the list is looked over many may think it not undeserved.--In July,
1715, the Old Meeting House was destroyed in a riot.--In 1737 the
nail-makers from Worcestershire marched into this town and forced the
ironmongers to sign a paper allowing an advance in prices.--Some bigoted
brutes got up an anti-Methodist movement in 1751, which culminated in a
general riot on Oct. 19, the pulpit and seats being taken out of the
meeting-house and burnt.--The history of "the Birmingham Riots" of 1791
is world-known, and there is no necessity to repeat the disgraceful
tale. The damage was estimated at £60,000; the sufferers recovered only
£27,000,--On Oct. 24, 1793, caused by the enforced collection of the
rates levied to pay damages done in riots of 1791. Two more lives lost.
--June 22, 1795. on account of scarcity of food and the high prices
thereof. Soldiers called out, and they gave two unfortunates leaden food
enough to kill them.--May 28, 1810, two women fell out over the price of
some potatoes, others joined in and a scrimmage ensued. Constables came
and men mauled them, and the result of the unruly wagging of those two
women's tongues was a riot, which lasted four days. Three men were
sentenced to grow potatoes at Botany Bay the rest of their lives.--March
22, 1813, the chapels in Bond Street, Belmont Row, and Ladywell Walk,
with the Jews' Synagogue in Severn Street, were damaged by a riotous
mob. The Jabet Riots in 1816 were primarily caused by the proprietor of
_Jabet's Herald_ publishing an address showing that "a man, wife, and
six children could live on 6s. a week." Some cheap food was presented to
the printer in the shape of potatoes, with which his windows were
smashed.--Claims for damages arising out of the Chartist riots of 1839
were made to the amount of £16,283, of which £15,027 were allowed, and
rates were made on the Hundred of Hemlingford for £20,000 to cover the
same and the expenses attendant thereon. It was a curious coincidence
that the rioters of 1839 should have chosen July the 15th for their
fiery pranks, the roughs of 1791 having on the same day of the same
month, burnt Hutton's and other houses. At the Warwick Assizes, Aug. 8,
1839, Jeremiah Howell, Francis Roberts, and John Jones were sentenced to
be hung, Thomas Aston had sentence of death recorded against him, and 13
other hot-heads were ordered various terms of imprisonment, for taking
part in the mischief.--At Snow Hill Flour Mills, June 29, 1847, arising
out of the seizure of sundry short weights.--The "Murphy Riots"
commenced on Sunday, June 16, 1867, when William Murphy, the Anti-Papal
lecturer, delivered his first oration. The police had to clear Carrs
Lane with their cutlasses, and Park Street was nearly demolished. An
Irishman who threatened Morris Roberts in his public-house was shot by
him on the 17th, and the act was declared to be justifiable.--There was
a disgraceful row (which may well be classed under this heading) at St.
Alban's Church, Oct. 13, 1867, in consequence of some ecclesiastical
excommunicatory proceedings.--The Navigation Street riot of roughs, in
which Police-officers Lines and Fletcher were stabbed, took place March
7, 1875. Lines died on the 24th, and was buried at Aston the 29th. The
sum of £840 14s. was gathered to support his wife and daughter. The
Assizes, held in the following July, may be called "the Roughs'
Reprisals," as one was sentenced to death, four to penal servitude for
life, six to fifteen years each (three of them were flogged as well),
one to ten years, one to seven years, and four to five years each.--A
Conservative "demonstration" held at the Lower Grounds, October 13th,
1884, was broken into and disturbed by Liberals, who held a meeting
outside and then breached the walls, spoilt the fireworks, and added
another to the long list of Birmingham riots.
~Ritualism.~--Though there has been many instances of local clergymen
adopting practices which usually come under the name of ritualistic, we
have had but one "Martyr to the Cause," in the person of the Rev. R.W.
Enraght, of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Bordesley. Among the
numerous practices of which complaint was made against him were the
following:--The use of lighted candles, the wearing of the alb and
chasuble, the ceremonial mixing of water and wine, the making of the
sign of the cross towards the congregation, the use of wafers instead of
bread, standing with his back to the congregation during the prayer for
consecration, not continuing to stand the whole time during the prayer,
elevation of the cup and paten more than is necessary, causing the
_Agnus Dei_ to be sung immediately after the consecration, standing
instead of kneeling during the Confession, and kissing the Prayer Book.
Remonstrance, monition, and inhibition, not being sufficient to teach
him the error of his ways, Mr. Enraght was committed for contempt Nov.
20, 1880, and taken to Warwick gaol on the 27th. He was released soon
after Christmas, and another Vicar filleth his place.
