Digbeth Mineral Water Works and Well

[Seanyb1986]

Hi im sean, im a digger driver, i am working on what is now well lane (beorma quarter) , im digging up what i believe is the site of the old spring and mineral water works, we're already finding interesting finds, (there are archaeologist working with me) i'd love to find old pictures of the buildings and info on the site, im birmingham born and bred and i love my history so its a dream job for me,

i believe i have found a cobbled pathway from court 17 but correct me if im wrong, and i believe the spring was under the big concrete basement we have found

Im digging up more every day so i'll try to find a way of documenting

 

[Pedrocut]

Here is the OS Map published 1890 for a start.

 

[Seanyb1986]

These are various map views of the area that i have found, but i have no information or pictures of buildings

 

[Pedrocut]

Google earth view.
(Replaced with 3D view)

 

[Seanyb1986]

A piece of bull horn found today,

 

[Seanyb1986]

Google earth view.

View attachment 175342

Yes, i will be excavating all that is on the left side of well lane

 

[Seanyb1986]

In this view, i'd love to know more about the 3 warehouses situated where i will be digging, i have already uncovered a large basement or lower level, towards the allison street and well lane corner, and i believe the passageway between buildings

 

[Pedrocut]

Well Lane, South side Job Wragg, Mineral waterers Manufacturer in 1890 Kelly's.

Corner Allison Street/ Well Lane was Corder and Turley Ltd. Umbrella rib makers on the above map.

 

[mikejee]

You might find some interest in posts at https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/for...ruit-vegetable-wholesalers.54535/#post-766858

 

[Seanyb1986]

South side Job Wragg, Mineral waterers Manufacturer in 1890 goffes mineral water works?

South side Job Wragg, Mineral waterers Manufacturer in 1890 Kelly"s

I believe goffes mineral water works were here also

 

[Seanyb1986]

I will be excavating down to at least 3 meters across the whole site, so i imagine we will find many things deeper down, after i remove the concrete and remains of the factories/courtyards, i hope we will find the spring but it could be long gone

 

[mikejee]

There is a thread on Goffes if you have not seen it at https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/goffe-sons-mineral-water.30694/
A slightly better representation of the picture of the spring from the advert there is below

 

[Pedrocut]

Grace Guide indicate Goffe and Sons, Mineral Waters was at Duke Street. They site an advert in 1890 Kelly's.

Goffe is also mentioned several times as Digbeth Spring which would tie up with the above picture.

 

[Seanyb1986]

I may be wrong but the vibe im getting is that goffes offices were at duke street but they used water from the spring/well in well lane to make their products

 

[Seanyb1986]

The "famous" digbeth spring, who'd have thought it

 

[Pedrocut]

Birmingham Daily Post, 1917

 

[Seanyb1986]

Is there a place i could find a better copy of this map, so that i could make out the small writing, and also see well lane and park street

 

[Pedrocut]

Sean don't fall down that hole !

 

[Pedrocut]

Is there a place i could find a better copy of this map, so that i could make out the small writing, and also see well lane and park street

The second map looks to come from MidlandPub's site. He was an active member of the Forum, perhaps you could send him a private message ?

 

[Seanyb1986]

Birmingham Daily Post,

The second map looks to come from MidlandPub's site. He was an active member of the Forum, perhaps you could send him a private message ?

I tried but my email was rejected, their website is very helpful and interesting, im not the best with the technology so maybe i emailed the wrong person

 

[Vivienne14]

A fascinating piece of historical archaeology. Thanks for posting Seanyb. Do keep us posted. Viv.

 

[Seanyb1986]

We are getting water rising slowly so i think the well or spring is still there under the concrete, i will find it if it is, my boss is praying that there are no remains of it

 

[Seanyb1986]

I will be digging up the whole area up to park street, so lots to explore, will take us months, who knows what we will find

 

[Seanyb1986]

If anybody would like an old cobblstone or 2 saving i may be able to help

 

[mikejee]

The map is a fire insurance map from the late 1890s. It may be downloaded from

Category:Goad fire insurance maps from the British Library - Wikimedia Commons

commons.wikimedia.org

Too large a file to attach, but relevant part is below

 

[Astoness]

hi sean i was down that way not so long ago due to the interest in the mineral works and site of the old well....if the old spring does show its face again it will bring a lot of interest to members of this forum...hope you can keep us updated from time to time

good luck and keep on digging...who knows what you may find...

cheers

lyn

 

[Pedrocut]

A piece of bull horn found today,

From the 2 Cattle Lairs ?

 

[Astoness]

From the 2 Cattle Lairs ?

or from the slaughter house shown on mikes map on post 75..this is getting interesting so much so i think we may move all the posts from post 51 and give them their own thread with the title THE DIGBETH WELL so that sean can hopefully keep us updated...we will do this tomorrow..its a bit late now

lyn

 

[Pedrocut]

I think the 2 Cattle lairs would be part of the slaughter house ?

 

[Astoness]

I think the 2 Cattle lairs would be part of the slaughter house ?

could be pedro just noticed the cattle lairs are on the other side of the road but the slaughter house looks only a few feet from the well..looks like we have another history beneath our feet story unfolding

lyn