Black Country Memories 3, by Carl Chinn
From Stafford, the west of Ireland folk tended to set off for Birmingham and the Black Country, where earlier migrants from Mayo and Roscommon provided both a link in the chain of emigration and a base for their fellows seeking a life away from discrimination and death. The support given in this way is indicated in Green's Village, Birmingham, a collection of decrepit houses that had few drains and what was to be demolished later in the century for the cutting of John Bright Street.
At number 12 lived James Moran, a labourer aged 35, and his wife Margaret, a servant. Both were from Roscommon. However their children, all twelve-years old and under, were born in Birmingham. The couple gave lodgings to several people from their county. All bar one were labourers. They were Catherine Moran and Mary Brennan, both of whom were relatives; John and James Gannon; and Michael and Catherine Galvin, who was from Mayo and was not recorded as having an occupation.
According to the 1851 census, Greens Village had 189 people who were born in Ireland. They formed 51% of the population and if their English-born children were added to the total then the Irish community in the street rose to well over 60%. The places of birth of forty-one of these folk are recorded: twenty-six were from Roscommon - five of whom originated in Strokestown; eight came from Mayo; and three had roots in Galway....
...these people lived in a vile environment, as did the English poor. In Myrtle Row in Green's Village there was one water pump for 53 three-roomed back to back houses. In 1851 correspondent of the Morning Chronicle noted that the pump that drew water from the well was at the extremity of the Row, there had been a second pump, but it had rotted away... The property of the 53 dwellings being divided between three owners who could not agree amongst themselves, the pump had not been repaired. Between 300 and 400 people lived in Myrtle Row and the water they pumped up was of a greenish colour, and smelling strongly of gas is if the gas pipe had burst, and emitting a steam through it. A woman told the reporter that the water was filthy stuff and there was nothing nothing to wash the house. For drinking she had to buy water I can....