Newspapers : From Birmingham Post 150 years ago

[Shortie]

That's interesting Dennis because I thought that you only got symptoms from a live vaccine and the flu jab is not a live one. Perhaps it was coincidental? I have had one annually for a few years now, ever since I had pleurisy, but not ever had anything more than a sore arm.

 

[Shortie]

In the 1920's, although there was no project, it was actually against the law not to have your child vaccinated - they used to come round the houses for the children, that's why my nan hid hers.

 

[BernardR]

Same here Shortie - better than the alternative in my opinion.

Problem I guess is that if you are already infected the vaccine may not help.

 

[Dennis Williams]

You are quite right, but I am a right old whinger (male see?), and convinced myself it was the vaccine's fault. Man-flu is nothing to be sneezed at you know...

 

[Shortie]

Oh Dennis, you wimp! My husband is the same, believe me, but when I finally got him to have his vaccine, he sat there and chatted to the nurse and when she said it was my turn, he said 'have you done it?' - so that was an improvement. I don't bother about much at all, even operations don't bother me, I don't get at all nervous but I might if it was one on my brain (if they could find it that is). I agree Bernie, would not risk having a bad bout of flu.

 

[mikejee]

19.9.1862

One of the first washing machines. A "Bradford" can be seen at https://www.victorianlondon.org/health/washingmachines.htm
At this time there were still some vacant spaces in New St.
Tender for supplies to solihull workhouse. Like the Birmingham, but unlike the Kings Norton one, they demand quality meat. However, unlike birmingham they do not require beer or spirits. However coffins are requested, which I do not think were mentioned in the other tenders. Maybe "posh" Solihull puts all its dependents in coffins, whereas others use cheaper shrouds ?
Walsall seems quite lenient with licensing transgressors.

 

[mikejee]

20.9.1862
Extract from a report on standardisation of measures shows these still vary in different palces. I did not realise this occurred still at this time
This must have been before he invented custard powder
Warning not to be mistaken for a hangman !
Sabbath desecration. Sound sas if they were having a good time
Sounds like it was invented by a predescessor of Emmett

 

[Charlie]

Re: Sabbath Desecration: Not much has changed, has it? Sounds like Broad Street on a Saturday night :unconscious:

 

[mikejee]

Some consternation that, in Bridgenorth, people are encouraged to gart away soil (and bones) from the churchyard.
There seems to be competition in terms of menageries thsi week. At the Birmingham Fair there is Edmonds (late Wombwells), which has a Nylghaus and horned horses (?!) in st Martins and Manders menageries in Carrs Lane (wouldn;t think there was much room for one there) where it is claimed a barbary lion is shot at each representation

 

[mikejee]

23.9.1862
The first week of the controversial Days Crystal Palace concert Hall
The timing might be a coincidence, but there has been no advert for an Old Crown music hall in over two months. The pub seems to be doing a bit of copy-catting following Days advertising
The panorama for sale sounds quite impressive, and rather bulky
Pub sale to pay gas bill

 

[mikejee]

24.9.1862
Late trains home from the Onion Fair. I would be interested to know what station they are referring to listed on the stour Valley line as Edgebaston ?
A report on the Edmonds menagerie
A rather peculiar (to my eyes) personal advert. It might just be that I am cynical, but today it would certainly look like some sort of "sting"

 

[Vivienne14]

I wondered if the Edgbaston station is Five Ways station Mike? But just looked it up on Wikipedia and 5 Ways didn't open until after your clipping (1876). Maybe it was the predecessor of the 5 Ways route.

Viv.

 

[paul stacey]

I wonder if the young lady ever found her "partner".
paul

 

[mikejee]

viv
That was my first thought, but, as i read the advert, the station was on the Stour Valley route, and five Ways was not on that route

 

[DavidGrain]

Edgbaston Station renamed from Monument Lane October 1854 renamed back to Monument Lane 1874

This would be the first Monument Lane Station openned 1852 Closed 1886 when replaced by the later station 200 metres to the west which was closed in November 1958

 

[mikejee]

Thanks David.

 

[mikejee]

25.9.1862

Proposal for a new church, St Davids, now disappeared
Protest at perambulators
I feel there must be a hidden code in this third advert

 

[DavidGrain]

I note the phrase "dear darling pet of the father and the only blessing and comfort of the mother". I like the "dear darling pet of the father" but I am concerned about the second half of the quotation "only blessing and comfort of the mother"

 

[mikejee]

26.9.1862
State Cabin sounds very impressive, but seems to be just a shortlived tarting up of a pub. No 110 Dale end is indeed listed in directories in 1862, but in 1855, and again in 1867, it is The Red cow, a somewhat less exclusive name.
Bristol to London by velocipede. Looking at these machines it sounds very uncomfortable
Theft by crinoline
Separated wife tries it on, successfully, but husband does not have to pay

 

[rosie]

Obviously I don't approve of pilfering but "Crinoline smuggling" made me laugh!

I wonder what they would have thought of modern buggies? (#257) They are huge now.

Thank you for these daily cuttings Mike.

rosie.

 

[DavidGrain]

Sorry posted on wrong thread

 

[mikejee]

27.9.1862
Not much in this issue took my eye except the necessity in Austria for ladies to avoid crinoline like the plague.

 

[mikejee]

29.9.1862

Escape of the Bull ring burglar
Twelve hour journey on velocipede from Birmingham to London
Explosion at Stirchley

 

[mikejee]

A little late. sorry about that.
30.9.1862
Sheep in Varna road!
Seems a reasonable request by the jury
Didn't realise groats were sytill around in 1862

 

[mikejee]

Back to the timetable
1.10.1862
Problems in the early days of Calthorpe Park - Report of part of council meeting
They had parking regulations even back in 1862
First robbed , then to cap it, arrested because of result of robbery
A stone ginger beer bottle, which presumably it was, could do quite a lot of damage.
Will Shakespear seems a bit miffed, understandably

 

[DavidGrain]

The references to groats puzzles me as I thought a groat was fourpence yet it mentions fourpence pieces separately as well as other denominations from a penny to sixpence.

 

[Vivienne14]

Blimey O'Reilly haven't we had a lot of different coin denominations over time?! Viv

 

[rosie]

I've got a silver fourpence on my charm bracelet, it looks about the same a silver threepenny bit.
rosie.

 

[mikejee]

2.10.1862
Review of Day's new Concert Hall
Sounds dodgy. Is the Royal Victoria associated with the present Liverpool Victoria Co ?
Rail line to Witton cemetery. I suspect the writer has vested interests and is probably Rev. George Stringer Bull, Rector of St Thomas's
Doesn't say if they will charge at the box office for entrance
Buy the Garrison Tavern with licenced slaughterhouse
The phrase "sufficient for the erection of two double houses or warehouses" might have come from modern advert for some historic site
I like the phrase gigantic gooseberry
How terrible, allowing 12 women to dance to a violin !

 

[mikejee]

3.10.1862
All from just outside Brum today.
Some in Dudley seem not to be too enchanted with their new fountain
Perjury in wolverhampton , or was it?. Apparently yes, as 6 months after this report he was given 6 months with hard labour
Again in Wolverhampton a defence against a charge of assault was that the women actually assaulted HIM by waving a bonnet trimmed with blue ribbo in his face. This surely is a defence worthy of Tony Blair or George Osborne