Newspapers : From Birmingham Post 150 years ago

[RobertS]

This short book has just been forwarded to me, I was unaware of it, apologies if its been posted before.

"Birmingham and Birmingham Men" (reprinted from the Birmingham Daily Mail,
E. Edwards Dec 1877)

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/18821/18821-h/18821-h.htm

Regards

 

[mikejee]

23.7.1862
A (not very serious) fire at Cadburys Factory in Bridge St. Note the fire engines were sent by insurance companies and the Norwich one was from the Norwich Union Co. not sent from 100 miles away.
Joining two Regiments separately may cause problems
Still a time when boys were still sent up chimneys. Even though there were restrictions, the practice was not completely banned till 13 years later
A new way to con a drink. The reference in the PS is to the practice of ordering goods for delivery and saying they will pay later, but then disappearing
Finally, despite what you hear about the harshness of Victorian courts, they could be reasonable and act with common sense on occasion.

 

[mikejee]

24.7.1862
Religious trouble in Ireland even then.
Concerns about the salaries of bishops
Seven days in prison for neglecting work. If that applied today threequarters of MPs would be in prison permanently
Toilet glasses, what are they ?. I have visions of little windows allowing one to see into the toilet bowl.
It was the phrasing that caught my eye. boy to the butchering sounds antiquated to me , even for 1862.
PS. Have just realised that by glasses they mean mirrors, but the snippett is on now.

 

[mikejee]

25.7.1862
If it was Al Capone it would be extortion, but as it was the church it was OK
Unfortunate arrest
An early Cooks Tour (they started 20 years before)
An early RSPCA prosecution
A meeting of the Worcester Archeological Society provokes some dissension

 

[mikejee]

26.7.1862
A true con artist.
The landlord of the Lamp Tavern was a lamp manufacturer - very appropriate
I've heard of a women of ill repute, but never before one of ill-fame
The Cat Yard. what an appropriate place for a quarrelling women to live.

 

[Astoness]

fascinating snippits mike..think ive got a pic of the lamp tavern somewhere...

lyn

 

[Vivienne14]

When you read newspaper extracts like the fatal accident account, you do wonder whether he'd have survived with the assistance of modern medicine. I also wonder whether any of our ancestors will pop up in these reports. If they do, let's hope it's for some good works or achievements - and not for stabbing someone in the face! Fascinating reading Mike. Thanks for the daily effort (Sunday excepted!) to post these. Viv.

 

[mikejee]

28.7.1862/
Has anyone ever heard of "blue goods" referring to tiles etc, in this case particularly ridging tiles ? There is a classified add which is looking for soemone experienced in making them.
Of the remainder for today:
Father was very much obliged to the magistrates
I'm innocent officer. This seems to have been with regard to a bill authorizing "stop & search" for any person believed to have been responsible for poaching
I don't think the bookseller is too happy
The Market Hall had traders from a wide area?
And they say Provident rates are extortionate !

 

[Vivienne14]

Are these blue goods Mike?

Ridge Tiles : Staffordshire Blue clay ridge tiles were widely used for hips and ridges on slate roofs, as they are a good colour match. They are also used in conjunction with Staffordshire Blue clay tiles. They are fired at a high temperature from Etruria Marl clay.



Viv.

 

[mikejee]

Of course Viv. I should have realised as have some staff blue bricks holding up a bookshelf in my spare room. Thanks
mike

 

[mikejee]

29.7.1862
Extortion of stamps!
The lying in hospital nearly completed
Interesting description of buildings in sale notice. Despite not being able to find Mr Welch in the relevent directories, and despite it giving at least one of the buildings as being by no 12 (which i think is incorrect, I believe this complex is on the corner of Upper Dean St & Dean St

I take it the Parisian Game "Physic made Easy" isn't 2Doctors & nurses"

 

[mikejee]

30.7.1862
It is amazing how, at this time, every detail of happenings, in this case a theft from a lady who had travelled from Birmingham to London, is reported.
"Hair net hands" conjours up an interesting image !