~Roach Pool.~--In the years 1825-26 the proprietors of the old
Birmingham Canal purchased about 130 acres of land, partly in Edgbaston
and partly in Birmingham parishes, for the purpose of forming reservoirs
or feeders for their canal. Part of the area included Roach Pool,
through which the boundary line ran, and the pleasant path then by its
side is now 15ft., or 16ft. under water. In Ragg's "Edgbaston" is an
allusion to this:--
"In Rotton Park
No more doth Roach Pool smile. Its humble mirror,
Wherein the stars were once content to gaze
On their reflected forms, is buried now
Some fathoms deep. Yea, with the humble path
That led beside its banks."
~Roads.~--Same of the roads leading into and out of Birmingham in the
olden days were little better than deep ruts, which were more or less
levelled about the middle of last century. The making of the great
Holyhead coachroad also graded some of the steeper spots as well as the
lowest, but the modern town improvements must be credited as the
greatest factor in the levelling of the roads, none of which, however,
were "macadamised," until 1818. The total length of highways "taken to"
and repairable by the Corporation at the commencement of 1884, amounted
to 185-1/2 miles, there being other 12-1/2 miles undeclared. Ten years
ago the figures stood at 143 and 40 respectively; but as during the last
six years, owners of property have been paying at the rate of £17,820
per annum, for completion of the streets and highways so as to bring
them in charge of the Corporation, the undeclared roads will soon be few
and far between. To keep the roads fit for travelling on, requires about
60,000 tons of stone per year.
~Rogues, Thieves, and Vagabonds.~--According to some calculations made
by the late Rev. Micaiah Hill, Sec. to the Town Mission, there were, on
a given day, in 1880, 1,272 known thieves and bad characters at large in
the town, of whom 177 were under sixteen years of age. There were 71
houses kept by receivers of stolen goods, 118 others known to be
frequented by the criminal classes, and 188 houses of ill-fame, in which
262 women were found on the same day.
~Rolling Mills.~--There was one at Nechells as early as 1690, though the
exact date of the erection of nearly all these places is a matter of the
greatest uncertainty. The first steam rolling mill, with the exception
of the one at Soho, was put up at Bradley ironworks.
~Rotton Park.~--In the list of the tenants of Edward Birmingham, whose
estate was confiscated (circ. 1536), there appears the name of John
Praty, as "farmer" of the office of "keeper of the Park called Rotton
(or Roten) Park," with all the profits thereof, and the "wyndefal wood
and lopwood," building timber excepted.
~Rowley Rag.~--The fusibility of basalt having been theoretically
demonstrated, Mr. Henry Adcock, C.E., in 1851 took out letters patent
for the manufacture of a number of articles from the Rowley ragstone.
Furnaces were erected at Messrs. Chance Brothers, and the experiment
thoroughly carried out, a number of columns, window-sills, doorways,
steps, and other architectural pieces being the result. The process,
however, was too expensive, and had to be given up. A number of the
articles were used in the erection of Edgbaston Vestry Hall, where the
curious may inspect them if so inclined.
~Royal Visitors.~--It is believed that Richard III. was the guest of
Baron de Bermingham in November, 1189, and possibly King John may have
visited the Manor, as he was more than once in the immediate
neighbourhood (1206-08), but with those exceptions Charles I. was the
first Sovereign who honoured us with a visit. He was at Aston Hall,
October 16 and 17, 1642. and on the 18th he went to Packington. He was
also in the neighbourhood on Friday, July 13, 1644. Queen Henrietta
Maria, his Consort, was hereabouts on July 10, 1643, passing from
Walsall to meet Prince Rupert at King's Norton. Charles II. does not
appear to have been nearer than at Erdington. Prince Rupert paid his
memorable visit April, 1643. In 1742, the Duke of Cumberland, with his
forces, on their way to Scotland, encamped on Meriden Heath, near
Packington Park.--October 21, 1765, Edward, Duke of York, was here, and
grumbled at the inconvenient ball-room in which he danced, an event
which probably led to the erection of the Royal Hotel.--The Duke of
Gloucester May 4, 1805, slept at the Royal, and in the following July,
King George III. was expected to lay the foundation stone of Christ
Church, but was too ill to come, and the next Royal visitors were his
grand-daughter (and our Most Gracious Queen) Victoria, and her mother
the Duchess of Kent, who on August 4, and 5, 1830, inspected some of our
principal manufactories. On a similar errand came the late Prince
Consort, November 29, 1843; his next visit being made Nov. 12, 1849 to
see the Exposition of Art and Manufactures at the Old Bingley Hall in
Broad Street, which occasion Birmingham men proudly believe led to the
great Hyde Park Exhibition of 1851. Her Majesty passed through the town
on the 30th of August, 1852, when an address was presented to her.
