J.knibb, Soho Pool, Handsworth, (hockley)

[Ivor]

I hope i am posting this request in the correct manner.
I have recently received an old Token, (pictures attached) and i am wondering if anyone can throw any light to who was J. Knibb. I understand, and this may be incorrect that the token could be used for boat hire on Soho Lake which had been created to supply water to Mathew Boulton's manufactory which was near by. Thanks.

 

[Astoness]

no info yet on J KNIBB but here are two maps showing soho pool and boultons manufactory so could the soho lake you mention actually be soho pool..map 1 also shows soho park so it could fit in with the token..

lyn

 

[Ivor]

Thanks for the maps Lyn, very good quality images, i am sure that you are correct in saying it is Soho Pool rather than lake as i have discovered a lot of newspaper adverts by J. Knibb who calls it "Soho Pool". He seems to be quite the entrepreneur when it comes to water as you will see from the adverts i will sort and place on this thread.

 

[Astoness]

Thanks for the maps Lyn, very good quality images, i am sure that you are correct in saying it is Soho Pool rather than lake as i have discovered a lot of newspaper adverts by J. Knibb who calls it "Soho Pool". He seems to be quite the entrepreneur when it comes to water as you will see from the adverts i will sort and place on this thread.

thats great ivor..look forward to seeing the snippets..

 

[pjmburns]

Another one of the tokens here https://tokencatalog.com/token_reco...53140&attribution_id=443126&td_create_uid=944

Also an article here https://archive.thetablet.co.uk/art...dred-and-fifty-lives-in-jeopardy---011-sunday
Janice

 

[Ivor]

Some adverts i have found.

 

[Astoness]

great snippets ivor and janice...ivor what date was the one that says the water will be drawn off because that will date your token..

lyn

 

[Vivienne14]

A few images. Viv.

 

[mikejee]

The earliest directory reference I can find to J Knibb is in the 1862 Corporation directory, where he is described as the proprietor of Soho Pool. In the 1867 Post Office directory he is described as John Knibb , pleasure boat builder and beer & wine retailer, Soho Pool. However in the similar 1868 he has disappeared from the Birmingham directory.

Phillipa Ballard's book on the soho Gardens states that the Pool was opened to the public in 1852 and that by the 1860s the Great Pool had been leased to John Knibb, who operated it as an enterprise for the public, with, amongst other things, boating, fishing, ice skating and punt hire. However the Birmingham Gazette in 1857 records an experiment (belwo) on the pool, in which john is listed as the proprietor, so he must have been there from at least 1857. An advert from the Corporation 1868 directory is shown below. however the pool was drained so that the land could be used for building in 1868, and Knibb was paid £30 compensation.

John is on the 1871 census as John Knibb, boatbuilder (53), living in a court in Newhall Hill . I cannot find him on the 1861 census. In 1870 he is advertised as the proprietor of skating at Windley Pool, Sutton Coldfield but there do not seem to be any adverts for him at Sutton after that.

 

[Astoness]

what wonderful images and information mike and viv many thanks..so ivor your token pre dates 1868 and to think it was changing hands in the days when the great matthew boulton was in the area...

lyn

 

[Ivor]

Wow Wow and WOW, can i thank everyone Mike, Janice, Lyn and Viv for your fantastic input to this tread. Wonderful .

 

[mikejee]

A letter to the Birmingham gazette on 13.6.1867.