 

[mikejee]

31.7.1862
Former sherriff officers assistant & assistant messenger to the Court of Bankruptcy made bankrupt - embarrasing.
Clicker wanted ??
Tramp mistress wanted -I know what they mean, but the name brings up other images

 

[Vivienne14]

Hi Mike. A Clicker could be any of these:

The servant of a salesman who stands at the door to invite customers in.
Worked in the shoe trade cutting out the lowers.
One in charge of the final stage of layout before printing.

Not sure which one it would be - maybe printing? Viv.

 

[mikejee]

Thanks Viv. The 1862 directory gives the address as thomas Mecarte, bootmaker, so the second option seems probable

 

[oldMohawk]

I'm trying to think what a roll of Derry is as mentioned in #68. I've had a 'Google' but am none the wiser.
oldmohawk

 

[Vivienne14]

Going to hazard a guess Oldmohawk. Maybe it's a type of linen. Irish linen is well known and perhaps it was linen from the Londonderry area. Just a wild guess though, as I too couldn't find any Google references either. Viv.

 

[oldMohawk]

Thanks Viv, He did steal it from a drapers shop and I never thought of Londonderry so it is possibly true. He seems to have been a rascal in the making because a 'previous whipping' had no effect on him !
oldmohawk

 

[mikejee]

I think you are probably right, though there is also (surprisingly I find) a slightly deviant possibility in addition. Ulster's Londonderry certainly
had a large linen industry (https://www.proni.gov.uk/main_introduction_-_derry_minute_books.pdf ). However , rather peculiarly some inhabitants went to the New World and founded another Londonderry, and apparently "Londonderry Linen, .. was considered to be the best in New England".( https://www.londonderryhistory.org/townhist/ ). I would think the Irish possibility was most likely

 

[oldMohawk]

These old prints are fascinating - a 'Tramp Mistress' wanted by the 'Guardians of the Poor' - in post #73

 

[mikejee]

1.8.1862
It is not advisable to pay a lady of ill repute with a forged note, as she might get a bit upset
I wonder how long it would have taken to get to London on an excursion by canal
Drink or Bump !
If he dies then his tenants get kicked out

 

[paul stacey]

Quite "Ironic" that the forger in the first story bears a name similar to the Present Chancellor of the Exchequer!!!!!
paul

 

[mikejee]

I must admit Paul that that did not register with me, but it certsinly is very appropriate. This is especially true as it was not his born name (which was Gideon Oliver) but one he gave himself at 13.

 

[mossg]

Hi Mike,i read this previous post with interest, as i feel sure there was a chimney sweep of the same name still cleaning chimneys in the mid 1950s.He worked from his home which was in New John St West.I wonder if this was shown in the 1950s Kellys?Moss

 

[Charlie]

I had a wry chuckle when I say his name was George Osborne!

 

[mikejee]

Moss
You are not only right , but, in a way, right four times. From 1955 Kellys:

Stych Chas. chimney sweep, 330 New John street west 19
Stych Geo. chimney sweeper, 33 Wash la. South Yardley 25
Stych Jn. chimney sweeper, 18 Irving st 15​

Stych Jn. chimney sweeper, 14 Pershore rd 5

John Stych & Co (who must be related if not the same John) also were brushmakers at 20 Holloway Head. Wonder what sort of brushes they made.

 

[mossg]

Thanks Mike,everyone in the area used the one in New John St west.Moss

 

[mikejee]

2.8.1862
Fined for chimney fire. I seem to remember hearing that pre WW2 , if you had a chumney fire you would be charged by the fire brigade, which sounds similar. I like the phrase
"peeler for promotion"
It's not just today that prisoners are let out for jollys and cause more trouble
Don't know what aftermath means in this case. could it be what today we call a Brown site?

 

[paul stacey]

What in heavens name is an "Aftermath"?, and why would you rent it? How the English language has changed.!!
paul

 

[brummie nick]

I’m not sure but I think it might mean, Fields after the crops had been harvested,
Nick