Prince Albert laid the foundation stone of the Midland Institute,
November 22, 1855. The Duke of Cambridge, June 1, 1857, planted a tree
in Calthorpe Park, as part of the opening ceremony. In the following
year, June 15, 1858, the Queen and Prince Albert inaugurated the
"People's Park," at Aston, and Her Majesty said it was the finest
reception she had ever met with. Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught,
opened the Horticultural Exhibition at Lower Grounds, June 24, 1872. The
Duke of Edinburgh was at the Musical Festival, Aug. 26, and following
days, 1873. The Prince and Princess of Wales visited the town Nov. 3,
1874, and received a most enthusiastic welcome. Prince and Princess Teck
were here Dec., 6, 1875; and the Prince and Princess Christian, with the
Marquis of Lorne, visited the Cattle and Dog Shows, Dec., 1883. The
Prince of Wales having accepted the Presidentship of the Agricultural
Exhibition Society, it is believed he will again visit the town shortly.
_Royal Visitors from Abroad_.--The great workshops of Birmingham, and
especially the Soho Works (in their day), have, for the last hundred
years, attracted many crowned and coronetted heads from other parts of
the world, though, in many respects, it is to be feared our town no
longer holds the pre-eminence in manufacture it once did. The Hereditary
Prince of Brunswick came here, January 2, 1766. The Empress of Russia
inspected Soho in 1776. The Duc de Chartres came on a similar visit,
February 22, 1785, and there were newspaper flunkies then as now, for it
was gravely recorded that the Duke's horses were stabled at the Swan
Inn. His Serene Highness the Statholder and the Prince of Orange called
at Boulton's, August 8, 1796. The Grand Duke Nicholas, afterwards
Emperor of Russia, was here, November 9, 1816. His Serene Highness
Prince Nicolas Esterhazy, visited us in the month of August, 1821.
Prince Louis Napoleon, afterwards Napoleon III., was seen here
occasionally while in exile. The King of Portugal went the round of the
manufactories, June 26, 1854; Prince Oscar of Sweden, May 8, 1862; the
Emperor of Brazil, July 28, 1871; the Sultan of Zanzibar, July 2, 1875;
Archduke Randolph, Crown Prince of Austria, and Prince Esterhazy,
January 31 1878; and the Duke of Braganza, Crown Prince of Portugal, in
December, 1883.
~Sabbath Breaking.~--In 1776 the churchwardens threatened to punish
everyone caught playing at ball on the Sabbath. In 1779 they frequently
stopped waggons travelling on that day, and fined the owners for so
doing. In December, 1781, thirty-eight publicans were fined for allowing
"tippling" on Sundays.
~Sailor's Return.~--There are several public-houses in the town with the
sign of "The Sailor's Return," but few of the landlords can tell the
history of the first so-named, which is in Watery Lane, at the bottom of
Lawley Street. It is near a hundred years ago since "Old Dr. Spencer"
was Vicar of Aston Church, and, though he was fond of hunting, and could
be "a jolly good fellow" occasionally, few parsons have gone to the
grave more lamented, for he was a man without cant,--a Christian who
never thought himself better than his neighbours, be they rich or poor.
His only son was mortally wounded in one of Nelson's battles, but he
lived just long enough to give his watch and a few trifles for his
father to the sailor who waited on him. 'Twas some time before the "old
salt" got to land, and he had been in another brush with the French, and
had left a leg behind him. When he delivered his message to the Dr., the
latter asked what he could do for him. "Why, sir," said the sailor, "I
should like to keep a public-house;" and he did, the Dr. christening it
"The Sailor's Return."
~Saltley.~--So far as our ancient histories can tell us, there was a
mansion here long previous to the Conquest, and the diligent antiquarian
may still find an old Saltley Hall, though it looks wretchedly neglected
and desolate. Saltley is one of the busiest of our suburbs, there being
very extensive Railway Carriage and Wagon Works here, besides other
factories and the Corporation Gas-works, the population being about
7,000.
