A Description of Modern Birmingham Part 18

There are in this vicinity some most delightful prospects, which are seen to great advantage from the handsome houses of Mr. Green Simc.o.x, and also of his father, George Simc.o.x, Esq. the former on the right hand and the latter on the left, as you proceed towards the church.

This is an ancient tower Structure, the body having of late years been rebuilt in a neat and commodious manner; consisting of a single pace, well pewed, with a modern gallery at the west end and another at the north east corner; it is a vicarage, dedicated to St. Peter; the present vicar being the Rev. Richard Robinson.

From this church-yard the eye is again delighted with extensive and beautiful prospects; and from thence, proceeding towards Northfield, a bridge has been lately erected by subscription, which separates the parishes of Harborne and Northfield, and also the counties of Stafford and Worcester. The stream of water gives motion to a mill, belonging to Mr. Price, and feeds the mill pond, which is a fine sheet of water covering twenty-four acres. Not far from hence there is a delightful shady walk, which extends through the grounds of Mr. Price and Mr. Simc.o.x for near a mile, and at intervals commands delightful and romantic prospects.--Within a few yards of the aforesaid bridge, the counties of Stafford, Worcester, and Warwick unite.

Returning towards Birmingham, at the sign of the Golden Cross you pa.s.s up Mitchley-lane, which separates the counties of Stafford and Warwick; the land on the right being in the parish of Edgbaston, the property of Lord Calthorpe, and on the left in Harborne, belonging to Theodore Price, Esq. About half a mile up this lane, on the left, at Fulford's farm, there is an interesting view over Mr. Price's paddock, of King's Norton, with its lofty spire, Cofton hills, Bromsgrove Lickey, Frankley Beeches, Cleat hills, &c. &c. Pa.s.sing by a neat cottage belonging to Mr. Frears, you come again into the Harborne road, at Mr. Smith's.

In this village there is a free school for the children of the inhabitants, and also for those in the hamlet of Smethwick; but the endowment is slender. Here are also three Sunday schools, which are equal to any in the kingdom, the children being cloathed in a very neat manner, by each of them subscribing one penny per week; and as all the respectable inhabitants are honorary members, they subscribe one penny each also. Formerly this was a very poor village, and the roads leading to it were in all directions very bad, until the late worthy Thomas Green, Esq. having purchased the manor house and a large estate there, he afterwards improved the roads, and was at all times anxious to improve this his native spot. A monument in the church describes his character.----The old manor house was the residence of Judge Birch, and the only respectable building in the parish; which is now a common farmhouse, where there are some vestiges of old village elegance, and some comfortable apartments: it is the property of Mr.

Simc.o.x. Harborne being situated upon very high ground, and the soil light, renders the air very salubrious; instances of longevity being very numerous, particularly one couple, James Sands and his wife, one of whom; as is recorded in Fuller's Worthies, lived to the age of 140, and the other to 120.

_To King's Norton, in Worcester shire, distant five Mile_.

You leave Birmingham, either through Alcester-street or up Camphill, where there is a half-timbered house, inhabited by Mr. John Simc.o.x, an attorney. In a field nearly opposite there is perhaps the best view over the town of Birmingham that can be taken. A short distance beyond, on the right, is a row of houses, to which is given the name of Highgate. A little farther, on the left, is a tan-yard, upon an extensive scale, the property of Mr. Avery Homer.

In a field near the two mile stone, there is a grand panoramic view of Birmingham, and the adjacent country for several miles on each side of it, which is seen to the greatest advantage in an afternoon. A little beyond is Moseley hall, an elegant stone building, erected about twenty-five years since, by the late John Taylor, Esq. and is now the residence of his widow.

The village of Moseley has nothing to attract attention. The place of worship is a chapel of ease to King's Norton: it has an ancient stone tower, but the body of it has been rebuilt of late years with brick; the officiating clergyman being the Rev. Edward Palmer. In this neighbourhood William Villers, Esq. resides, who has for a number of years been an active magistrate for the town of Birmingham. A little beyond Moseley hall there is on the right an extensive and picturesque view over Edgbaston and the adjacent country, with the monument on the right. Proceeding only a few yards farther, the scene varies in a considerable degree; the monument being on the left, a gla.s.s-house in the centre, and the front of Moseley hall in full view; over the roof of which is seen some of the buildings in Birmingham.

