Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham Part 27

That Brom implies Broom none will dare to deny, And that Wich means a Village or Farm; Or a Slope, or a Saltwork, the last may imply, And to read Ham for Town is no harm.

But when jumbled together, like stones in a bag, To make it a Broom-sloping town, Credulity's pace at such juggling must flag, And the critic indignant will frown.

Tis so much like the Gazetteer's riddle-my-ree, Who, untwisting Antiquity's cable, Makes Barnstaple's town with its name to agree, Take its rise from a Barn and a Stable."

Collins' own comical notion gives the name as "Br.i.m.m.i.n.gham," from the br.i.m.m.i.n.g goblets so freely quaffed by our local sons of Vulcan. Digbeth he makes out to be a "dug bath," or horsepond for the farriers; Deritend, from _der_ (water).

"Took its name from the swamp where the hamlet was seated, And imply'd 'twas the water-wet-end of the town."

_c.o.x_, David--On the 29th of April, 1783, this great painter--the man whose works have made Birmingham famous in art--was born in a humble dwelling in Heath Mill Lane, Deritend, where his father carried on the trade of a smith. Some memorials of him we have--in the n.o.ble gift of a number of his pictures in oil, presented to the town by the late Mr.

Joseph Nettlefold; in the portrait by Mr. J. Watson Gordon, and the bust by Mr. Peter Hollins; in the two biographies of him--both of them Birmingham works--the earlier by Mr. Neal Solly, and the more recent one by the late Mr. William Hall; besides the memorial window put up by loving friends in the Parish Church of Harborne, where the latter part of the artist's life was pa.s.sed, and in the churchyard of which his remains were laid. He bade his pictures and the world good-bye on the 9th of June, 1859. A sale of some of "dear old David's" works, in London, May, 1873, realised for the owners over 25,000, but what the artist himself originally had for them may be gathered from the instance of his "Lancaster Castle," otherwise known as "Peace and War," a harvest-field scene, with troops marching by, only 24in. by 18in. in size. This picture he gave to a friend at first, but bought it back for 20, at a time when his friend wanted cash; he sold it for the same amount, and it afterwards got into the possession of Joseph Gillot, the pen maker, at the sale of whose collection "Lancaster Castle" was knocked down for 3,601 10s. The highest price c.o.x ever received for a picture, and that on one single occasion only, was 100; in another case he had 95; his average prices for large pictures were rather under than over 50 a piece in his best days. "The Sea Sh.o.r.e at Rhyl," for which he received 100, has been since sold for 2,300; "The Vale of Clwyd," for which he accepted 95, brought 2,500. Two pictures for which he received 40 each in 1847, were sold in 1872 for 1,575 and 1,550 respectively. Two others at 40 each have sold since for 2,300 and 2,315 5s. respectively. His church at "Bettws-y-Coed" one of the finest of his paintings, fetched 2,500 at a sale in London, in March, 1884. In the hall of the Royal Oak Inn, Bettws-y-Coed (David's favourite place), there is fixed a famous signboard which c.o.x painted for the house in 1847, and which gave rise to considerable litigation as to its owners.h.i.+p being vested in the tenant or the owner, the decision being in the latter's favour.

_c.o.x_, William Sands, F.R.S. and F.R.C.S., the son of a local surgeon, was born in 1801. After "walking the hospitals" in London and Paris, he settled here in 1825, being appointed surgeon to the Dispensary, and in 1828, with the co-operation of the late Doctors Johnstone and Booth, and other influential friends, succeeded in organising the Birmingham Royal School of Medicine and Surgery, which proved eminently successful until, by the munificent aid of the Rev. Dr. Warneford, it was converted into Queen's College by a charter of incorporation, which was granted in 1843. The Queen's Hospital was also founded mainly through the exertions of Mr. Sands c.o.x, for the education of the medical students of the College. In 1863 Mr. c.o.x retired from practice, and went to reside near Tamworth, afterwards removing to Leamington and Kenilworth, at which latter place he died, December 23rd, 1875. He was buried in the family vault at Aston, the coffin being carried to the grave by six old students at the College, funeral scarfs, hatbands, and "other such pieces of mummery" being dispensed with, according to the deceased's wish. He left many charitable legacies, among them being 15,000, to be dealt with in the following manner:--3,000 to be applied in building and endowing a church then in course of erection at Balsall Heath, and to be known as St. Thomas-in-the-Moors, and the remaining 12,000 to be devoted to the erection and endowment of three dispensaries--one at Balsall Heath, one at Aston, and the other at Hockley. Two sums of 3,000 were left to found dispensaries at Tamworth and Kenilworth, and a cottage hospital at Moreton-in-the-Marsh; his medical library and a number of other articles being also left for the last-named inst.i.tution.

