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Newspapers : From Birmingham Post 150 years ago

Very interesting Pollypops! Imagine being one of the first people in your road to get one, all the neighbours popping in to marvel at it's engineering. Although I guess your average terraced house wouldn't have had them. But for the wealthier it must have been a very fashionable thing to have. Viv.
 
Wonderful snippets Mike they evoke so many questions. Thank you for the info on the water chandeliers Polly. The info and photo's explain a lot!
 
As a new member, I was Browsing and came across this Posting...Not sure how I can Post anything yet,myself, but I would like to say that, what you have Posted is very interesting..
Brian.
 
The chandelier over the main stairs in the Council House was formerly gas but now electricity so that probably had water in it. The joke is How many Council workmen does it take to change a light bulb. The answer I am told is 4. 3 to wind it down and one to change the bulb
 
26.10.1863
The argyle rooms reopen. I wonder if the new chandeliers are water slide ones.
It looks like master bakers of yesterday do not like to reduce prices any more than the energy companies today.

argyle_rooms.jpg


master_bakers_want_cartellA_.jpg
 
Such a relief to learn that "Proper" persons would be taking care of the Argyle dressing rooms. Almost suggests they'd had undesirables doing the job in the past!

On the price of bread, I expect the pressures to keep the price under control also came from the link between the price of bread and wages.
Viv.
 
The phrase about "proper persons" was quite common in adverts for events . As you say, it suggests that in the past things might have often gone missing.
 
The thing that comes through time and time again is that disrespect for authority, and their officers is nothing new, what is different today is the way the judiciary treated them, it seems today, little short of murder will see you put away, and they never use the remand system at all, leaving the public feeling insecure.paul
 
29.10.1863
Opening of the Sydenham Hotel
In court for supposedly stealing a newspaper. Today you virtually have them stuffing the awful "Metro" down your throat whether you want it or not.

opening_of_Sydenham_hotel.jpg


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HI MIKE ;
Thats an incrediable read about mr cook getting nabbed and charged for taking a news paper from another persons house ;
I had to laugh at it to myself when it said he was charged for stealing a news paper another persons house
there used to be a law where one could be charged with stealing by finding i do not know whether or not it is still in excisting
i was very much intrest in the sydemam pub of golden hillock and for the number of years its been standing before being demolished ;
best wishes Astonian;;
 
The Sydenham became an Irish pub over the years, and when I lived in Sparkbrook, I'd used to go there to have a drink with the Navvies who worked for me. One night we found a horse in one of the sheds in the yard. No. It wasn't Shergar. lol

Barrie
 
30.10.1863
A tragic death seen at an inquest. This is a shortened version of the report, omitting the coroners summing up and some evidence. A later interrogation of the slippery relieving officer resulted in a statement saying that he could have done more, but had done no wrong ! It is divided into three parts for easy reading

An illicit romance with her foreman resulted in death by asphyxiation.

Man_starves_in_bradford_st_1abbrev.jpg


Man_starves_in_bradford_st_2abbrev_.jpg


Man_starves_in_bradford_st_3_abbrev.jpg


illicit_tragedy.jpg
 
Oh those poor men Mike. What a terrible time to be destitute. The relieving officer "could have done more" - sounds like the recent Social Services cases to me!
 
That thought did cross my mind Charlie, and was one reason I put it on, though I had to cut it as it would have taken up far too much space on the forum otherwise. In fact on 3rd Nov, four days later, another case of a women starving to death was reported in the paper, this time in Brearley st west. In this case it was a 34 year old women, again her aquaintances claimed she starved to death, though she had other illnesses, there was some argument as to the situation with regard to her getting money from the relieving officer (a different one) but the coroner declared that there was no evidence that she had she had starved to death.
 
Like to-day, then there were laws to help and improve, its not the law at fault, its the interpretation, and implementation, of those laws, if you employ a "Muppet" to carry them out these laws you will NEVER get it right.paul
 
I read it and it reminded me of recent cases too - the one's where the 'lessons have been learnt' statement always get used - as if somehow that excuses what has happened.
I notice on the second report the names of the people involved are not given - I don't think I have noticed that before in old reports.
 
31.10.1863
I think I can sympathise with the Wolverhampton Guardians.
The Bilston shopkeeper was obviously thinking of the churchgoers health and wellbeing.

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Bilston_fine_for_sunday_trading.jpg
 
I wonder if she ever got back to Ireland - seems a little fussy to me especially considering the other articles about people people starving to death!
I think you're right about the greengrocer - of course she was only thinking about the churchgoers and not her profits.
 
2.11.1863
Sale of items no longer required by new landlord . Pretty impressive, one wonders what Mr Izon, the new landlord, wanted to keep.

ScreenHunter_1361_Oct__29_00_35.jpg
 
3.11.1863
Death of someone born and bred in Brum, who made his fortune in China, returned home to thge town of his birth a millionaire, but died within six months.

death_of_millionaire.jpg
 
I shouldn't think there was much left in the Sea Horse Tavern after that sale. Not sure what type of piano a piano-forte is.

What an amazing life Mr William Godfrey had. His 'roaming disposition' certainly led to many varied jobs and money making ventures. It makes you wonder what he might have built or achieved in Birmingham if he had not died so young and so suddenly. I notice it doesn't say what he died of.
 
I was Intrigued as well wondering what Mr Godfrey died of how very sad he didn't live long enough to enjoy his money.
 
Dec Qtr 1863 Deaths. Birmingham. Godfrey. William. 6d 9

I am sorely tempted to send for this certificate.

Barrie
 
I was also tempted. A few dyas later (on 13th & 16th Nov.) the following appeared, presumably to help distribute his wealth. I guess he may have returned as he knew he was about to die. Also, call me a cynic, but I wonder about the source of his wealth in such a short time - Shanghai was supposed to be full of corruption in the 19th century

B_Post_13th___16th_nov__1863_godfrey.jpg
 
mikejee said:
I was also tempted. A few dyas later (on 13th & 16th Nov.) the following appeared, presumably to help distribute his wealth. I guess he may have returned as he knew he was about to die. Also, call me a cynic, but I wonder about the source of his wealth in such a short time - Shanghai was supposed to be full of corruption in the 19th century

B_Post_13th___16th_nov__1863_godfrey.jpg
Click to expand...

Re the corruption Mike. My thoughts exactly. Shanghai and Hong Kong Police both had a bad name in the past, they lived like lords on quite ordiinary salaries.
 
They used to say that the Hong Kong Police was the best force that money could buy. If we assume that he made his money after leaving the army as he had to borrow to purchase his discharge, he did all that in the space of about 5 years. Makes you wonder.

Pollypops a pianoforte is the correct name for a modern piano and in Italian means Soft-loud. A previous development of the instrument was a fortepiano.
 
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