Lower Hurst Street

[Sue Ross]

I am researching the Comley family. In the 1841 Census the family (without George Comley, the head of the household, who was in prison in Gloucestershire) were living in Lower Hurst Street. What was this street at the time? Slum, working class, or more prosperous? By '51, they had moved to Union Street, St Phillips. Would this have been a move up in the world?

 

[mikejee]

At that time Lower Hurst St was a relatively new Street. the map of 1839, which would refer to a few years before, shows (below in green) where the street would be, but there appear to be no buildings yet on it. The 1845 Post Office directory shows a mixed business community (see below), with working class courts off the street, but also with jeweller, an auctioneer and the Hebrew National School.


The generallayaout of the street, including the courts, was probably similar to that in the c1889 map below

 

[Sue Ross]

thanks Mike, that's really interesting.

 

[www.midlandspubs.co.uk]

Before uploading any pub info for Hurst Street, I have done a bit of blurb which may be of interest to you Sue.
See : https://www.midlandspubs.co.uk/birmingham/hurst-street/

 

[Sue Ross]

Thank you for that, it's interesting to have more information.

 

[AnnieB]

I am looking for a second pair of eyes to confirm my research please. In 1871 England census, my 2 x and 3 x great grandmothers, Georgina Allen and Eliza Allen, together with a lodger, Sarah Dunn, were living at '5Ct 3 Ho Lower Hurst Street. Is someone able to show this on a map for me please? TIA

 

[pjmburns]

Typical it is split between 2 sections of map. I've "stitched" two sections together (circa 1887) but will also post another map whch is a different scale (circa 1913)
Court 5 in blue

 

[AnnieB]

Typical it is split between 2 sections of map. I've "stitched" two sections together (circa 1887) but will also post another map whch is a different scale (circa 1913)
Court 5 in blue


View attachment 196862View attachment 196863

Thank you so much! I needed to be the other side of Bromsgrove Street to tie in with the 'Lower Hurst Street'. I see that the side nearest the Hippodrome is just 'Hurst Street'.

 

[pjmburns]

I think by the second map it was all just Hurst Street but in the 1880s the one part was Lower Hurst Street.

 

[AnnieB]

I think by the second map it was all just Hurst Street but in the 1880s the one part was Lower Hurst Street.

Yes. I had looked at several maps although your map confirmed the location after reading the route the enumerator took in 1871. I needed to make sure and your help has achieved this - again, thank you.

 

[Solihull Girl]

Hi all, I am new to the site and came across it when looking for information on Anne Burley nee Davis (widowed) who in 1861 lived at 60 1 Court 20, Lower Hurst St East, Birmm. She is stated to be an iron founder employing 5 men and 4 boys. The maps previously linked to this thread are extremely interesting. Was this housing the equivalent of today's tower blocks? Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[brummy-lad]

Hi Solihull Girl, welcome to the forum.
Looking at the 1861 census the listing seems to be:
Court 1, Houses 1 to 3
Then No. 5 through to 20 (Anne Burley) I think No. 20 was an individual property, not a court.
Trying to find a map but quite difficult as Lower Hurst Street East, I think was renamed and renumbered.

 

[Solihull Girl]

Hi Solihull Girl, welcome to the forum.
Looking at the 1861 census the listing seems to be:
Court 1, Houses 1 to 3
Then No. 5 through to 20 (Anne Burley) I think No. 20 was an individual property, not a court.
Trying to find a map but quite difficult as Lower Hurst Street East, I think was renamed and renumbered.

Hi Brummy Lad
Thanks for the info. It would make sense if it was a single property as they had a servant! Plus I am assuming that an iron founder who employed staff would be better off than the poorer folk crammed into court houses.

 

[brummy-lad]

3 maps showing Lower Hurst Street East, not named on the 1851 map, indicated by the red line.

I would imagine some of the properties still existed on the 1950s map but of course they had been renumbered.

 

[brummy-lad]

An aerial view (1935) of the former Lower Hurst Street East.

 

[mikejee]

The 1861 directory lists 20 Lower Hurst St East as Ann Burley & Son, ironfounders, They are not there in the 1867 directory. In the 1858 directory it is just Ann Burley, ironfounder, with no son, while in 1845, 1849 and 1855 it is Richard Burley, ironfounder. He in 1841 directory is listed as a may have changed occupations to being an ironfounder as Richard Burley (assuming it was the same one) is a beer retailer at 45 court . Cheapside

 

[mikejee]

I have gone back through the directories and am pretty sure that no 20 Lower Hurst St East was later 194 Hurst St