_Davies_, Dr. Birt.--By birth a Hamps.h.i.+re man, by descent a Welshman, coming to Birmingham in 1823, Dr. Davies soon became a man of local note. As a politician in the pre-Reform days, as a physician of eminence, and as Borough Coroner for three dozen years, he occupied a prominent position, well justified by his capacity and force of character. He took an active part in the founding of the Birmingham School of Medicine, the forerunner of the Queen's College, and was elected one of the three first physicians to the Queen's Hospital, being its senior physician for sixteen years. When the Charter of Incorporation was granted, Dr. Davies was chosen by the Town Council as the first Coroner, which office he held until June 8th, 1875, when he resigned, having, as he wrote to the Council, on the 29th of May terminated his 36th year of office, and 76th year of his age. Though an ardent politician, it is from his Coroners.h.i.+p that he will be remembered most, having held about 30,000 inquests in his long term of office, during the whole of which time, it has been said, he never took a holiday, appointed a deputy, or slept out of the borough. His official dignity sat heavily upon him, his temper of late years often led him into conflict with jurors and medical witnesses, but he was well respected by all who knew the quiet unpretending benevolence of his character, never better exhibited than at the time of the cholera panic in 1832. The doctor had established a Fever Hospital in Bath Row, and here he received and treated, by himself, the only cases of Asiatic cholera imported into the town. He died December 11th, 1878.

_De Lys_, Dr.--One of the physicians to the General Hospital, and the proposer of the Deaf and Dumb Inst.i.tution. A native of Brittany, and one of several French refugees who settled here when driven from their own country, at the time of the Revolution, Dr. De Lys remained with us till his death, August 24th, 1831, being then in his 48th year.

_Digby_, John, made Lord Digby in 1618, and Earl of Bristol in 1622, was born at Coles.h.i.+ll in 1580. He was sent Amba.s.sador to Spain by James I.

to negotiate a marriage between Prince Charles and the Infanta. He went abroad when the Civil War broke out, and died at Paris in 1653.

_Edmonds_.--George Edmonds, was a son of the Baptist minister of Bond Street Chapel, and was born in 1788. For many years after he grew up George kept a school, but afterwards devoted himself to the Law, and was appointed Clerk of the Peace on the incorporation of the borough. For taking part in what Government chose to consider an illegal meeting Mr.

Edmonds had to suffer 12 months' imprisonment, but it only increased his popularity and made him recognised as leader of the Radical party.

During the great Reform movements he was always to the fore, and there can be little doubt that it was to his untiring energy that the Political Union owed much of its success. In his later years he printed (partly with his own hands) one of the strangest works ever issued from the press, being nothing less than an alphabet, grammar, and dictionary of a new and universal language. On this he must have spent an immense amount of philosophical and philological research during the busiest years of his active life, but like other schemes of a similar character it came into the world some scores of generations too soon. His death took place (hastened by his own hand) July 1, 1868.

_Everitt_, Allen Edward.--Artist, antiquarian, and archaeologist. It is reported that his portfolio contained more than a thousand sketches of his own taking, of old churches, mansions, cottages, or barns in the Midland Counties. Born here in 1824 Mr. Everitt had reached his 55th year before taking to himself a wife, whom he left a widow June 11, 1882, through catching a cold while on a sketching tour. He was much loved in all artistic circles, having been (for twenty-four years) hon.

sec. to the Society of Artists, a most zealous coadjutor of the Free Libraries Committee, and honorary curator of tha Art Gallery; in private or public life he spoke ill of no man, nor could any speak of him with aught but affection and respect.

