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Alfred Bird F.C.S.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Wendy
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Wendy

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Alfred Bird son of astronomer Alfred Bird Bart was born in Digbeth in 1811. After his apprenticeship he registered as a chemist in 1842 and opened a shop in Bull Street. He went on to develop an egg free custard because his wife was allergic to eggs. The story goes, he accidentally served the custard to guests which was when he realised the importance of his invention. He founded the company of Alfred Bird and Sons Ltd which then became Birds Custard. He also invented Baking Powder. Alfred was also involved in the development of other industries in the city,he became involved in meterorological experiments and investigations, but will always be remembered for his custard. He died on Dec 18th 1878 aged 67.
Alfred and the Bird family are buried at Key Hill Cememtery in Hockley
Grave no 164 section H.
 
Thank you, it would be good to have an index on the site of all the famous people buried at Key Hill.
 
I will try and put one together from what I have, but input from the great folk on here would help.
 
birds

Hi this may be a bit of a long shot but im try to look into my family tree, well to cut a long story short, my nan seem to think we are related to the Bird family (im not convinced) is there anyway of finding out on this site, im not sure how we are spose to be related but i do have a few names i can throw you way if you can help
cheers
zippysmich
 
I was told that my great gran was a romany gypsy but have since found out it wasn't true which was a bit dissapointing, but I was determined to find out, so I wish you luck with your search and hope that you are related to the bird family.
 
zippysmich, The only way to find out is to work backwards from your grandparents if you know which side of the family and send for a few certificates if you don't already have some. Post some details and we will try and help.
 
I used to know a great old gentleman years ago who was also named Alfred Bird, when he was a young man he went for a job at Bird's and when he was asked for his name and he gave it they thought he was taking the mick and he nearly didn't get the job.
 
Sir Alfred Bird was knocked down by a motor car in Piccadilly, early on Tuesday 7 February 1922. He was taken to St George's Hospital but died shortly afterwards.
At the subsequent enquiry the driver of the motor car responsible, Lewis Marshall, was exonerated from all blame. Sir Alfred, who was 73, was on his way from a political reception in Grosvenor Square which he left shortly after midnight and was attempting to cross the road at Hyde Park Corner. At the enquiry it was said that Sir Alfred hesitated while in the middle of the road and unexpectedly went backwards. Captain J H Thorpe said that Sir Alfred was extraordinarily nervous in traffic. The car that struck Bird was travelling at 8-10 mph.
Sir Alfred was the son of Mr Alfred Bird FCS, the Birmingham analytical and manufacturing chemist who invented baking powder, eggless custard powder and founded the well-known firm of Alfred Bird and Sons. Sir Alfred joined the family business, subsequently assumed sole control, and was responsible for the establishment of Devonshire works Digbeth, now known as the Custard Factory. In 1905 he retired and went into politics, being MP for Wolverhampton West from 1910 until his death. He was knighted in 1921. His house in Solihull, Tudor Grange, contained significant art treasurers including works by Sir Joshua Reynolds and Lord Leighton. Len.
 
A great piece of info Lencops. Do you mind if I keep it for my file on the Bird family.
 
Wendy, there is a section of Streetsbrook Road Cemetery dedicated to the Birds. I always assumed, possibly wrongly, that those interred here were of the chemical/custard dynasty?

When at school in the 60s I was taught PE by a Sir Richard Bird (inevitably Dickie) - I assume the same Sir Richard still living in Solihull. He was a popular man.
 
Roy it could be the family as I know it was a large family. I must check who else is buried in the same plot as Alfred Bird. Before I was married in the late 60's I worked in a hairdressers in Four Oaks and often did Mrs Bird's hair I was told her correct title was Lady Bird (perhaps that's why she didn't use it). She was a widow then and lived at Horton Manor which was off Rosemary Hill Road. She was a great character. Mrs Bird owned and drove around in a Pink Rolls Royce. I assume she was from the custard dynasty as she was a very wealthy lady. She told me once how she was inundated with begging letters. Some from prisoners which worried her because they knew where she lived. On another occasion she said she had to sell a lot of her silver because the insurance company would not insure so much. Can you imagine a young hairdresser today being given this information. I was very fond of her even her eccentricity but also her kindness. She gave me a large cheque (about a weeks wages) when she knew I was getting married I never forgot this. At the time it mad me cry. Woops sorry to ramble but memories get sparked don't they!
 
