National Trust Back To Backs Inge Street

[Astoness]

john i do live in brum and its been on my list of things to do for a few years now..just one of those things that ive not got round to doing...i really must make more effort

lyn

 

[Radiorails]

These places sound quite interesting. I have never lived in anywhere quite like them but have stayed in similar places in the Potteries which visiting relatives there.
Up to my fifteen year I always lived a modern house (at the time) but Devon found me in large villa style premises. My next home was in a 450 year old farm house (now 500 years old). After that it has been an assortment of cottages and my last house, where I have been since 1965, is now 65 years old.

 

[horsencart]

I have too say having lived in a back to back house for the first 8 years of my life, things like sharing a toilet block with other family's not my scene thank you

If any members live outside Birmingham and want a great place to stay during visits I would heartily recommend staying at one of the two National Trust Back Properties located at 52 & 54 Inge St just off Hurst St. I now live in Ireland and have stayed in No 52 which is set up in Victorian style and will be back at No 54 (1930's style) on a visit next year. Close to everything in city centre and great value! Please see link below.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bi...es/places-to-stay-at-birmingham-back-to-backs

 

[cookie273uk]

I too spent 4 years in a back to back in late 50's after leaving the RAF, cold, damp, no kitchen, no bathroom, no hot water outside shared toilets, I certainly do not wish to repeat that experience. Eric

 

[mikejee]

Eric
I think the ones that have been modified by the national trust will have had more modern facilities added. they are not the same as the ones visited in the tour

 

[JohnJames]

I have too say having lived in a back to back house for the first 8 years of my life, things like sharing a toilet block with other family's not my scene thank you

They are fully modernised with a four star hotel style bathroom/toilet and a fully fitted kitchen, with everything you need to self cater if you don't fancy eating out. Definitely not roughing it when you stay here!

 

[Morturn]

Just go to show that with a bit of carful planning, there were lots of oplder houses in the that could have been improved

 

[cookie273uk]

Just goes to goes to show what a farce it is, nothing like the original with leaking attic and rotting woodwork. Also you could not have put a bathroom or kitchen in the originals, simply no room, just a ground floor room, a bedroom and a leaky attic and stairs, we were slightly lucky we did have a small garden. Sorry to rant but they were terrible places to live in. At least they were low rent (12/6) so we could raise a deposit for a 'real' house that much quicker. We bought a 3 bedroomed semi with garage in Erdington, it seemed like paradise after our back to back in Vicarage Road Aston. Eric

 

[mikejee]

I see, having just viewed it, that the latest episode of Tony Robinson's "History of Britain", concentrating on victorian times, illustrated the living conditions of workers in the Briant & May match factory in London using the the Inge St back to backs, though not mentioning they were 100 miles away from there

 

[A Sparks]

I expect it's because there isn't really anywhere in Bow where there are authentic houses from that era now!

Edit: the factory is still there and some of the cottages but it's now all fancy apartments https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bow_Quarter

 

[mikejee]

I'm sure that is correct. Similarly , in another section, they used a lot of shots from Beamish to illustrate shops and streets. It is just that, in factual programs, I think it would be useful to mention where a place is, as otherwise it could be confusing to viewers

 

[Astoness]

must visit the back to backs again this year while i can still just about get up the steep narrow stairs

lyn

 

[abigailcasson]

Is anyone able to help me figure out the street numbering on Inge Street and Hurst Street? It's quite confusing. I know that the houses were renumbered between 1883 and 1900, but what did the before and after numbering look like? 28 Hurst Street became 63 Hurst Street is as much as I know. Does anyone have access to maps that demonstrate both numbering systems? I'm looking for the numbering system between 1841-1881, and then how it changed by 1901.

 

[mikejee]

Abigail
There are no maps that show earlier numbering, but the reason that , in this case, the houses were renumbered in hurst St was that hurst St and Lower Hurst st were combined into Hurst St in around 1898 (between the 1897 and 1899 Kellys directories) If there are any particular numbers you are interested in, I can probably work out the equivalent before and after from directories

 

[john knight]

must visit the back to backs again this year while i can still just about get up the steep narrow stairs

lyn

Never been.

 

[Astoness]

john i love the back to backs...its just pity that compered to the black country museum this is all birmingham has to offer....moan over

lyn

 

[abigailcasson]

Abigail
There are no maps that show earlier numbering, but the reason that , in this case, the houses were renumbered in hurst St was that hurst St and Lower Hurst st were combined into Hurst St in around 1898 (between the 1897 and 1899 Kellys directories) If there are any particular numbers you are interested in, I can probably work out the equivalent before and after from directories

Hi Mike,

Thank you! I have a couple of requests that would be great to know. I have attached what I have worked out so far, based off the national trust map, with black pen being the new numbers and pencil being the old, with past residents being circled in a blue box.


1) Where is 53 Inge Street? If it is next door to 50 Inge Street, then what happened to number 52?
2) Mathew Oldfield lived at 5 Court 13 Inge Street, would you be able to point out where that is to me?

Thanks again.

 

[mikejee]

Abigail
Tthe whole, matter is somewhat confusing, more so than you have probably realised, I do not know if your numbering of Inge st came from the c1950 OS version on the old maps site. But I show it here. As you can see, the numbering is the same.


However, directories over 100 years show no 54 as being the Fox Inn, on the other side of Hurst St. Below are examples from 1872,1950 and 1973 (1973 being the last Kellys published for Birmingham



The OS maps are very reliable for actual position and shape of buildings and areas, but I have found on a previous occasion an error in numbering. Kellys also have errors, but I think consistency over three samples in 100 years gives them the edge.
I think good confirmation is from the electoral rolls #9in this case from 1920, where court 15 is between nos 52 and 53

 

[mikejee]

Therefore I have added to your plan in red what ?I believe to be the correct numbers for Inge St. Below also is a map c1889 where I show court 13 in green.
Ignore the other court in red. I am having trouble with the old maps site (I suspect with the lockdown they are having a very large demand which is causing it) and have used a previoues map I had for another purpose.

 

[abigailcasson]

Therefore I have added to your plan in red what ?I believe to be the correct numbers for Inge St. Below also is a map c1889 where I show court 13 in green.
Ignore the other court in red. I am having trouble with the old maps site (I suspect with the lockdown they are having a very large demand which is causing it) and have used a previoues map I had for another purpose.

View attachment 143720View attachment 143721

Thank you, Mike - this has been incredibly helpful for my research!