_Fletcher_, George.--Author of the "Provincialist" and other poems, a journeyman printer, and much respected for his genial character and honest kind-heartedness. Died Feb. 20, 1874, aged 64.

_Fothergill_, John.--Taken into partners.h.i.+p by Matthew Boulton in 1762, devoting himself princ.i.p.ally to the foreign agencies. Many of the branches of trade in which he was connected proved failures, and he died insolvent in 1782, while Boulton breasted the storm, and secured fortune by means of his steam engines. He did not, however, forget his first partner's widow and children.

_Fox_, Charles Fox, of the firm of Fox, Henderson and Co., was born at Derby, March 11, 1810. His first connection with this town arose from his being engaged with Stephenson on the construction of the Birmingham and Liverpool line. He was knighted in 1851, in recognition of his wonderful skill as shown in the erection of the International Exhibition of that year, and we have a local monument to his fame in the roof which spans the New Street Station. He died in 1874, and was buried at Nunhead Cemetery, London. The firm of Fox, Henderson and Co., was originally Bramah and Fox, Mr. Henderson not coming in till the death of Mr.

Bramah, a well-known ironmaster of this neighbourhood, and whose name is world-famous for his celebrated locks.

_Geach_.--Charles Geach was a Cornishman, born in 1808, and came to Birmingham in 1826 as one of the clerks in the Branch Bank of England, then opened. In 1836 he was instrumental in the formation of two of our local banks, and became the manager of one of them, the Birmingham and Midland. In 1842 he made a fortunate speculation in the purchase of some extensive ironworks at Rotherham just previous to the days of "the railway mania." The profits on iron at that time were something wonderful; as a proof of which it has been stated that on one occasion Mr. Geach took orders for 30,000 tons at 12, the cost to him not being more than half that sum! The Patent Shaft Works may be said to have owed its origin also to this gentleman. Mr. Geach was chosen mayor for 1847, and in 1851 was returned to Parliament for Coventry. His death occurred Nov. 1, 1854. A full-length portrait hangs in the board-room of the bank, of which he retained the managing-directors.h.i.+p for many years.

_Gem_, Major Thomas Henry.--The well-known Clerk to the Magistrates, born May 21, 1819, was the pioneer of the Volunteer movement in this town, as well as the originator of the fas.h.i.+onable game of lawn tennis.

A splendid horseman, and an adept at all manly games, he also ranked high as a dramatic author, and no amateur theatricals could be got through without his aid and presence. His death, November 4, 1881, resulted from an accident which occurred on June 25 previous, at the camp in Sutton Park.

_Gillott_.--Joseph Gillott was born at Sheffield in 1799, but through want of work found his way here in 1822, spending his last penny in refreshments at the old publichouse then standing at corner of Park Street, where the Museum Concert Hall exists. His first employment was buckle making, and being steady he soon took a garret in Bread Street and became his own master in the manufacture of buckles and other "steel toys." The merchant who used to buy of him said "Gillott made very excellent goods, and came for his money every week." It was that making of excellent goods and his untiring perseverance that secured him success. His sweetheart was sister to William and John Mitch.e.l.l, and it is questionable whether Gillott's first efforts at making steel pens did not spring from the knowledge he gained from her as to what the Mitch.e.l.ls were doing in that line. The Sheffield blade, however, was the first to bring the "press" into the proeess of making the pens, and that secret he must have kept pretty closely from all but his la.s.s, as Mr. J.

Gillott often told, in after life, how, on the morning of his marriage, he began and finished a gross of pens, and sold them for 7 4s. before they went to church. The acc.u.mulation of his fortune began from that day, the name of Gillott in a very few years being known the wide world over. The penmaker was a great patron of the artists, gathering a famous collection which at his death realised 170,000. His first interview with Turner was described in an American journal a few years back.

