improved coffee mills, &c. + Charles Bache, manufacturer of bar and sheet iron, old + forge. + William Chapman, grinder and polisher, Burstelholme mill. + Samuel Elwell, iron-master, Friar-park forge, + ---- Tickell, iron-master. + Isaac Horton, boiler-maker. + Edward Fisher and Co. iron-masters. + John U. Rastrick, manufacturer of steam engines. + +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 _Wednesbury_. 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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +_Darlaston_. + +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. + +_Walsall, in Staffordshire, distant nine miles, on the direct road to +Stafford_. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +_Walsall_. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The following inscriptions are round the bells:-- + +1. "When us you ring, we'll sweetly sing." + +2. "Fear God, honour the king." + +3. "Prosperity to the parish." + +4. ditto ditto. + +5. "The Rev. John Darwall, vicar." + +6. "Thomas Rudhall, Glocester, founder." + +7. "Thomas Hector, Edward Licet, Thomas Overton, Deykin Hemming, +church-wardens." + +8. "I to the church the living call, And to the grave do summon all." + +The font of this church is alabaster, of an octagon form, with +shields, richly sculptured. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 L200. + +About one mile from the town, on the road to Wolverhampton, is a +strong chalybeate water, called Alum well. + +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. + +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. + +_Barr Park, distant five miles, on the road to Walsall_. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, &c. and to the right by the Wrekin and other mountains in +Shropshire. + +_To Dudley, in Worcestershire, through West-bromwich, ten miles on the +road to Stourbridge_. + +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 +_Tipton, eight miles_. + +In this parish the following works are carried on in an extensive +manner:-- + + Blair and Stevenson, soap and lead. + Harrison, Oliver, and Co. Horsley iron-works. + Walker and Co. Gospel-oak iron-works. + Dixon, Turton, and Co. have three furnaces. + Round, Caddick, and Co. Old church forge. + Messrs. Parkers, iron-masters. + Zephaniah Parkes and Co. iron-masters. + Messrs. Willets, iron-masters. + Birmingham Co. iron-masters. + Bagnall and Co. iron-masters. + Moat colliery. + Horsley ditto. + New Church ditto. + Tibbington ditto. + Glebe Land ditto. + Ockerhill ditto. + Puppy Green ditto. + Dudley Port ditto. + Birmingham Co. ditto. + Brookhouse ditto. + +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 _Dudley, ten miles_. + +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. + +The different sects of presbyterians, baptists, quakers, methodists, +and independants, have each of them their respective places of +worship. + +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. + +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. + +There are also the following iron-works established:-- + + Zephaniah Parkes and Co. + Messrs. Attwoods, three furnaces. + Glazebrook and Whitehouse. + Salisbury, Hawkes, and Co. + ---- Banks. + Wainwright, Jones, and Co. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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; + + "Mountains, on whose barren breast + The lab'ring clouds do often rest." + +_To Dudley, in Worcestershire, through Oldbury, distant_ _nine miles._ + +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. + +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. + + * * * * * + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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.[7] + +[Footnote 7: From this place you have an excellent view of Rowley +hills, the ruins of Dudley castle, and the fine woods in Sandwell +park.] + +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. + +N. B. Since writing the above, the bridge is completed, and the whole +line of road improved to a considerable degree. + +_To Hockley-house, ten miles, on the road to Stratford-upon-Avon and +also to Warwick._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +_From Hockley-house to Warwick, ten miles._ + +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. + +_To Warwick, twenty miles_--_Leamington, twenty-two miles._ + +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;[8] in the midst of which is a small island, with some trees +upon it, that adds considerably to the scene. + +[Footnote 8: This sheet of water is the reservoir of the Warwick +canal.] + +_Solihull, distant seven miles._ + +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. + +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 L1500; 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 L150. per annum, who is at this time the Rev. +J. Short. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +_Warwick_. 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +_The County Hall._ + +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. + +_The Court House._ + +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. + +_The Market House._ + +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. + +_The Stone Bridge_. + +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. + +_The Iron Bridge_. + +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. + +_The Theatre_. + +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. + + +_College School_. + +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. + +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. + +The charitable donations and benefactions that have been left to this +town are very numerous, and amount to a large sum of money. + +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. + +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 L200 per annum, but now amounts to near L2000, +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. + +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 L130 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 L80, and that the surplus L50 shall +one half of it go to the increase of the master's salary, until it +amounts to L400 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 L50 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. + +_St. Mary's Church_. + +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 L2481, an amazing sum +at that period. In the chapel there are five sumptuous monuments. + +_St. Nicholas's Church_. + +This incongruous pile of building is of modern date, being opened for +divine service on the 17th September, 1780. + +_County Gaol._ + +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. + +_County Bridewell._ + +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. + +_The Castle._ + +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. + +_The Priory._ + +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. + +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. + +_Guy's Clift_. + +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." + +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. + +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 comers 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, + + "Where with his hands he hew'd a house, + Out of a craggy rock of stone, + And lived, like a palmer, poor, + Within that house alone." + +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. + +_Leamington Priors._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 corner of +Upper Cross-street, opposite the assembly rooms; in honour of him +there is now a street bears his name, (Frost-street.) + +_The Theatre._ + +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, &c, and fitted up with some +taste. + +_The Post Office._ + +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. + +_Ranelagh Gardens_ + +Are regularly improved every season, and with their various +amusements, are deserving of attention. + +_The Church_ + +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. + +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. + +_A Hint from the Editor_. + +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? + +_To Meriden, twelve miles, on the road to Coventry._ + +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. + +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. + +_Elmdon Hall._ + +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, &c. 