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George Willis Pryce - Artist

Hello Pedrocut,
If you are asking for time sheets and official contracts these I do not have.
I have details of a report prepared by Captain Charles Miller when interviewing members of the Price family in the period up to the 1950's
Captain Miller tried to locate the plate at Witton Station. which was Just around the corner from Charles Price Yard but was told it had been removed following renovations or was hidden where nobody could find it.
The chimney at the waterworks was mentioned in his reports as it was also in the writings of Charlie Price The Fisherman " The Kingfisher". The young Arthur Price Charles Price Seniors son assisted in the construction of the Chimney and it was from his mouth that most of this information came.
Regards,
Gordon Robert
 
The last few pages of Gordon's history.This completes Chapter 7. Note. This material is the property of Gordon Robert.


Thank you Gordon for sharing your history with us.
Viv.

B7F5CD23-04CA-4847-8CF1-40E630106834.jpegCC797747-2350-49DB-9800-542F313E3BE4.jpeg34C36B56-670E-4EC8-88EA-76F6A56479C3.jpegC1F8A28F-C217-4FF8-BE98-E86B7826A7BB.jpeg58614A97-3559-4A37-8F68-3A8CFD4AC57F.jpegFC6613E2-5B2B-41A4-AA05-E9A5FA62E52E.jpegE9C5693F-59E8-4B04-BB19-96ABBBAF2AF4.jpeg
 
Hello Pedrocut,
If you are asking for time sheets and official contracts these I do not have.
I have details of a report prepared by Captain Charles Miller when interviewing members of the Price family in the period up to the 1950's
Captain Miller tried to locate the plate at Witton Station. which was Just around the corner from Charles Price Yard but was told it had been removed following renovations or was hidden where nobody could find it.
The chimney at the waterworks was mentioned in his reports as it was also in the writings of Charlie Price The Fisherman " The Kingfisher". The young Arthur Price Charles Price Seniors son assisted in the construction of the Chimney and it was from his mouth that most of this information came.
Regards,
Gordon Robert

The description of the Grade II Listed Building, built in 1862, is given in the Historic England link below.

It’s a pity that there is no concrete evidence as it would be great to add the information of a craftsman who actually built the structure. For me the craftsman is just as deserving of a mention as the architect John Henry Chamberlain.

For the record in the 1851 Census Charles, and also his father, appear as Bricklayers. By 1881 there is a Chas Price at 89 Tower Street down as a Bricklayer employing 4 men, and in 1891 a Chas Price down as a Builder and Contractor.

In the Trade Directories. 1868 there is a mention of a bricklayer Chas Price at 106 Upper Tower Street. In 1883 a Chas Price, Builder at 89 Tower Street, St George’s.

 
I have received this email from Gordon

B9BCB620-6FAD-4A9E-8BED-E8F383B3A1FD.jpeg

And below is the transcribed extract from Charles Price’s book

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If the chimney referred to in the above post is the one at the Waterworks at Edgbaston shown below, then Historic England give the date of building as 1862. Other sources differ and say around 1870.

One hell of a chimney to personally build.


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Yes, I too thought the date to be suspect, but it’s how people remember past events. I wonder if it’s the same chimney as there was more than one waterworks.
 
Another great part of Birmingham history is the stealing of the FA Cup in 1895 from a shop in Newtown Row. According to an article in the Criminal Encyclopedia from 2016 the case officially remains open.

“Arthur and Charles a half-brother from his father's first marriage had the dubious honour of thieving the first FA Cup in 1895.

 
Hello Pedrocut,
My Father was born in Tower Street and my Mother was born in Milestone Lane Handsworth.
Mum and Dad left Birmingham on the 31st Dec 1929 to make their new Life in London.
On the Train to Kings Cross My Dad said to My Mum "I hope we have a bit of luck in our new life together Rene"
Mum replied " You wont need Luck Den you've got me"
I was born in London.
I have been writing the family histories for several years and The Theft of The FA Cup 1n 1895 was mentioned many times by
My Uncles. Dad kept quiet about it but told me once that The Cup was kept in a shop just down the road from where he was born in Tower Street. I remember saying to him as a joke that "It was probably one of his Family who stole it" He never replied.
A few years ago I decided to check the whole thing out and I wrote a chapter about it in My Family History Book 1.
I distributed about 30 copies all to members of The Price and Poole Families scattered round The World.
It was always intended just for our Family and written in that style. I never intended making money out of anything I wrote and all the copies were gifts from me.
I can see no reason why I should not share this chapter with your history association.
If you or any others would like to see the contents I will ask Vivienne 14 if you could repeat the process she did for me about Willis Pryce.
Regards,
Gordon Robert
 
It’s certainly not my history association, and I am just an insignificant member. I would expect that your information is very welcome on the the subject of George Willis Pryce, especially as one of the family. I was born in Park Road looking down to Villa Park, and the subject of the theft of FA Cup has many theories.

As far as the Waterworks Tower is concerned I will continue to try find a link with Charles Price the bricklayer. As said previously the craftsman who actually laid the bricks on the magnificent tower, for me, deserves a mention as much as the architect John Henry Chamberlain.
 
Gordon mentioned the report made by Captain Charles Miller in his post #41 above. Here is a section of that report kindly provided by Gordon. Please note this is the property of Gordon Robert.

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Hello Pedrocut,
As a member of a history organization it becomes your organization and you are most certainly not insignificant.
Any organization is only ever as good as its members and in my opinion you are near the top in that respect.
Anyone can see from your comments that you are a much valued member. Having people like you to converse with makes me feel proud.
Sorry for getting on my high horse but I had to say something.
Regards
Gordon Robert
 
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