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Newspapers : From Birmingham Post 150 years ago

8.12.1864
The first part of the contribution is omitted, as it refers to arguments with another contributor, but this describes leather and paper tokens circulated in birmingham. (In 2 parts , to facilitate readability)

A contribution from another concerning birmingham tokens (again in 2 parts)

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An excellent and interesting story, I have some cardboard tokens from the "Cambridge Union Workhouse", for sixpence and 3d, dated 1837, I wonder if they are the same as the ones mentioned, I know that the Birmingham mint was set up to mint copper coins, because there was a national shortage of copper coinage. I believe that the large copper 2d pieces (Cartwheels), were only minted in "Matthew Bolton's Mint", but became unpopular with both trade and people, because of their weight and size, and had to be withdrawn from circulation. Paul
 
10.12.1864
Seems like assessments are not just something in today's schools.
Seems rate assessments in 1864 were far more complicated than I remember them immediately before Council tax was introduced
Replace "Roman Catholic" by "immigrants" and you have a standard Daily Mail editorial today.

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On the issue of fashion, I recall seeing a drawing in my history text book at school which I think was probably taken from Punch showing three men of different social classes and as one went down the social ladder each wore the dress of the previous generation.
 
13.12.1864

The black country according to the Daily Telegraph - apparently a wild land far away !


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So even in these benighted days outrage at the "lenient judiciary", and that even in these God fearing days, or because of them, women were held in such low regard. In recent times I have often pondered at sentences passed, and comments made, by a judiciary who seem to think the law is there to protect the criminal, and not the victims. Paul
 
16.12.1864

24 hours on followed by 24 hours off sounds not to good for good concentration as far as I am concerned
Intolerant parson.
Complaints about pigeons in the churchyard


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Re. boiler problem in first cutting. Strangely the Factory Act isn't mentioned. And acting on the Mayor's instructions - a partner in the Company. Say no more ......... Viv.
 
Vivienne14 said:
Re. boiler problem in first cutting. Strangely the Factory Act isn't mentioned. And acting on the Mayor's instructions - a partner in the Company. Say no more ......... Viv.
Click to expand...

Prior to 1864 the Factories Acts only covered textile industries and mainly related to women and children. The Factories Extension Act 1864 brought a few other industries like pottery, match making and percussion cap manufacturing into the provisions of the acts and a further act of 1867 brought in all factories employing more than 50 people.
 
Thanks David. The company wouldn't get away with those hours for much longer then. Expanding the Factories Act's scope most probably was an issue at the time of the press cutting as it can take years to go through the legislative process. Viv.
 
I should know but didn't Paul but did find this:

German silver - a silver-white alloy containing copper and zinc and nickelnickel silver
alloy, metal - a mixture containing two or more metallic elements or metallic and nonmetallic elements usually fused together or dissolving into each other when molten; "brass is an alloy of zinc and copper"
 
As I said Paul I should have known it without searching as my Daughter is a Jeweller (trained at the School of Jewellery and Horology in the Quarter). I seem to recall she worked in Nickel Silver before she was let loose on the real stuff.
 
20.12.1864
Bank holidays were not introduced till 1871, but before that they seem to have closed early on what would become boxing day.
Youth prosecuted for snowballing a policeman.
Apparently there must have been a lot of snow that year for snowball fights of this sort to occur. Mind you , if funding to police goes down much more then this citizen's problem might soon be replicated today.

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Findlater must have produced some quality coaches as William Findlater exhibited a light brougham for one or two horses at the 1862 London International Exhibition. Think the company was taken over by Mulliners. Viv.

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22.12.1864
Criticism of dull Anglican church architecture, but praise for that of dissenter's churches.Perhaps a trifle biased author ?


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Like all art, architecture is a matter of subjective appreciation. Cardinal Newman described Augustus Pugin as bigoted because Pugin thought that the only acceptable form of Christian architecture was the Gothic, Classical forms being pagan.
 
26.12.1864
Opening of Birmingham Exchange announced
Extract from newspaper report of The Report of the Royal commision into conditions of employment of children , this section particularly concerned with Birmingham
Aid requested for freed slaves in America by prominent Birmingham residents.

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27.12.1864
Pablos Circus is performing in Carrs Lane. It is not clear exactly where in Carrs Lane, though other circuses had been reported to have been in the Lane previously. The full name was the Pablo Fanque circus, and a fair bit of information is available in a book "Black victorians- Black 'victoriana", which is partially available online at https://books.google.co.uk/books?id...ir_esc=y#v=onepage&q="pablo's circus"&f=false. Apparently Pablo (born william Darby) was Britain's first black circus proprietor and was "made famous in the Beatles song "For the Benefit of Mr Kite"".

Christmas day in Birmingham workhouse.

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"T'was Christmas Day at the Workhouse, the snow was falling fast.........." That sounds like a bountiful feast Mike,
I wonder if it was really like that, or did Dickens get it right?
 
Charlie said:
"T'was Christmas Day at the Workhouse, the snow was falling fast.........." That sounds like a bountiful feast Mike,
I wonder if it was really like that, or did Dickens get it right?
Click to expand...

hi charlie i would like to think it was right and that the inmates had plenty eat that day...

lyn
 
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