The Steam Clock

[Heartland]

As already noted in the Queens Theatre thread, the Steam Clock in Morville Street. John Inshaw, engineer had taken over the property that became the Steam Clock and which became a Tavern. The clock was said to have been installed in 1839, when Inshaw was very active in experiments with different uses of steam for traction. The exact method of construction seems not to have been recorded. When later in use as the Steam Clock Concert Hall, performers there included Vesta Tilley, Dan Leno and Nellie Wallace. Admission into the hall was 3d and that included a pint of beer. The Steam Clock Concert/ Music Hall was demolished in 1903.

 

[Pedrocut]

John Inshaw (1807-1893)

As a Brummie he deserves a mention in the Notable Brummie Thread.

Wiki says he operated the Steam Clock Tavern between 1859 to 1886, and this info seems to have been taken from the article on the Inshaw Family appearing on the Astonbrook through Astonmanor site.

However John Inshaw is mentioned on the birth of a daughter, in January 1843, as John Inshaw, Civil Engineer of the Steam Clock Tavern. He is also applying for licence renewal in 1849. In White's Directory of 1851 he has an entry as John Inshaw, Engineer, machinist, steam boat proprietor and retail brewer, at 23 Morville Street. ( Added later…In 1883 Kelly’s 23 Morville Street is listed as the Steam Clock)

Aston Brook Through Aston Manor - Preserving the History of Aston - inshawgen

web.archive.org

John Inshaw - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Pedrocut]

Although John Inshaw is mentioned at the Steam Clock in January 1843 there is also this mention for October 1843, Aris’s Birmingham Gazette.

 

[mikejee]

The old Ladywood site stated of the mechanismof the clock:
A small boiler made steam; the steam condensed into droplets of water that fell on a plate at regular intervals, and the plate then drove the mechanism of the clock..
A fairly recent version of the steam clock in Vancouver (1977) is described (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_clock) as working in this way:
The steam used is low pressure downtown-wide steam heating network (from a plant adjacent to the Georgia Viaduct) that powers a miniature steam engine in its base, in turn driving a chain lift. The chain lift moves steel balls upward, where they are unloaded and roll to a descending chain. The weight of the balls on the descending chain drives a conventional pendulum clock escapement, geared to the hands on the four faces. The steam also powers the clock's sound production, with whistles being used instead of bells to produce the Westminster "chime" and to signal the time.

 

[Pedrocut]

Interesting and puzzling from Birmingham Libraries, and by Chris Upton...

"A businessman called John Inshaw took possession of the place in 1859…..But most famous of all Inshaw’s models was his steam clock, a completely ridiculous idea and therefore all the more worth seeing…And so the “Steam Clock Tavern” was born."

Exhibition Details - Birmingham Images

Images, documents and views from the past for the area where you live, work or visit.

www.search.birminghamimages.org.uk

 

[Pedrocut]

April 1915, Birmingham Gazette cast doubts that the Old Steam Clock was demolished in 1903…

 

[Heartland]

It would seem that there are dates to check regarding the building and its conversions

 

[Heartland]

It remains possible that the older building was demolished

In the 1900 Birmingham Trade Directory (Warwickshire) at 23 Morville Street was both the Ladywood Palace of varieties, and the Ladywood Hotel

In 1905, at 23 Morville Street, the Ladywood Hotel is listed,

In 1915 near 23 Morville Street was the Ladywood Picture Palace- and raises the possibility of a new building.

 

[Pedrocut]

At some time before 1897 the Steam Clock became the Ladywood Palace, as in that year it was advertised Leasehold….."has recently been entirely rebuilt at great cost and now forms an imposing corner property."

The OS Maps for 1890 and 1913 show the same corner shape.

Birmingham Daily Post, December 1897.

 

[Pedrocut]

WR Inshaw was the Manager of the Steam Clock Music Hall.

In December 1885 his application was refused for the New Star Theatre of Varieties at Snow Hill. However it was up and running by February 1886.

 

[Heartland]

The Steam Clock Tavern had a character of its own:

 

[mikejee]

Here is a slightly clearer and more complete version of that illustration

 

[Oldun]

Plan attached.

 

[Nantgwineu]

I have this photo of The Steam Clock dated January 1954 and the 'Ansells' signage looks right for the year. It was published by Brewin Books under the title of Birmingham In The 1950s Volume one and appears on page 49 under the 1954 section