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Picken Matthew

WriteTheBook

WriteTheBook

Matthew
Hello, I hope I can re-ignite this Frankfort Street thread (edit - this new thread started for Matthew Picken). I'm Sara and I'm writing a family saga based on my 3 times great grandfather Matthew. He set up a business in Frankfort street when, I believe, it was named MacDonald Street. He started working for Joe Murdoch in 1822 and went on to set up the family business, Picken and Son, in 1854.

Census' show that he lived at 148 MacDonald Street and started as a machinist under Joe Murdoch. The Census' then show him moving to 151 MacDonald Street and later 152 MacDonald Street. Moving forwards to the 1990s, the company went into receivership but took up a good area of space on what is now Frankfort Street.

I'm trying to figure out HOW Matthew grew his business from starting in the back yard of a house to a full factory development. Were they back to back houses in the higher numbers? I've seen threads from people living in numbers 50+ but no one lived in the 140s. I can't see how he could have set up business 'in the back yard' of a back to back.

My book is fiction, based on fact, but I'd like to get this right because I believe this is a remarkable story. Matthew walked aged 10 from Kemberton in Shropshire in 1822, and found work in MacDonald Street. He went from poverty creating a family business which spanned over 200 years and 6 generations. I just feel it's worth getting this as right as I can get it!

I'd be very grateful for tips on how to tackle the library for deeds or documents on the street and its houses.
 
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The first mention I can see for Messrs Picken and Son is in 1868 and coach builders in Bradford Street.

Correction is 1854 in Bradford Street and at Picken’s Coach Manufactory. Later down as Pickens General Carriage Manufactory, BradfordStreet, Birmingham.
 
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I am sorry but Matthew Picken is not at 151 Macdonald Street on 1861 census.
151 is the schedule number. You aren't the first and probably won't be the last to make that mistake.
He is listed at Neston or Weston Place which seems to be in Macdonald Street.
Check the other census records as the first number is the schedule (ie where it is in the list) not the house number.
In 1878 Post Office directory Picken and son are in Court 9 Macdonald Street
In 1899 Kelly's directory Picken and Son are at 24 Frankfort Street.
 
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WriteTheBook said:
Hello, I hope I can re-ignite this Frankfort Street thread. I'm Sara and I'm writing a family saga based on my 3 times great grandfather Matthew. He set up a business in Frankfort street when, I believe, it was named MacDonald Street. He started working for Joe Murdoch in 1822 and went on to set up the family business, Picken and Son, in 1854.

Census' show that he lived at 148 MacDonald Street and started as a machinist under Joe Murdoch. The Census' then show him moving to 151 MacDonald Street and later 152 MacDonald Street. Moving forwards to the 1990s, the company went into receivership but took up a good area of space on what is now Frankfort Street.

I'm trying to figure out HOW Matthew grew his business from starting in the back yard of a house to a full factory development. Were they back to back houses in the higher numbers? I've seen threads from people living in numbers 50+ but no one lived in the 140s. I can't see how he could have set up business 'in the back yard' of a back to back.

My book is fiction, based on fact, but I'd like to get this right because I believe this is a remarkable story. Matthew walked aged 10 from Kemberton in Shropshire in 1822, and found work in MacDonald Street. He went from poverty creating a family business which spanned over 200 years and 6 generations. I just feel it's worth getting this as right as I can get it!

I'd be very grateful for tips on how to tackle the library for deeds or documents on the street and its houses.
Click to expand...
That is a wonderful piece of history! It is so amazing in todays world of a 10 year old (or almost anyone) walking that far to start a 200 year old business….
 
The first thing to notice here is that at some stage between 1868 and 1883 a Macdonald Street did change to Frankfort Street. 1868 Macdonald Street ran from 250 Summer Lane, and in 1883 Frankfort Street ran from 250 Summer Lane to Great Russell Street. There is a Macdonald Street that still exists and runs from Sherlock Street to Charles Henry Street.
 
Pedrocut said:
The first mention I can see for Messrs Picken and Son is in 1868 and coach builders in Bradford Street.

Correction is 1854 in Bradford Street and at Picken’s Coach Manufactory. Later down as Pickens General Carriage Manufactory, BradfordStreet, Birmingham.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your comment Pedrocut. Matthew Picken's business was for wireforming and officially formed in 1854, although it grew from his back yard in what is now Frankfort Street. I do wonder if the carriage manufactory was one of his children. That will be another rabbit hole for me!
 
Pedrocut said:
The first thing to notice here is that at some stage between 1868 and 1883 a Macdonald Street did change to Frankfort Street. 1868 Macdonald Street ran from 250 Summer Lane, and in 1883 Frankfort Street ran from 250 Summer Lane to Great Russell Street. There is a Macdonald Street that still exists and runs from Sherlock Street to Charles Henry Street.
Click to expand...
This change of name from MacDonald Street with an existing MacDonald street in place has confused me a little. However, we know that the factory was in the current Frankfort Street. I'm trying to understand how my ancestor could have bought up a group of back to backs on what was the original MacDonald Street and turned them into a factory.
pjmburns said:
I am sorry but Matthew Picken is not at 151 Macdonald Street on 1861 census.
151 is the schedule number. You aren't the first and probably won't be the last to make that mistake.
He is listed at Neston or Weston Place which seems to be in Macdonald Street.
Check the other census records as the first number is the schedule (ie where it is in the list) not the house number.
In 1878 Post Office directory Picken and son are in Court 9 Macdonald Street
In 1899 Kelly's directory Picken and Son are at 24 Frankfort Street.
Click to expand...
Thank you, I realise my mistake of reading the serial number. That certainly helps. I think that Neston or Weston Place must be a group of back to back houses in Macdonald Street. The information from the PO directory is really helpful, thank you. That address of 24 Frankfort Street is where they were until 1996. This is all very helpful thank you. Now I need to work out if Matthew bought those back to back houses, knocked them down and created a factory on the site and how he afforded that! I have my father's notes from the 1970s which I will attach for interest as a separate post in this thread.
 
