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Newspapers : From Birmingham Post 150 years ago

had giggle about the ham story mike..maybe the lady was given it by mistake by the porter at the station who thought it was part of her luggage.. and also about the folk bumping into each other owing to the gas lights in hunters lane not working nice to see a sense of humour back then....just as an aside hunters lane later became hunters road..

lyn
 
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I would very much like to be "accidentaly" given a ham, preferably a smoked one, but one of those Italian air dried one would do instead. :fat:
 
Hi Lyn. Speaking of things "hammy" made me think of cabbage and bacon. Last week my German Ex-Daughter in Law was staying with me, Marion and me were always very close to Ella, and when the marriage broke up we stayed in touch with her, well, I suggested cabbage and bacon for tea and Ella said she would do the cabbage.

She got a savoy cabbage and shredded it, fried some onion in a saucepan then fried the cabbage for a while, then added vegetable stock and simmered for a bit longer, then added a made up bread sauce and simmered a bit more, then just before it was served she added cream. OMG! it was gorgeous. Haben Sie Vielen Dank Ella!
 
4.11.1862
Not too different to parts of some large cities today
He has his trusted revolver, and good luck to him. today he would probably be arrested for submitting this letter
No good then going to a lawyer a claiming damages
They probably are more interested in cathing "perpetrator" than seeing child is OK

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As you say mike nearly the same as to-day with the exception that then the law permitted you to defend your person, family and
property #2. Rather different to the pathetic laws we have in place.
paul
 
£5 in the 1860's must be about £200 in todays money. Quite an incentive for someone to come forward.
 
5.11.1862

Circus going round the area
Rather harsh treatment even for the time - I get the impression the paper thought the same
Not the sort of thing you see advertised lost with reward for finder

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The Bedford divisional 'Petty' Sessions.

Couldn't get much more 'Petty' than to charge a young lad with pinching three walnuts could you?
William Odell the game keeper sounds like an early 'Jobsworth'
Nick
 
Agree Nick. Today the boy would have been within his rights to take the nuts lying on the ground outside the owner's property. Viv.
 
What we tend to forget is that under British criminal law at this date, we had 20 statuate crimes which bought the death penalty, out of these there were only 4, which were for offences against the person, all the rest were related to property. I understand we were still hanging children as young as 9/10 for such "crimes" as stealing apples.
paul
 
Agree Nick. Today the boy would have been within his rights to take the nuts lying on the ground outside the owner's property. Viv.

Thought you would like to see Which? Legal Advice. QCan I pick the fruit from
the branches of an apple
tree overhanging my garden?
A
Legally, all the fruit on the tree belongs
to the tree’s owner. However, it would
be a reasonable compromise for the owner
of the tree to let you pick the fruit in return
for allowing the branches to overhang.
If the fruit falls off, it is legally regarded
as abandoned, so you may keep it.

I think this would have been true 150 tears ago but with two Lt Colonels as magistrates what do you expect

 
I was going to leave this till the relevent day, but perhaps it goes best here. Belwo is a letter published in the Post 2 days later on 8th november.

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6.11.1862
I think lifeboat must be something different to our meaning, as I can't see many lifeboats being necessary in inland staffordshire
Considering the condition of some of the housing it is surprising that this was the first Guy Fawkes fire for 8 years
That was his story anyway !!
Matron obviously thinks thse flippity gibbits should be tending to her needs on miserly wages
It is unusual to advertise refuting a son's debts.

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7.11.1862

Prospective Mayor does not accept post because of libels
Closing libraries and swimming baths -sounds familiar
Prosecution for card playing in pub - law uncertain
Magistrates disapprove of police tactics and dismiss charges
Gross night soil nuisance condemned by mayor (on bench)

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8.11.1862

Can't imagine this happening today every year in the stock exchange, though the present members certainly do act like obnoxious greedy little boys on many occasions
Proposed sunday closing of pubs ! Peculiarly it seems to arise in Yorkshire
An example of why we don't want to go the way of the US.
Presumably these were mechanical canaries

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This would have been the London Stock Exchange which to many people's regret no longer has a trading floor now that dealers sit at desks in banks and stockbrokers dealing rooms staring at computer screens all day. I bet there are some lively scenes in the dealing rooms after a good days trading. But don't knock it, many of us remember Christmas Parties at work.

"1400" is believed to have arisen from the days when there were 1399 members of the Stock Exchange and if a non member happened to wonder in by mistake the cry would go up "1400".
 
10.11.1862

An abject apology , after some pressure on him I think
Sounds a bit like in Downton Abbey
in this case not so sweet Fanny adams

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According to https://www.measuringworth.com/ppoweruk/

In 2010, £250 0s 0d from 1862 is worth
£18,200.00 using the retail price index £149,000.00 using average earnings

therefore £5000 in 1862 would be worth

£364,000 using the retail price index
£2,980.00 using average earnings

in 2010
 
i love the one about the young lady eloping with her music teacher mike...a very brave thing to do back in those days....

lyn
 
11.11.1862

Not much of interest today, just two indignant licensed victualers and a missing alcoholic catch the eye

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12.11.1862
Understandable indignation in the city. Wonder if it is the saem chain today.
Mr Train started the first horse tram service in London in 1861. However at this time he does not yet seem to be appreciated.
Never heard of a housewarming dinner for a pub before.
The name of the boat's dead owner might have come out of Dickens

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