Upon a turn of the road, the eye is gratified with a fine view over Bromsgrove Lickey, Frankley Beeches, and the adjacent hills; with the spire of King's Norton church on the left. You next pa.s.s through the village of King's Heath, and about one mile before you reach King's Norton, there is on the right a most n.o.ble, picturesque, and variegated view over an extensive country, diversified with wood, hill, and dale; the Worcester ca.n.a.l being in the valley. When you arrive at the finger post, the eye is delighted with a grand view over the country; the village and church being in front..

_King's Norton_

The land for a considerable distance round this village being the property of the crown, as King's-heath, King's-wood, etc.; denote, King Edward 6th founded a free grammar school on the north east side of the church-yard, and endowed it with the sum of fifteen pounds per annum, (the inhabitants at that time preferring money to land), for a master and usher; which still remains the same to the present day. In the time of King William 3d, when the land-tax was first established, the inhabitants, to express their loyalty, gave an account of their estates, at the full value, and on that account they have ever since been rated in the same manner; this district paying four shillings in the pound, at the same time that Birmingham did not pay four-pence.

This being the case, the stipend allowed for the master and usher was of course reduced in that proportion. The Worcester ca.n.a.l pa.s.sing through this parish, and the land being considerably elevated, it enters a tunnel sixteen feet wide and eighteen feet high, which continues for the distance of two miles, and is so accurately formed, that it is said any person may look in at one end and perceive the light at the other end; and in this parish the Worcester and Stratford ca.n.a.ls form a junction.

The church, is a richly ornamented gothic building, with a lofty spire, although only a chapel of ease to Bromsgrwe. The officiating-clergy man is the Rev. ---- Edwards.

_To Barr-beacon and Aldridge, on the road to Stafford._

Proceeding down Walmer-lane, otherwise Lancaster-street, you pa.s.s by a small portion of Aston park wall, keeping it on your right hand, and some time after cross the river Tame over Perry-bridge, when there is a road to the left which conducts you to Perry hall, an old moated mansion, within a small park; the property and residence of John Gough, Esq. who is an eccentric character. In the winter he courses with his tenants, who are all of them subservient to him; and during summer, having some deer, he disposes of the venison. If any of the neighbouring gentry send him an order for a haunch or a neck, he waits until further orders arrive; and when the princ.i.p.al part is engaged, he then kills a buck, and executes his orders; the inferior parts serving for self and family, although his annual income must be at least ten thousand pounds. He is said to be in possession of some valuable paintings, but there are very few people indeed who can obtain a sight of them.

At the distance of five mites, when the roads intersect each other, proceeding on the right hand, at the distance of three quarters of a mile is the catholic college, at Oscott. About one-mile farther is a place called the Quieslet, where the left hand road conducts you to an elegant lodge, the entrance into Barr-park, which is described on the road to Walsall, that being a turnpike road. You soon after arrive at a clump of trees, on the summit of a hill, which is Barr-beacon, from whence there is perhaps a prospect equally extensive and beautiful as any in the kingdom. From hence there is a view over great part of the following counties, viz. Warwick, Leicester Derby, Stafford, Chester, Salop, Worcester, Nottingham Northampton, Oxford, Glocester, Hereford, Monmouth, Brecknock, Radnor, and Montgomery; whilst the scene to the south west commands a view of Birmingham and its most populous vicinity of mines, manufactories, &c. This beacon, being the property of Sir Joseph Scott, when he is at home, a very large flag is hoisted, and upon any public occasion several pieces of cannon are fired, which produce a grand effect. The adjacent ground, for a very considerable extent, lay waste, until an act of parliament was obtained in 1798 for its inclosure. This land now lets from five shillings to twenty shillings per acre.

_Aldridge, in Staffordshire, nine miles._

The princ.i.p.al road from Birmingham to Stafford lay through this village, until of late years the turnpike road through Walsall and Cannock having been considerably improved, this road to the county town is nearly if not quite abandoned; yet it leads to Hednesford (usually p.r.o.nounced Hedgeford), where numerous horses are annually trained for the turf, upon Cannock heath. _To Edgbaston, in Warwickshire, distant one mile._

Having pa.s.sed up Broad-street and Islington, when you are through the turnpike, the left hand side of Ladywood-lane, the whole of Hagley-row, the road to Harborne, Calthorpe's road, and the right hand side of Islington-row, are all of them in this parish. Indeed the lands hereabouts are almost exclusively the property of Lord Calthorpe, whose ancestors purchased this estate, early in the last century for 25,000, and he will not permit any manufactories to be established upon his land which tends in a great degree to make the neighbourhood respectable and genteel.

