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Newspapers : From Birmingham Post 150 years ago

21.8.1863
People then were expected to work without salaries on occasion, just like today.
This is the only co-op in Birmingham (though there was one in smethwick, and several in the Black country, listed in a survey of Midland co-ops.
The real Blondin nearly had a serious accident , though, unlike his female counterpart in Birmingham, he was not hurt. It must have been quite a performance if it was as described.
Unlike today, the authorities are respectful of privacy and against probing -or so they say !
Tricks of the trade for poachers.

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22.8.1863
They seem particularly keen to follow up on this death, yet, from newspaper reports, the finding of bodies of new born infants, was not unusual

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27.8.1863
There seems to be some sort of competition amongst the theatres to see who can have the most convincing ghost effect on stage, as shown in the first cuttings
The experiments of Dr Parisot are pretty horrific, whether the potentially dangerous ones with living people or the revolting ones with the dead baby. At that time it was probably accepted that he could do whatever he wanted, provided it was to a lower sort of person - now why does that remind me of Austlitz.

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31.8.1863
When I first saw this I thought bit referred to a machine that brushed horse or some other industrial hair, but Henry Steele of 81 New St (opp. Christchurch) was a hairdresser & perfumer. Don't think I'd like to sample his machine.
Challenge to Queen Victoria- bit of a cheek really.
The postmaster got a bit of a shock.

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1.9.1863
Enjoyment Taxes paid. I didn't realised that you were taxed on servants, though hair powder I have heard of before

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crikey mike i dont like the sound of those experiments on post 994...the one made on the dead baby is very gruesome but i guess in those days not many quetions were asked.....

lyn
 
3.9.1863
The formation of a club for clerks etc, to keep them from less salubrious places had been discussed for soem time, and now it looks like the idea has come to fruition

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4.9.1863
Chase after scrumpers in Acocks Green
Would not fancy trying that wine.
Difficult to believe anyone believed this moonshine then. But of course even today some people believe in homeopathy.

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5.9.1863
An original suggestion to boost a shop's profits. I suppose nowadays the equivalent would be to insist you also bought a copy of Vogue whenever you wanted to buy a newspaper.
Magistrates on a campaign against the evil music hall

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HI MIKE ; / forum members ;
I am just wondering what are the thoughts of some think that as gone on recently regarding our city of brum
it concerns the statue of the big bull in the bull ring i have just recently picked a evening mail the week end and there is an article
regarding our pride and joy of the newly stated bull; and to read the article it states the coach station busses
have asked and got our bull removed and transformed down to london for a promotion campain how long for will we get it back
I wonder it might end up down at del boys flat or peticoat lane i think its out of order for the council to do such a thing
especialy we know they are seling off our asetts we have have ;
so i thought i might mention this as its a statue and not hearing any body mentioning it or does any body care
love to hear of anybody views of sending bully to london after all it cost us money ; did it not ? ,
best wishes Astonian;
 
7.9.1863

Ratting in West Bromwich to make a profit.
The salesman must have nearly had a heart attack.
Not a good idea to faint when confronted by a bullock
I wonder at the reaction if this appeared in a paper today.

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9.9.1863
Then there were still 22 boys being sent up chimneys, or at least 22 that were known about.
New railway opens
This reminds me of when older silver coinage apparently still contained silver to a value greater than the nominal value of the coin. also copper coins were reformulated because the value of the copper in them was more than the nominal value.


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Interesting information about the George 111 pennies and their value not being as much as the later ones. I was given a couple as a child, think they are in a box still at my parents house.
 
10.9.1863
1. I commented that I had never heard of Warwickshire sauce before some weeks ago. It looks like the manufacturer is doing well, as he is moving to larger premises.
2. The landlord of this pub, which i think must be the Warwick Arms, is stated as taking ovee the Midland Counties Music Hall. Can't find much about it, except that its address was in the Bull Ring, though the place is for sale again 2 years later. In 1887 there is a place called that which was behind the Spread Eagle in Spiceal St, though whether this was the same building is not clear.
3. The proprietor is leaving "under peculiar circumstances. Looking back, in May of that year he was charged with stealing a bag of malt and sent to jury trial, though cannot find what happened
4. A big fine for haymaking on a sunday
5. I think WW1 changed people's attitude to war, which was certainly different then
6. We should not laugh to much at this, considering the ignorance of many people today about the world.
7. This convent wouldn't be dedicated to St Trinian, I suppose?

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11.9.1863
Four policeman and an inspector just for Sutton Park. Would have thought that was a bit excessive

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They were very strict even in the 60's Mike, as a resident of Sutton the park keeper was always asking to see my resident card.
 
mikejee said:
11.9.1863
Four policeman and an inspector just for Sutton Park. Would have thought that was a bit excessive
Click to expand...

I don't think these were policemen as we know them but a private security force. Back in the 1960s the uniformed men on the gate were I worked were called "The Works Police" and Birmingham Corporation used to called the park-keepers "Parks police".
 
The bloke who walked around by the Park View Road, Crown Lane entrance asking to see our resident cards, us kids called him parkie. This was in the early 60's. I can't see them using a private company in 1863 but who knows.
 
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12.9.1863
An unusual sale. I suppose it must have been a small conveyance, and that is why it was only suitable for a childs funeral.
Must have been amusing to view.
This suggestion of the guard walking down the outside of the train reminds me of scenes from old silent movies with the Keystone Kops.

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14.9.1863
The end of Duddeston Hall - If Lyn was around, she would have been campaigning.
Irishman causes laughter in court.
Interestingly this shows that, then, the system of people appropriating theirown personal seats in churches still went on.

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15.9.1863
"Straight down the crooked path & all around the square" sounds like a nursery rhyme. Am not sure how anyone affected by this notice will prove that is where they are going, seeing as only 3 days before a charge for non-resident use of the park was approved.
A vinery in Soho Hill. Bit difficult to imagine.

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There was a poem by Thomas Hood (1799- 1845), humorist and poet called 'A Plain Direction'.with a refrain "Straight down the Crooked Lane. And all around the Square" I expect it's a reference to that. Here's the full poem. I did wonder if Crooked Lane and the Square were B'ham references too, but don't think Hood had B'ham links, although he may have heard of these places of course. However most of the other references are London places, so doubtless there was a Crooked Lane in London too. Viv.

https://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/16235/

Could be wrong but on the vinery I think the Romans made wine in England. Not sure if it would be common the further north you went though. Viv.
 
very interesting snippet mike..reading it it seems that aston hall was once under threat....just been reading that duddeston hall was a medieval moated house demolished in 1871


lyn
 
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