• 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

Mills Of Birmingham

  • Thread starter Thread starter O.C.
  • Start date Start date
Houses in the Drawing left hand side built on the eastern edge of the moat belonging to the manor house (The church with tower and octagonal spire was reconstructed in 1853-5)
Bottom Photo taken in 1975 with buildings demolished for Smithfield Wholesale Fruit and Veg. Market. Rotunda erected 1964-5
 
It seems that manufacturing was well underway by now. The original purpose of the site was seconded to this. Industry was taking over perhaps and the old fiefdom culture of the location was dying out. I don't think it requires a new site does it? It's pertinent to the original intent. Great new pictures.
 
Quote from the History of Brum
1750 the ancient moat a manufacturer had a dwelling erected and used the moat to turn a thread mill, up to the moated residence of the rectors of St Martins (the two moats being connected by a narrow ditch or stream.) Close to the rectory is seen the enclosure containing the "Cold Bath" and the "Ladys Well" the latter is a spring of soft clear pure water arising from an exhaustless underground river by which the numerous pumps of fine water at the lower part of town (Digbeth) are fed
The water rises to the surface and appears in the form of a small enclosed pool of ancient, named in honour of the Virgin, Lady Well
 
If you want to know were Ladywell is Rupert here it is.....in the middle of first map
Second map .....Ladywell in the bottom left hand corner
Still their today going from Hurst St into Ladywell walk its just on the right half way down the road
Map 1902
The water from LadyWell Spring was used to help fill the moat around the Parsonage (just found out)
 
From a Robsons Birmingham & Sheffield directory 1839, I have found a "Wallis Mills" listed at 26 Ashted Row, a Samuel Grew being the general agent. Does anyone no anything about this please. Thanks in advance. Also from the same book there is a steam mill between 21 and 26 Cliveland Street, a Samuel Goodhead was a German silver polisher, Edward Williams was a fire iron polisher, Benjamin Danks was a glass cutter and polisher and a T. Bullock was a horn and bone manufacturer, any information on either two would be gratefully received :smitten:
:flower: :cat:
 
Loisland there's this Benjamin Danks on the 1851 census.



Head: DANKS, Thomas Neighbors 240736
Name Relationship Mar Age Sex Occupation Birthplace
Thomas DANKS Head M 48 M Glass Cutter Dudley-Wor
Mary DANKS Wife M 46 F --- Dudley-Wor
Mary DANKS Daur U 20 F --- Birmingham----
Benjamin (Twin) DANKS Son U 16 M Apprentice Engraver Birmingham----
Sarah (Twin) DANKS Daur U 16 F --- Birmingham----
William (Twin) DANKS Son U 14 M Errand Boy Birmingham----
Elizabeth (Twin) DANKS Daur U 14 F --- Birmingham----
Eliza DANKS Daur U 11 F Scholar Birmingham----
Joseph DANKS Son U 4 M --- Birmingham----
Address: Camden St 17 Court, Birmingham
Census Place: Birmingham Birmingham, Warwickshire
PRO Reference: HO/107/2051 Folio: 537 Page: 15 FHL Film: 0087307
 
Edward Williams 1851 census.


Head: WILLIAMS, Edward Neighbors 272632
Name Relationship Mar Age Sex Occupation Birthplace
Edward WILLIAMS Head M 25 M Fire Iron Polisher & Beer Seller Dudley-Wor
Ann WILLIAMS Wife M 22 F Housewife Birmingham-War
William WILLIAMS Bro U 17 M Brass Founder Birmingham-War
Joseph WILLIAMS Bro U 15 M Fire Iron Polisher Birmingham-War
Samuel WILLIAMS Bro U 10 M Scholar Birmingham-War
Address: Brewwey St No 2&3, Birmingham
Census Place: Birmingham Birmingham, Warwickshire
PRO Reference: HO/107/2058 Folio: 1089 Page: 1 FHL Film: 0332121
 
Hi loisand, you may have covered this mill & I am sorry if this is a repeat,but just found these two pic's of Perry Barr Mill.
ASTON
 
The Mill gets a mention here.