Richard Dye said:
That is a wonderful piece of history! It is so amazing in todays world of a 10 year old (or almost anyone) walking that far to start a 200 year old business….
Click to expand...
It really is and there are some extraordinary twists and patterns of behaviour in the family which unwinds throughout the 200 years. It's quite a story which my Dad always wanted written. It's only now, when I stumbled across a publisher who told me to 'write the book', that I have the courage to begin. Now I'm enthralled by the story which runs through Birmingham's industrial revolution, two world wars and the industrial crises of the 60s, 70s and 80s. We have some terrific personalities in the family who created their own dramas too. I have Matthew and his son William's pictures on my wall. They're watching me write it all down!
 
Pedrocut said:
August 1864 a Matthew Picken.


View attachment 195384
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This is fantastic! Where do you find this information? I know that Birmingham was a centre for rifle manufacturing for hundreds of years and I believe that Joe Murdoch, who took Matthew as his apprentice, was an ex army armourer. There must have been some influence here. My husband is ex Army and my son is now serving. These little coincidences make me happy.
 
For interest here are the notes my father made in 1979 about the history of the factory. He refers to the business growing so big that he covered "the whole of his garden", which I think is much more likely to be the whole of a dingy back yard!

Is it feasible for an 'ordinary man' in the 1850s to just buy up a group of back to backs and build a factory on-top of the land? I'm assuming that he may have been able to get a loan from the Birmingham banking partnership Taylor and Lloyd. I don't HAVE to stick to absolute facts, but I would like my story to feasible and based on truth.
 

Attachments

  • Picken history from RCF 1.jpg
    Picken history from RCF 1.jpg
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  • Picken history from RCF 2.jpg
    Picken history from RCF 2.jpg
    320.4 KB · Views: 17
WriteTheBook said:
It really is and there are some extraordinary twists and patterns of behaviour in the family which unwinds throughout the 200 years. It's quite a story which my Dad always wanted written. It's only now, when I stumbled across a publisher who told me to 'write the book', that I have the courage to begin. Now I'm enthralled by the story which runs through Birmingham's industrial revolution, two world wars and the industrial crises of the 60s, 70s and 80s. We have some terrific personalities in the family who created their own dramas too. I have Matthew and his son William's pictures on my wall. They're watching me write it all down!
Click to expand...
The amount of significant history in Birmingham is SO vast and has a global impact on how we live our lives so many years on! Let hope it can be saved for future generations to see and understand!
 
WriteTheBook said:
For interest here are the notes my father made in 1979 about the history of the factory. He refers to the business growing so big that he covered "the whole of his garden", which I think is much more likely to be the whole of a dingy back yard!

Is it feasible for an 'ordinary man' in the 1850s to just buy up a group of back to backs and build a factory on-top of the land? I'm assuming that he may have been able to get a loan from the Birmingham banking partnership Taylor and Lloyd. I don't HAVE to stick to absolute facts, but I would like my story to feasible and based on truth.
Click to expand...

I have not read the attachments yet but something occurred to me.
In 1895 Matthew was at 24 Frankfort Steet and back of 24 was Sarah Cudd, cycle fittings, and in 1900 at the back there was The Wizzard Vacuum Manufacturers!
 
WriteTheBook said:
For interest here are the notes my father made in 1979 about the history of the factory. He refers to the business growing so big that he covered "the whole of his garden", which I think is much more likely to be the whole of a dingy back yard!

Is it feasible for an 'ordinary man' in the 1850s to just buy up a group of back to backs and build a factory on-top of the land? I'm assuming that he may have been able to get a loan from the Birmingham banking partnership Taylor and Lloyd. I don't HAVE to stick to absolute facts, but I would like my story to feasible and based on truth.
Click to expand...
This is really exciting to read, that fact that you have your father’s writing as a guide or rad map is exceptional!
 
Pedrocut said:
I have not read the attachments yet but something occurred to me.
In 1895 Matthew was at 24 Frankfort Steet and back of 24 was Sarah Cudd, cycle fittings, and in 1900 at the back there was The Wizzard Vacuum Manufacturers!
Click to expand...
Amazing! I'm totally new to uncovering this information. Where did you find this?
 
Pedrocut said:
July 1916, Birmingham Daily Post

(Added later…William retired)


View attachment 195411
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Thank you so much for this. This is book 2! Albert was William's only son and started in the business aged 13 years old. Albert was a wonderful man, he tucked my Dad under his wing and mentored him when he joined the factory after marrying my Mum. Mum was Albert's granddaughter.
 
September 1940 fire at factory 2 floors ablaze. Fire under control in 40 minutes.

January 1920 fatal accident youth caught in shafting. Verdict accidental death.
 
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