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Newspapers : From Birmingham Post 150 years ago

3.10.1866
Another gas explosion caused by someone searching for a gas leak with a lighted candle
 

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You read this often in Victorian newspaper reports, funny you would have thought that by this time , people would not go looking for gas leaks with a naked candle.Paul
 
3.10.1866
Another gas explosion caused by someone searching for a gas leak with a lighted candle
Hi All,
A tragic incident but what interests me most of all is that the hospital gave such a full account to the newspaper of the mens' injuries. Today it would be simply 1 man slightly injured, another seriously injured and a third man critically injured.
Old Boy
 
Daft as this might seem, I remember when I was a boy seeing the man fitting my parents new gas stove using a candle to check the joints.
 
4.10.1866
Increase in pauperism in Birmingham (first part of report, which is rather long).
Another explosion at Kynock's percussion cap manufactory.
Opening of new Weslyan Chapel in Icknield St West.

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9.10.1866
Last republican blackbird of Mondaye shot.
 

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10.10.1866
The owner of the notorious Sultan Divan deceived by his wife. This is just a small part of a very long report at the end of which John Bryan was found guilty
 

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13.10.1866
Wonder what Mr Scott wanted with all this wrought iron . It is not clear if it was for the Stork Hotel or merely that he was staying there. There was a Mr W.G.B.Scott , the proprietor of the Queens hotel at this time, who was also a visitor, and at some time chairman of the board of the Queens Hospital, but can find no association of him with the Stork
 

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Been away and therefore a bit behind.
15.10.1866
Explosion at Proof House
It would be OK for unmarried women to be given the franchise, but not married women, as the latter are under a disability
Shortened version of report of murder in Thorpe St
Position of the Birmingham gun trade

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Thank you for the Thorp St. story Mike. One of my ancestors Thomas Pressdee was running the Lord Nelson Pub at this time... I presume he must have known this man, I hope he had been to a different pub on this night though!!!
rosie.
 
Rosie
Had a look at later reports (which had more detail) and the pub is not named, though, aa you say, might well have been the Lord Nelson. In December the accused was convicted of manslaughter and given 12 months , which, to me, seems quite short for such an offence at that time
 
16.10.1866
Opening of two libraries in the city and the laying of a foundation stone for another, all on the same day. Nowadays it is far more likely to be the closure of two libraries on the same day
 

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17.10.1866
Though the cabs were horse-drawn, there was a mechanism on them to measure the length of the journey.
Aston streets to get gas lighting.
 

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18.19.1866
Some children can be annoying, but even so !
Consecration of St Marys, Acocks Green
 

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Regarding the two libraries opened at Gosta Green and Deritend, we've just learned that they will be closing Sutton Library. Amazing to hear when they've just spent a huge amount of money removing the asbestos which they found. I wonder what will happen to all the maps and reference books?
 
20.10.1866
Cheeky thief. He wouldn't get away with that being even considered today
Inauguration of Erdington public hall
 

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According to Victor Price in "Birmingham Cinemas" the Palace was the old Erdington Public Hall. The cinema opened in 1912
 
18.19.1866
!
Consecration of St Marys, Acocks Green
St Mary's was my local church in 1940's so have been looking up some history. My parents were married there in 1939 and I was christened there in Dec 1940, on the 10th of that month it was bombed, could have been an omen?. Windows by Burne Jones were blown out services were then held in various buildings around the "village"including in the Warwick cinema. The church was planned originally to have had a tower and a spire but this never happened. Vicarage and it's gardens were sold in 1974 for houses to be built, I remember garden parties in the vicarage garden in mid 1940's.
 
Mike ,
Can i just divert on the closing of libarys did aston cross go, and what about the listed springhil
Libary is that still being kept alive or not it stuck in the middle of a cross road
Of springhill and summer hill
I hope no/one minds me asking ,sorry if i have imposed on your thread
Best wishes Alan,,Astonian,,,,
 
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