~Sandwell Hall and Park.~--Seat of the Earl of Dartmouth, who frequently
permits the Park to be used for public purposes. Of late, however, it
has acquired a far greater interest through the discovery of coal
underneath its surface. The extension of the coal seams in this
direction was long a debateable question, and the originators of the
Sandwell Park Colliery Company were deemed by many to be very foolish
people to risk their money in such a venture, but after a four years'
suspense their most sanguine expectations were more than realised, and
their shares, which at one period were hardly saleable, ranked amongst
the best investments of the country. By their agreement with the owner,
the Company have the right of mining under an area of 185 acres, at a
royalty of 6d. per ton, with the option of taking a further area of
1,515 acres at a like royalty. The first sod was cut April 12, 1870, the
thick coal being struck May 28, 1874, at a depth of 418 yards, the
shaft, which is 10ft. diameter, being carried down to a total depth of
440 yards--a quarter of a mile; the second shaft, which was commenced
June 24, 1874, is 15ft. in diameter. The following are the "winnings";
brooch coal, 2ft. 6in. thick, at a depth of 380 yards; best coal, 20ft.
6in. thick, at 418 yard; heathen coal 4ft. thick, at 427 yards; white
ironstone, of excellent quality, at 434 yards, and good fire-clay, 6ft.
thick, under that, besides thin seams of gubbin ironstone, and new mine
coal.
~Saturday Half-holiday.~--The introduction of this boon to workingmen
took place in 1851, Mr. John Frearson, of Gas-street, claiming the
honour of first giving it to his employees.--See "_Excursions_".
~Scandalous Schoolmasters.~--The Rev. Mr. Wills, of Brumingham, with
several county esquires and gentlemen, were appointed Commissioners
under an Act passed towards the close of "The Long Parliament," to
summon and examine any "publique preachers, inefficient ministers, and
scandalous schoolmasters who shall be proved guilty of drunkenness,
common haunting of taverns or alehouses, dealing with lewd women,
frequent quarrelling or fighting, frequent playing at cards or dice,
profaning the Sabbath Day, or do incourage or countenance by word or
practice any Whitsun ales, wakes, Morris-dances, Maypoles, stage plays,
&c.," and to remove the same where needed. A _little_ quarrelling or
fighting, or playing at cards, was apparently no offence.
~School Board.~--The first election took place Nov. 28, 1870, there
being the following twenty-eight candidates, the first fifteen named
being the chosen elected by the number of votes attached to their names,
viz., Canon O'Sullivan, 35,120; S.S. Lloyd, 30,799; Dr. Burges, 21,925;
Dr. Wilkinson, 19,829; John Gough, 17,481; Rev. F.S. Dale, 17,365; G.
Dawson. 17,103; G. Dixon, M.P., 16,897; W. Dale, 16,387; C. Vince,
15,943; J.S. Hopkins, 15,696; W.L. Sargant, 15,683; J. Chamberlain,
15,090; J.S. Wright, 15,007; A.J. Elkington, 14,925; G. Baker, J.A.
Cooper, Jesse Collings, Rev. H.W. Crosskey, Dr. Sebastian Evans, Rev.
H.W. Holland, ---- Kirkwood, G.B. Lloyd, Dr. Merson, W. Middlemore, W.
Radford, ---- Raffles, and Archdeacon Sandford. 29,183 voters, out of
52,340, recorded their votes. A considerable amount of party feeling was
shown in the contest, the candidates being divided (with one or two
exceptions) into two distinct classes, the Liberals who wanted the Bible
read in the schools without explanation or comment, and the Churchmen
who went in for Scriptural teaching. The latter party obtained the
majority by electing the whole of the eight they put in nomination, the
Liberals, who thought they could run the whole fifteen, find that by
grasping at too much they had lost all the power they had fondly hoped
to acquire. The first meeting of the Board was held Dec. 15, Mr. Sargant
being elected chairman and Mr. S.S. Lloyd vice-chairman. During the
three years' reign of this Board the religious question was a continual
bone of contention, the payment of school fees for the teaching of the
Bible in denominational schools being denounced in the strongest of
terms in and out of the Board-room by the "Irreconcileables," as the
Nonconforming minority were termed. The practical results of the Board's
proceedings may be summed up thus: The Education Department decided that
school accommodation was required for 15,000 children; the School Board
borrowed £40,000, received £20,500 from the rates, built five schools
(in Lingard-street, Jenkins-street, Farm-street, Garrison-lane, and
Steward-street), which would hold about 6,000 children, boys, girls, and
infants, and engaged fifteen teachers, 52 pupil teachers, and two
assistants. They also allowed the sum of 1s. per week for every child
detained in a certified industrial school, committed by the borough
magistrates, enforced in some measure the compulsory clauses of the
Education Act, entered into negotiations for the building of four other
schools, quarrelled with the Town Council, and dissolved without
thanking their chairman.--The second election of the School Board took
place Nov. 17, 1873, when eighteen persons were nominated, as follow
(the three last being the unsuccessful candidates):--G. Dixon, M.P.,
39,447 votes; J. Chamberlain, 38,901; Miss Sturge, 37,260; C. Vince,
36,505; J.S. Wright, 36,417; R.W. Dale, 34,986; G. Dawson, 34,301; Jesse
Collings, 33,877; Canon O'Sullivan, 32,087; S.S. Lloyd, 29,783; Dr.