RoyMcC, Could this be your PE teacher?. Len.
Children of Sir Richard Geoffrey Chapman Bird, 4th Bt. and Helen Patricia Beaumont


Citations


  1. [S37] Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 1, page 377. Hereinafter cited as Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition.
 
lencops said:
RoyMcC, Could this be your PE teacher?. Len.
Children of Sir Richard Geoffrey Chapman Bird, 4th Bt. and Helen Patricia Beaumont


Citations


  1. [S37] Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 1, page 377. Hereinafter cited as Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition.
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Yes, I imagine it is one and the same. Thanks Len.
 
RoyMcC said:
Wendy, there is a section of Streetsbrook Road Cemetery dedicated to the Birds. I always assumed, possibly wrongly, that those interred here were of the chemical/custard dynasty?

When at school in the 60s I was taught PE by a Sir Richard Bird (inevitably Dickie) - I assume the same Sir Richard still living in Solihull. He was a popular man.
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Yes I recall Dickie at St Philip’s Grammar School.
 
I have a lovely little address book - for Christmas card recipients, given to my uncle who was a rep for ICI in Birmingham. The book is courtesy of Alfred Bird & Sons
 

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Robert Holland said:
Yes I recall Dickie at St Philip’s Grammar School.
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RoyMcC said:
Wendy, there is a section of Streetsbrook Road Cemetery dedicated to the Birds. I always assumed, possibly wrongly, that those interred here were of the chemical/custard dynasty?

When at school in the 60s I was taught PE by a Sir Richard Bird (inevitably Dickie) - I assume the same Sir Richard still living in Solihull. He was a popular man.
Click to expand...
Yes, there's a Bird plot at the cemetery, the 'custard' Birds. Sadly Richard (my dad) joined their ranks in 2021. Yes the same Richard who taught PE...always good to hear others appreciated him. We knew him as a great dad, grandpa and great grandpa
 
Hello, my maternal great grandfather was Sir Alfred Bird, and grandfather Hemon Bradley, the industrialist. I'm the last in the line of this strand of the Birds, so I would like some guidance and what to do with a small amount of items that were left to my mother by her aunt Dorothy Bird that need passing on.
An album of photographs of Tudor Grange inside and out, photographs of Sir Alfred at stages of his life, a Spy cartoon, a portrait by Leslie Ward (Spy) of what I think is my grandmother, a photograph of Sir Alfred and Lady Bird with my great aunt Dorothy, and grandmother, whose name I think is Eleanor, who married Hermon Bradley. When my grandmother died my mother Leslie and her sister Sylvia were brought up at Tudor Grange. I hope this is of interest, and any suggestions would be welcome. Sheila
 
Shirley Dawn said:
Hello, my maternal great grandfather was Sir Alfred Bird, and grandfather Hemon Bradley, the industrialist. I'm the last in the line of this strand of the Birds, so I would like some guidance and what to do with a small amount of items that were left to my mother by her aunt Dorothy Bird that need passing on.
An album of photographs of Tudor Grange inside and out, photographs of Sir Alfred at stages of his life, a Spy cartoon, a portrait by Leslie Ward (Spy) of what I think is my grandmother, a photograph of Sir Alfred and Lady Bird with my great aunt Dorothy, and grandmother, whose name I think is Eleanor, who married Hermon Bradley. When my grandmother died my mother Leslie and her sister Sylvia were brought up at Tudor Grange. I hope this is of interest, and any suggestions would be welcome. Sheila
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The local public libraries archive department would be a good solution. Would be preserved and made available to interested library users and researchers.

The problem would be - Solihull or Birnmingham? Birds Custard is so associated with Birmingham but Tudor Grange and the family are important in the history of Solihull. If the material is primarily "personal" rather than "industrial" perhaps Solihull would have a better claim but might be appropriate to talk to both archivists first to find out if either already has a significant archive on the family/factory and where it would fit in & enhance existing resources.
 
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Thanks.
I went into Tudor Grange many years ago when it housed a special school (as they were called then). I can remember how beautiful I thought the bits I saw..
 
Hello, My first attempt at scanning....from left to right, Dorothy Bird, my great aunt, Lady Eleanor, my great grandmother, Sir Alfred, great grandfather, Eleanor Bird my grandmother. I will attempt the album photos but the album is a substantial beast, and they will come one by one, thumb nailing is over my head, and Mac isn't as user helpful as Microsoft.
SheilaScan.jpeg
 
Shirley Dawn said:
Hello, My first attempt at scanning....from left to right, Dorothy Bird, my great aunt, Lady Eleanor, my great grandmother, Sir Alfred, great grandfather, Eleanor Bird my grandmother. I will attempt the album photos but the album is a substantial beast, and they will come one by one, thumb nailing is over my head, and Mac isn't as user helpful as Microsoft.
SheilaView attachment 191841
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Well done BTW with the scanning!
 
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