• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

Huttons first visit to Birmingham

  • Thread starter Thread starter Wendy
  • Start date Start date
W

Wendy

Guest
This is an extract and drawing from Robert K Dent's book Old and New Birmingham.
About ten yards from me on the corner of Phillip Street I perceived two men in aprons eye me with some attention. They approached near "You seem", says one,"by your melancholy situation, and dusty shoes, a forlorn traveller, without money and without friends." I assured him it was exactly my case. "If you choose to accept a pint it is at your service".
The kind treatment he received from the 'good samaritans' of Birmingham made it difficult for him to leave that 'seat of civillity'.

As they say the rest is History.
 
That's a nice story, Wendy. From the rather fanciful picture, they all look like kids to me. But a few years later, William Hutton was perhaps the leading critic of the newly appointed Street Commissioners. That was because they had powers to pull down his property, which obstructed the access to New Street. But they (or someone) talked to him and converted him, becoming a Street Commissioner himself. There was of course some business benefit to doing so. Perhaps some money changed hands, too.
Even so owe him a lot for his History of Birmingham, which is the best record of its time.
Peter
 
Thats interesting Peter I didn't know about his house being pulled down. I have William Hutton's book A History Of Birmingham now I must read it!
 
Wendy, I’ve been looking up references to Hutton and his house(s) at the end of New Street, fronting on to High Street in Bunce’s ‘History of the Corporation of Birmingham’ (1872) and Gill’s ‘History of Birmingham’ (1952). As the newer book was based on the earlier one, they both moreorless agree.
When the Lamp Act was proposed in 1768, he was a leading opponent, because to quote Hutton himself, “I occupied two houses which formed the gateway from High Street into New Street, which were to be cleared”.
He must have seen the writing was on the wall, so he bought a house opposite for £835, on the other side of High Street, and by 1772 he supported an extension of the Act, apparently because demolition of the old houses would increase the value of his new property!
By 1773, Hutton was so much in favour of the Street Commissioners that he became one himself, but he frequently fell foul of the more influential of his colleagues because they sometimes used their public powers for their own selfish ends.
Peter
 
Peter what a facinating account Hutton was a clever man in more ways than one! Thank you for that information. Wendy.
 
Anyone know where I could buy Bunce’s ‘History of the Corporation of Birmingham’ (1872) and roughly how much it would cost?


Harborne
 
Keep an eye on E-bay, i purchased a book a few months ago

Modern Birmingham and its Institutions Vol II by J.A.Langford, in good nick and was only a tenner, 1841 to 1871.

bren
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top