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Newspapers : From Birmingham Post 150 years ago

28.5.1864
Smallpox vaccination. They ought to have imposed fines like this (with large increases for inflation) on those who wouldn't have their children vaccinated a few years ago because of stupid stories in the Daily Mail.
Spirit frauds were very prevalent then, but this one met his match.

smallpox_vaccination.jpg


spirit_rapping_exposed.jpg
 
30.5.1864
Fire at Yates , Pritchett St.
Mauled by crinoline.
Showing that bright colours were not always part of life
Unfortunate meeting , for the man.
The first signs that petroleum is not just for lamps.

fire_at_Yates_pritchett_st.jpg


mauled_by_a_crinoline.jpg


things_not_always_so_colourful.jpg


unfortunate_meeting.jpg


petroleum_fuel_in_steam_engines.jpg
 
31.5.1864
Big fire in High St.
New stationmaster's house at New St Station. Wonder where it was.
Have a trip to the cemetery, admission free !
Perhaps someone took pity on his congregation and nicked it.

big_fire_in_high_st.jpg


stationmasters_house_new_st.jpg


admission_to_cemetery_free.jpg


took_pity_on_congregation.jpg
 
had to smile at the one about the trips to witton cem mike...i wonder what the hotel was called that was opposite...

lyn
 
2.6.1864
Some memories of old Birmingham from 1864.
Harpers Hill & Singers Hill
007 was living at the Edge Tool Makers Tavern all along.

memories_of_old_birmingham.jpg




harpers_hill___singers_hill.jpg


mr_james_bond.jpg
 
On the 1851 census James Bond is a lodger at 77 Digbeth.

Head: SHERMAN, Charles Neighbors 251399
Name Relationship Mar Age Sex Occupation Birthplace
Charles SHERMAN Lodg(Head) M 48 M Traveller London-London
Emma ((Edward)) SHERMAN LdgW M 40 F Traveller London-London
Elijah HODSON Lodg Serv M 35 M Traveller Marbury----
James BOND Lodg U 41 M Traveller Marbury----
Danniel POOLLEY Lodg U 35 M Traveller London-London
James ILLINGWORTH Lodg M 40 M Traveller Osset-YKS
Address: 77 Digbeth, Birmingham
Census Place: Birmingham Birmingham, Warwickshire
PRO Reference: HO/107/2053 Folio: 552 Page: 2 FHL Film: 0087312
 
Paul
There was a semi-regular column in the Birmingham Post called Local Notes & queries. It appeared irregularly (approximately every 2 weeks), and sometimes (as here) is very interesting to us, but sometimes less interesting. I try & include any items from it that I think of interest
 
I take it you mean around 1851. In the 1849 & 1855 directories no 82 was William Pratt, printer & bookseller, but no 81 was The Old Bulls Head, and 83 was the Horse & Groom. Around that time numbering seems to have been a bit flexible, probably because numbers were not always listed on the side of the building, unlike later. In soem areas, particularly in the centre of towns and in exclusive suburbs, this practice of not numbering buildings seems to be returning in recent years
 
3.6.1864
A very valid point then for grammar schools and also for the "public" schools. In the case of the latter still true.

grammar_schools.jpg
 
4.6.1864
They say there is nothing really new in this world. This obviously even applies to spam e-mails. This must surely be the forerunner of them.
Obviously modesty must be prreserved for the travelling public. Wonder if they had bathing machines as well there.

an_early_version_of_spam_e-mails.jpg


modesty_prevails_on_th_erailway.jpg
 
6.6.1864
A description (from a much longer piece, too long to post), of a trip out along the coventry road to Haymills, where Webster & Horsefall's wire factory was situated- so different to today.
I was struck by the "school pence" as part of his salary. This was the contribution paid by the family for their children's education. this was before free education was introduced, but even after free schooling was supposedly given, church schools still charged the school pence at first.

atlantic_cable_in_embryo_cut.jpg


schoolmaster_PS40_plus_school_pence.jpg
 
OOOOOH .. ageism in 1864! Couldn't advertise now for someone under the age of 45, t'wouldn't be allowed.
 
7.6.1864
The Drovers Arms ending own-brewing and buying beer in only, a trend that would accelerate over the next few years with the expansion of the big brewery companies

end_of_own_brewing.jpg
 
8.6.1864
Geach St to be connected to Guildford St. Wonder why the wall was built originally. They don't seem to be better houses one side than the other, so it cannot be snobbery.

Geach_st_to_be_connected_to_Guildford_st.jpg
 
9.6.1864
Memories of Birmingham from before 150 years ago. Interesting to know that bollards existed then, but to stop wheelbarrows rather than cars from encroaching.
Mock auctions are not a modern invention .
Never thought of Dudley as a spa, but apprently it was well known then and had several names, including Cradley Spa, Pensnett Spa, Lady Wood's Spa and Saltwells Spa.

memories_of_Birmingham.jpg



mock_auctions.jpg


Saltwells_dudley.jpg
 
10.6.1864

Accidental poisoning at curzon St station, though it was really the people's own fault.

poisoning_at_curzon_st.jpg
 
11.6.1864
An accident approaching Lawley At station, which fortunately gave rise to no serious injury. In the full report all the minor injuries are described, including the town clerk's lacerated lip, and of course, the fact that Alderman Turner was also on the train, though unhurt, had to be mentioned

railway_accident.jpg
 
15.6.1864
Not quite sure what a camp oven is, but can't help thinking the author of the letter might have just bought a job lot of them and is hoping to drum up trade

camp_oven.jpg
 
A camp oven is a cast iron or today tin oval kettle with a lid, the food is cooked by being covered all around including all over the lid with hot embers, and it effectively bakes the food...paul
 
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