Gillott having rudely pushed his way into the studio and turning the pictures about without the artist deigning to notice the intruder, tried to attract attention by asking the prices of three paintings. Turner carelessly answered "4,000 guineas," "3,000," and "1,500 guineas."

"I'll take the three," said Gillott. Then Turner rose, with "Who the devil are you to intrude here against my orders? You must be a queer sort of a beggar, I fancy." "You're another queer beggar" was the reply.

"I am Gillott, the penmaker. My banker tells me you are clever, and I have come to buy some pictures." "By George!" quoth Turner, "you are a droll fellow, I must say." "You're another," said Gillott. "But do you really want to purchase those pictures," asked Turner. "Yes, in course I do, or I would not have climbed those blessed stairs this morning," was the answer. Turner marvelled at the man, and explained that he had fixed the prices named under the idea that he had only got an impertinent intruder to deal with, that two of the pictures were already sold, but that his visitor could have the first for 1,000. "I'll take it," said the prince of penmakers, "and you must make me three or four more at your own price." If other artists did as well with Mr. Gillott they could have had but little cause of complaint. Another hobby of Mr.

Gillott's was collecting fiddles, his specimens, of which he once said he had a "boat load," realising 4,000; while his cabinet of precious stones was of immense value. The millionaire died Jan. 5, 1872, leaving 3,000 to local charities.

_Guest_, James.--Originally a bra.s.s-founder, but imbued with the principles of Robert Owen, he became an active member of the Political Union and other "freedom-seeking" societies, and opened in Steelhouse Lane a shop for the sale of that kind of literature suited to ardent workers in the Radical cause. Mr. Guest believed that "all bad laws must be broken before they could be mended," and for years he followed out that idea so far as the taxes on knowledge were concerned. He was the first to sell unstamped papers here and in the Black Country, and, notwithstanding heavy fines, and even imprisonment, he kept to his principles as long as the law stood as it was. In 1830 he published Hutton "History of Birmingham" in cheap numbers, unfortunately mixing with it many chapters about the Political Union, the right of a Free Press, &c., in a confusing manner. The book, however, was very popular, and has been reprinted from the original stereoplates several times. Mr.

Guest died Jan. 17, 1881, in his 78th year.

_Hill_, Rowland.--The originator of the present postal system, born at Kidderminster, December 3, 1795, coming to Birmingham with his parents when about seven years old. His father opened a school at the corner of Gough Street and Blucher Street, which was afterwards (in 1819) removed to the Hagley Road, where, as "Hazlewood School" it became more than locally famous. In 1825 it was again removed, and further off, this time being taken to Bruce Castle, Tottenham, where the family yet resides.

Rowland and his brother, Matthew Davenport Hill, afterwards Recorder of Birmingham, who took part in the management of the school, went with it, and personally Rowland Hill's connection with our town may be said to have ceased. Early in 1837 Mr. Hill published his proposed plans of Post Office reform, but which for a long time met with no favour from either of the great political parties, or in official quarters, where, it has been said, he was snubbed as a would-be interloper, and cursed as "a fellow from Birmingham coming to teach people their business"--

"All office doors were closed against him--hard All office heads were closed against him too, 'He had but worked, like others, for reward,'

'The thing was all a dream.' 'It would not do.'"

In 1839, more than 2,000 pet.i.tions were presented to Parliament in favour of Mr. Hill's plans, and eventually they were adopted and became law by the 3rd and 4th Vict., cap. 96. The new postage law by which the uniform rate of fourpence per letter was tried as an experiment, came into operation on the 5th of December, 1839, and on the 10th January, 1840, the reduced uniform rate of 1d. per letter of half-an-ounce weight was commenced. Under the new system the privilege of franking letters enjoyed by members of Parliament was abolished, facilities of prepayment were afforded by the introduction of postage stamps, double postage was levied on letters not prepaid, and arrangements were made for the registration of letters. Mr. Hill received an appointment in the Treasury, but in 1841, he was told his services were no longer required.

