NoddK-D
The marking BM 521-77 refers to the arrow on the edge of the property, and was a benchmark, which marked a surveying point used in the surveying of the map. Checking with a later map which has houses numbered, it was indeed no 180. The newspaper archives confirm that it was a doctors surgery in later years, Dr Stephen Southall, dying in 1942 afteer being there for 40myears. A later Dr. Miraj ud Din was fined for illegally using petrol and driving without a licence (tut-tut) in 1944. In 1946 a Patrick McKerron, who is described as living there , was sent to gaol for 14 months (on top of a sentence already being served) fro stealing a safe in Lichfield. Two years later, still giving that address, he was sent down for 9 months for GBH.
The online electoral rolls show that at sometime between 1925 and 1930 the numbering of the house was altered, going from no 193 in 1925 to 180 in 1930. Dr Southall is there in the 1908 directory, which would refer to 1907, but in the 1904 directory, referring to 1903, it is a Dr. Leech, who had been there from 1896. In 1894 the house was occupied by John Hotchkiss from 1883. Before that it was occupied by Abraham Knowles , a timber merchant, from at least 1877. Before that the road was named as part of Monument Lane is listed as 35 Monument Lane., with Abraham listed there in the 1872, 1873 and 1876 directories. (in these early directories it is not certain as to the exact date of the survey and it might be the year before, or possibly a year earlier). But in the 1855, 1862, 1867 and 1868 directories it is occupied by Joseph Bent ( a manufacturer of military and naval ornaments with premises at 87 Newhall St). #Before thta it is not clea rif the building existed, as houses in the Lane were not numbered, and Mr Bent does not have an address listed other than his business address. Joseph died in January 1868
With regard to John Hotchkiss, in June 1890 a John Hotchkiss was approved as consul in Birmingham for the Republic of Salvador, and in Sept.1894 as Consul of Peru in Birmingham. In 1924 he appear sto be the Consul for Nicaragua and Peru (and a member of the management committee of the Liberal association)