The first Houses in Calthorpe's-road were erected in the year 1815; the establishment for the deaf and dumb being erected about two years before. This asylum is under the superintendance of Mr. Braidwood, and is described among the public inst.i.tutions in Birmingham.--(See page 39.)

There were, in former times, within this parish, three parks, Edgbaston-park, Mitchley-park, and Rotten-park, but the two latter have many years since been thrown into inclosures. The park of Edgbaston remains entire, and the mansion within it is now the residence of Edward Johnson, M.D. who is very eminent in his profession.--The church is an ancient gothic tower, the body having of late years been very much modernized, and fitted up withinside in a very neat and commodious manner. The officiating clergyman is the Rev.

Charles Pixell. There have been within the last three years a great number of genteel houses erected by the opulent inhabitants of Birmingham, who not only enjoy fresh air, but the parochial taxes of this parish do not bear any proportion with those of Birmingham. At this toll-gate, which bears the name of Five-ways, there are now, by the opening of Calthorpe's road, six separate and distinct roads.

About half a mile from the toll-gate, there is on the right of the Hagley road, an observatory, a very conspicuous pile of building, seven stories high, which is usually called the Monument: it was erected by John Perrot, Esq. about the year 1758, from whence there are extensive views over the adjacent country, in every direction. The adjoining house is the residence of John Guest, Esq.

There was in this church-yard a grave-stone, cut by the hands of that celebrated typographer, Baskerville, (who was originally a stone-cutter, and afterwards kept a school in Birmingham), which is now removed and placed withinside the church. The stone being of a flaky nature, the inscription is not quite perfect, but whoever takes delight in looking at well-formed letters, may here be highly gratified: it was erected to the memory of Edw. Richards, an idiot, who died 21st September, 1728, with the following inscription :--

If innocents are the favourites of Heaven, And G.o.d but little asks where little's given, My great Creator has for me in store Eternal joys; what wise man can have more?

There is another head-stone, cut by him, with his name upon it, in the church of Handsworth, and are the only two known to be in existence.

_Yardley, in Worcestershire, distant three miles._

The road to this village lies up Deritend and Bordesley, then crossing the Warwick ca.n.a.l, you leave the ruins of Bordesley-house, and when through the turnpike, there being three roads you proceed along the centre, in which there are good accommodations for the pedestrian, but the carriage road does not appear to have experienced any improvement since it was first formed; for before you reach the village, the road is for a considerable distance from twenty to forty feet below the surface of the ground, on each side of it.

The church, which is dedicated to St. Giles, is an ancient pile of building. The tower and elegant spire above it appear at this time as firm and substantial as at their first erection, although they are so ancient that there are not any records to say when they were built: the body of the church is not so perfect. In the chancel there are several monuments to commemorate the Greswolds, an ancient family, formerly resident in this parish. The patronage rests with Edmund Mesey Wigley, Esq. The present vicar is the Rev. Joseph Fell.

Adjoining the church-yard is an half-timbered building of large dimensions, which is a free school, liberally endowed, the salary of the master being 100 per annum.

The land in this parish being very suitable for making of tiles, innumerable quant.i.ties are there manufactured, for the supply of Birmingham.

_To Rowley Regis, in Staffordshire, distant seven miles_.

You proceed towards Kidderminster, until you arrive at the toll-gate, two miles and a half distant, when the right hand road leads to this village; where, in all probability, there are more jew's harps manufactured than there are in all Europe beside.

The admirer of nature, (for no art has ever been practised here,) may be gratified with various extensive and luxuriant views. There is not any thing either in the church or in the village deserving of notice; but there is, not far distant, a rude, rugged, and misshapen ma.s.s of stone, which is situated on the summit of a hill, and projects itself several yards higher than the ground adjoining: it is by the inhabitants denominated Rowley hail-stone; and when at a considerable distance from it, on the foot road from Dudley, it has the appearance of some considerable ruins.

From this spot the views are more extensive than can easily be imagined, over a beautiful and romantic country, Birmingham being vary visible.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

W. Talbot, Printer, Exeter-row,

Birmingham.