This flagrant injustice caused great indignation, and a national testimonial of 15,000 was presented to him June 17, 1846. On a change of Government Mr. Hill was appointed Secretary to the Postmaster General, and, in 1854, Secretary to the Post Office, a position which he retained until failing health caused him to resign in March, 1864, the Treasury awarding him for life his salary of 2,000 per year. In the same year he received a Parliamentary grant of 20,000, and in 1860, he was made a K.C.B., other honours from Oxford, &c., following. Sir Rowland was presented with the freedom of the City by the London Court of Common Council, June 6, 1879, the doc.u.ment being contained in a suitable gold casket. It was incidentally mentioned in the course of the proceedings, that at the time Sir Rowland Hill's system was inaugurated the annual amount of correspondence was 79 millions, or three letters per head of the population; while then it exceeded 1,000 millions of letters, 100 millions of post-cards, and 320 millions of newspapers, and the gross receipt in respect of it was 6,000,000 sterling. Sir Rowland Hill died Aug. 27, 1879, leaving but one son, "Pearson Hill," late of the Post Office.

_Hollins_, George--The first appointed organist of the Town Hall (in 1834), having been previously organist at St. Paul's, in the graveyard of which church he was buried in 1841, the funeral being attended by hundreds of friends, musicians, and singers of the town and neighbourhood.

_Holt_, Thomas Littleton.--A Press man, whose death (Sept. 14, 1879) at the age of 85, severed one of the very few remaining links connecting the journalism of the past with the present. It was to him that the late Mr. d.i.c.kens owed his introduction to Dr. Black, then the editor of the _Morning Chronicle_. Mr. Holt was proprietor of the _Iron Times_, which started during the railway mania. When his friend Leigh Hunt was imprisoned for libelling the Prince Regent, he was the first to visit him. He took an active part in popularising cheap literature, and it was greatly owing to him that the advertis.e.m.e.nt duty was repealed. He also took an active part in the abolition of the paper duty. Besides starting many papers in London in the latter period of his life, he returned to his native town, Birmingham, where he started _Ryland's Iron Trade Circular_, to the success of which his writings largely contributed.

_Humphreys_, Henry Noel.--This eminent naturalist and archaeologist's career closed in June, 1879. A son of the late Mr. James Humphreys, he was born in Birmingham in 1809, and was educated at the Grammar School here. He was the author of many interesting works connected with his zoological and antiquarian researches. Among the most important of the latter cla.s.s may be specified:--"Ill.u.s.trations of Froissart's Chronicles," "The Parables of our Lord Ill.u.s.trated," "The Coins of England," "Ancient Coins and Medals," "The Illuminated Books of the Mediaeval Period," the "Coin Collector's Manual," the "Coinage of the British Empire," "Stories by an Archaeologist," and especially his _magna opera_, so to speak, "The Art of Illumination," and "The History of the Art of Writing from the Hieroglyphic Period down to the introduction of Alphabets."

_James_, William.--A Warwicks.h.i.+re engineer, born at Henley-in-Arden, June, 13, 1771. Mr. James has been called the first projector of railways, as there was none started previous to his laying out a line from here to Wolverhampton, which was given up in favour of the Ca.n.a.l Companies. The wharves in Newhall Street were constructed on the site of his proposed railway station. He afterwards projected and surveyed many other lines including Birmingham to Manchester through Derbys.h.i.+re, the Birmingham and London, etc. West Bromwich owes no little of its prosperity to this gentleman, who opened many collieries in its neighbourhood. At one time Mr. James was said to have been worth 150,000, besides 10,000 a year coming in from his profession, but he lost nearly all before his death.

_Jeffery_.--George Edward Jeffery, who died Dec. 29th, 1877, aged 33, was a local writer who promised to make a name had he lived longer.

_Johnstone_, Dr. John, a distinguished local physician, was born at Worcester in 1768. Though he acquired a high reputation for his treatment of diseases, it was noticeable that he made a very sparing use of medicines. Died in 1836.

_Johnstone_, John, whose death was the result of being knocked down by a cab in Broad Street in Oct. 1875, was one of those all-round inventive characters who have done so much for the trades of this town. He was born in Dumfriess.h.i.+re in 1801, and was apprenticed to a builder, coming to this town in 1823. He was soon noticed as the first architectural draughtsman of his day, but his genius was not confined to any one line.