Burges, 24,582; A.J. Elkington, 24,213; W.L. Sargant, 24,207; Rev. F.S.
Dale, 23,864; Dr. Wilkinson, 23,157; G. Heaton, 23,140; W.H. Greening,
22,881; and W. Warlow, 19,193. This election was fought with all the
rancour of a political contest, Tory and Liberal being pitted against
one another in the name of religion, the Book of Books being dragged
through the mire of party warfare in the most outrageous manner,
discreditable to both sides, and especially so to those teachers of the
Gospel, who delighted in the almost blasphemous alliterations of "Bible
and beer," "gin and Jesus," &c., so freely bandied about. The Liberal
party this time gained the ascendancy, their first "liberal" action
being to take away the allowance granted to the Industrial Schools, and
reversing as much as possible the policy of their predecessors. It would
be waste of space to comment upon the doings of the Board during the
past ten years otherwise than to summarise them. The Liberal party have
maintained their ascendancy, and they have provided the town with a set
of schools that cannot be equalled by any town in the kingdom, either
for number, magnificence of architecture, educational appliance,
high-class teachers, or (which is the most important) means for the
advancement of the scholars, to whom every inducement is held out for
self-improvement, except in the matter of religion, which, as nearly as
possible, is altogether banished from the curriculum. At the end of
1833, the thirty completed schools provided accommodation for 31,861
children, 10,101 boys, 9,053 girls, and 12,707 infants, but the number
of names on the books reached nearly 40,000. Other schools are being
built, and still more are intended; and, as the town increases, so must
this necessary expenditure, though, at first sight, the tax on the
ratepayers is somewhat appalling. In 1878 the "precept" was for £46,500;
in 1879, £44,000; in 1880, £39,000; in 1881, £42,000; in 1882, £48,000;
in 1883, £54,000; in 1884, £55,000. The receipts and expenditure for the
half-year ended 25th March, 1884, gives the following items:--Balance in
hand 29th September, 1883 £10,522 1s. 7-1/2d.; rates (instalment of
precept), £27,250; maintenance--grants from Committee of Council on
Education, £9,866 18s. 4d.; school fees, £4,806 3s. 8d.; books, &c.,
sold, £223 18s. 6d.; rent of Board schools, £655 9s.; needlework sold,
£215 12s. 2d.; grant from Science and Art Department, £306 Os. 3d.;
total, £16,074 1s. 11d.; scholarships, £114 13s.; sundries, £44 Os. 3d.;
total income, £54,004 16s. 9-1/2d. The following was the expenditure:
Repayment of loans, &c., £11,016 13s, 6d.; maintenance, £30,040 16s. 1d.
(including £23,300, salaries of teachers); scholarships, £126 13s. 3d.;
compulsion and management, £3,857 3s. 4d.; sundries, £28 4s.; amount
transferred from capital account, £30 1s. 10d.; balance in hand, £8,905
4s. 9-1/2d.; total, £54,004 16s. 9-1/2d.
A Central Seventh Standard Technical School has been originated through
the offer of Sir. George Dixon to give the use of premises in Bridge
Street, rent free for five years, he making all structural alterations
necessary to fit the same for the special teaching of boys from the
Board Schools, who have passed the sixth standard, and whose parents are
willing to keep their sons from the workshops a little longer than
usual. The course of the two years' further instruction proposed,
includes (besides the ordinary code subjects, the three R's) mathematic,
theoretical, and practical mechanics, freehand, geometry, and model
drawing, machine construction and drawing, chemistry and electricity,
and the use of the ordinary workshop tools, workshops being fitted with
benches, lathes, &c., for the lads' use. The fee is 3d. per week, and if
the experiment succeeds, the School Board at the end of the five years
will, no doubt, take it up on a more extended scale.
_Aston School Board_.--The first election took place July 29, 1875, and,
as in Birmingham, it was fought on the usual political basis, the
Liberals gaining the day. The Board has nine Schools, with an average
attendance of 11,500 children, out of nearly 15,000 on the registers;
187 teachers, and a debt of £110,000
_King's Norton Board_.--The first election took place March 19, 1876.
Eight Schools have been built since that date.