Perry-Bar
PERRY-BAR, an ecclesiastical district, in the parish of Handsworth, union of West Bromwich, S. division of the hundred of Offlow and of the county of Stafford, 4 miles (N. W.) from Birmingham. This district or township, which comprises 4042a. 2r. 10p., and is separated from the township of Handsworth by the river Tame, has long been partly the property of the Goughs, whose representative, John Gough, Esq., is lord of the manor. Perry Hall, the family seat, lately rebuilt, is surrounded by a moat, and situated in a park ornamented with trees of stately growth; about half a mile from the church is Oldford Mill, occupied by John Willmore, Esq., and having neat gardens. The village is near the new road to Walsall. The Liverpool railway passes through the township, in a line nearly parallel with the river Tame; and to the north of the village and railway, is a branch of the Birmingham canal, opened for public traffic on the 14th February 1844, and intended to assist in carrying off the produce of the Staffordshire collieries and iron-works. The line was originally suggested by the late Mr. Watt, and was executed under the direction of Mr. James Walker, civil engineer, with great improvements in the towing-paths, bridges, and locks, the last passing a boat in one minute. The church, dedicated to St. John, cost £6000, and was consecrated by the Bishop of Lichfield in 1833; it is in the early English style, and the living is a perpetual curacy, endowed by Mr. Gough with £200 per annum. That gentleman has expended not less than £16,000 in the erection and endowment of the church, and the erection of the parsonage-house, which is contiguous to the church, and harmonizes with it in style. There is a place of worship for Independents, with a school attached; and two schools in connexion with the church are supported by Mr. Gough.
 
Thanks Brummie Nick, didn't think to look under Perry Barr  :idiot2:, mind you I am sneaking that one in because it's not really in the Warwickshire area (well the era that I'm interested in).
I'm just sneaking a few other areas in because the area now comes under Warwickshire, like the Yardley area, Kings Heath and Perry Barr and Handsworth areas.  :smitten:
                                                  :flower: :cat:
 
Now this is intersesting, because on the 1841 census the mill is called Holford Mill, surely a corruption of Oldford.  It is not where I would have expected Holford Mill to be, ie nearer to the stretch of the Thame running along  Brookvale Road, it is situated near to 'Wellhead' which must be near to the old Crown and Cushion pub. What do we make of this guys and gals?

Here is the census entry.

Name: John Willmore
Age: 40 
Estimated birth year: abt 1801
Household: View other family members
Gender: Male 
Where born: Staffordshire, England
 
Civil parish: Handworth With Soho 
Hundred: South Offlow 
County/Island: Staffordshire 
Country: England 
 
Street address: Holford Mill

Occupation: Independant
 
Source information: HO107/980/3
Registration district: West Bromwich 
Sub-registration district: Handsworth 
ED, institution, or vessel: 9 
Folio: 43 
Page: 10 (click to see others on page)
Line number: 7 
GSU Number: 474615 




Source Citation: Class: HO107; Civil Parish: Handworth With Soho; County: Staffordshire; Enumeration District: 9; Page
 
Thanks Aston, I have downloaded it, what a dreadfull way to go, god bless that little girl :smitten:
:flower: :cat:
 
loisand this looks like the same mill in perry barr, but is called "PERRY HALL WATER POWER STATION" ? Did the mill ever generate electicity?
 
A painting of this (Oldford  mill ) is in the  MARY ALLPORT MUSEUM OF ART in Tasmania.
Mary Allport lived from 1806 till her death in 1895.
 
Hi Aston, I think that the power station was in the same vicinity as the mill, well that's how I read it on the Perry Barr link, thanks for the piccie, who is Mary Allport?? :smitten:
:flower: :cat:
 
Hi loisand, Mary Morton Allport (nee Chapman)
Born: 1806
Died: 1895
Mary Allport was Tasmainia's first professional artist and one of the most important early Australian artists.Her life and works have been well docunented both visually and in written form.
Mary born in England and came to Van Diemen's Land in 1831 with her husband. They had hoped to survive farming in th Broadmarsh district but due to difficulties her husband decided to resume his legal career.
Both her and her husband were founder members of the Tasmaniam Society, later The Royal Society of Tasmania

The posted pic of the MILL- Perry Barr painted by Mary, is in the in the ALLPORT LIBRARY AND MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, STATE LIBRARY OF TASMANIA.
Our thanks go to the state library for all information printed. 
 
Sir john Franklin, who was lost trying to navigate the North West Passage in the arctic, would have been Governor of Van Diemen's Land in 1837. maybe they met.
 
When early Victorians referred to water power stations, they must have meant watermills. The dynamo-electric principle was being discovered in the 1860s and 1870s, and power was not generated on a commercial scale until the
1880s.
Peter
 
loisand, did you ask about,SPEEDWELL MILL( or FITTER'S MILL) ? as I have some info on this mill,Will post if you still need.
ASTON
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top