He was the first to introduce photographic vignettes, he invented the peculiar lamp used in railway carriages, he improved several agricultural implements, he could lay out plans for public buildings or a machine for making hooks and eyes, and many well-to-do families owe their rise in the world to acting on the ideas put before them by Mr.

Johnstone. In the latter portion of his life he was engaged at the Cambridge Street Works as consulter in general.

_Kempson_, James--In one of those gossiping accounts of the "Old Taverns" of Birmingham which "S.D.R." has written, mention is made of a little old man, dear to the musicians under the name of "Daddy Kempson,"

who appears to have been the originator of our Triennial Musical Festivals in 1768, and who conducted a performance at St. Paul's as late as the year 1821, he being then 80 years of age.

_Kuchler_, C.H.--A medalist, for many years in the employ of Boulton, for whom he sunk the dies for part of the copper coinage of 1797, &c.

The 2d. piece is by him. He was buried in Handsworth Churchyard.

_Lightfoot_.--Lieut.-General Thomas Lightfoot, C.B., Colonel of the 62nd Regiment, who died at his residence, Barbourne House, Worcester, Nov.

15, 1858, in his 84th year, and who entered the British army very early in life, was the last surviving officer of the famous 45th, the "Fire-eaters" as they were called, that went to the Peninsula with Moore and left it with Wellington. Lightfoot was in Holland in 1799. He was present in almost every engagement of the Peninsular War. He received seven wounds; a ball which caused one of these remained in his body till his death. He obtained three gold and eleven silver medals, being one more than even those of his ill.u.s.trious commander, the Duke of Wellington. One silver medal was given him by the Duke himself, who said on the occasion he was glad to so decorate one of the brave 45th.

Lightfoot was made a C.B. in 1815. Before he became Major-General he was Aide-de-Camp to William IV. and Queen Victoria, and as such rode immediately before her Majesty in her coronation procession.

Lieutenant-General Lightfoot was a native of this town, and was buried in the family vault in St. Bartholomew's Church, his remains being escorted to the tomb by the 4th (Queen's Own) Light Dragoons, commanded by Colonel Low.

_Lloyd_.--The founder of the well-known banking firm of Lloyds appears to have been Charles Lloyd, for some time a minister of the Society of Friends, who died in 1698.

_Machin_, William.--Born here in 1798, began his musical career (while apprenticed to papier-mache making), as a member at the choir at Cannon Street Chapel. As a favourite ba.s.s singer he was engaged at many of the festivals from 1834 to that of 1849. His death occurred in September, 1870.

_Malins_, David.--Bra.s.sfounder, who in course of his life filled several of the chief offices of our local governing bodies. Born June 5, 1803; died December, 1881. Antiquarian and persevering collector of all works throwing light upon or having connection with Birmingham or Warwicks.h.i.+re history. Mr. Malins, after the burning of the Free Library, generously gave the whole of his collection to the formation of the New Reference Library, many of the books being most rare and valuable, and of some of which no other copies are known to exist.

_Mellon_, Alfred.--Though actually born in London, Mr. Mellon's parents (his father was a Frenchman) were residents in Birmingham, and we must claim this popular conductor as a local musician of note. He was only twelve when he joined the Theatre Royal band, but at sixteen he was the leader and remained so for eight years, removing to London in 1844. In 1856 Mr. Mellon conducted the opening performances at the Music Hall in Broad Street (now Prince of Wales's Theatre): and will be long remembered for the "Promenade Concerts" he gave at Covent Garden and in the provinces. He died from the breaking of a blood-vessel, March 27, 1867.

_Mogridge_, George, born at Ashted Feb. 17th, 1787, and brought up as a j.a.panner, was the original "Old Humphrey" of our childhood's days, the author of "Grandfather Grey," "Old Humphrey's Walks in London," "Old Humphrey's Country Strolls," and other juvenile works, of which many millions of copies have been sold in England, America, and the Colonies.

"Peter Parley's Tales" have been also ascribed to our townsman, who died Nov. 2, 1854.