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. + +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. + +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. + +_To Sutton, distant eight miles, on the road to Lichfield._ + +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.[9] 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. + +[Footnote 9: See Hockley abbey, on the road to Wolverhampton.] + +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.[10] + +[Footnote 10: 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.] + +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.[11] The present incumbant is the Rev. +Benjamin Spencer, L.L.D. + +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. + +[Footnote 11: It is a thick stone, about two foot in height, on which +is the following inscription:-- + +EAST SIDE; + + HERE + LIETH THE + BODY OF + REBECKAH + PEMBORTON + WIF OF ISAAC + PEMBORTON + BVRI 27 OF + DECEM 1660 + + HERE + LIETH THE + BODY OF + ISAAC PEM- + BERTON HE + DEPARTED + DECEM 4: 1697 + AGED 76 + +WEST SIDE. + + THO I AM + HERE LAID + LOW IN GRAVE + THINK ON THE + COVNSEL WICH + I GAVE THO TRO + VNLES MAY TO Y + DECEND: A GRAC + LOVS BLESSIN + IN THE END + + THE FIRST + STONE SET VP + IN THIS YARD + THO OTHERS SINCE + MORE FINLY CARVED + WAS IN REMEMBERANCE + OF SHE + AN OBJECT OF + MORTALITY] + +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. + +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. + +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. + +_Sutton Coldfield._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, &c. without +especial license. + +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. + +_To Halesowen, seven miles, on the road to Hagley, Stourbridge and +Kidderminster._ + +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. + +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 _The Leasowes._ + +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. + +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. + +On the pillar to the memory of Shenstone is the following +inscription:-- + + Whoe'er thou art, with rev'rence tread + These sacred mansions of the dead. + Not that the monumental bust, + Or sumptuous tomb, here guards the dust + Of rich, or great,(let wealth, rank, birth, + Sleep undistinguished in the earth.) + This simple urn records a name, + That shines with more exalted fame. + Reader! if genius, taste refin'd, + A native elegance of mind; + If virtue, science, manly sense; + If wit that never gave offence; + The clearest head, the tend'rest heart, + In thy esteem e'er claim'd a part; + Ah! smite thy breast, and drop a tear; + For know, thy Shenstone's dust lies here, + + R.G. and J. HODGETS. + A.O.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. + +When near the bottom of the hill, the road divides; that on the right +leads to Stourbridge, and the other to _Halesowen, in Shropshire._ + +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. + +_Halesowen Abbey._ + +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 L380 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +_To Bromsgrove, in Worcestershire, distant thirteen miles,_ _on the +road to Worcester, Glocester, and Bristol._ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +_To Coleshill, distant ten miles, on the road to Atherstone._ + +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. + +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. + +_Castle Bromwich, distant five miles and a half_. + +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. + +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. + +_Coleshill_. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +_Shustock_. + +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. + +_Maxstoke Castle_ + +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. + +_To Hat-borne, in Staffordshire, distant three miles._ + +Passing up Broad-street and Islington, when you are through the +Five-ways[12] 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. + +[Footnote 12: There are now six ways, Calthorpe's road being opened in +the year 1845.] + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 corner; it is a vicarage, dedicated to St. Peter; the +present vicar being the Rev. Richard Robinson. + +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. + +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, &c. &c. Passing by a neat +cottage belonging to Mr. Frears, you come again into the Harborne +road, at Mr. Smith's. + +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. + +_To King's Norton, in Worcester shire, distant five Mile_. + +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. + +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. + +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 on +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. + +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.. + +_King's Norton_ + +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. + +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. + +_To Barr-beacon and Aldridge, on the road to Stafford._ + +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. + +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, Glocester, +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, &c. 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. + +_Aldridge, in Staffordshire, nine miles._ + +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. _To Edgbaston, in +Warwickshire, distant one mile._ + +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 L25,000, 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. + +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.) + +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. + +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 :-- + + If innocents are the favourites of Heaven, + And God but little asks where little's given, + My great Creator has for me in store + Eternal joys; what wise man can have more? + +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. + +_Yardley, in Worcestershire, distant three miles._ + +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. + +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 L100 per annum. + +The land in this parish being very suitable for making of tiles, +innumerable quantities are there manufactured, for the supply of +Birmingham. + +_To Rowley Regis, in Staffordshire, distant seven miles_. + +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. + +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. + +From this spot the views are more extensive than can easily be +imagined, over a beautiful and romantic country, Birmingham being vary +visible. + +[Illustration] + + * * * * * + +W. Talbot, Printer, Exeter-row, + +Birmingham. + + + + + +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.txt or 11416.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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