Part 16
~Heathfield.~--Prior to 1790 the whole of this neighbourhood was open common-land, the celebrated engineer and inventor, James Watt, after the passing of the Enclosure Act being the first to erect a residence thereon, in 1791. By 1794 he had acquired rather more than 40 acres, which, he then planted and laid out as a park. Heathfield House may be called the cradle of many scores of inventions, which, though novel when first introduced, are now but as household words in our everyday life. Watt's workshop was in the garret of the south-east corner of the building, and may be said to be even now in exactly the same state as when his master-hand last touched the tools, but as the estate was lotted out for building purposes in May, 1874, and houses and streets have been built and formed all round it, it is most likely that the "House" itself will soon lose all its historic interest, and the contents of the workshop be distributed among the curiosity mongers, or hidden away on the shelves of some museum. To a local chronicler such a room is as sacred as that in which Shakespeare was born, and in the words of Mr. Sam Timmins, "to open the door and look upon the strange relics there is to stand in the very presence of the mighty dead. Everything in the room remains just as it was left by the fast failing hands of the octogenarian engineer. His well-worn, humble apron hangs dusty on the wall, the last work before him is fixed unfinished in the lathe, the elaborate machines over which his latest thoughts were spent are still and silent, as if waiting only for their master's hand again to waken them into life and work. Upon the shelves are crowds of books, whose pages open no more to those clear, thoughtful eyes, and scattered in the drawers and boxes are the notes and memoranda, and pocket-books, and diaries never to be continued now. All these relics of the great engineer, the skilful mechanic, the student of science, relate to his intellectual and public life; but there is a sadder relic still. An old hair-trunk, carefully kept close by the old man's stool, contains the childish sketches, the early copy-books and grammars, the dictionaries, the school-books, and some of the toys of his dearly-beloved and brilliant son Gregory Watt."
~Heraldry.~--In the days of the mail-clad knights, who bore on their shields some quaint device, by which friend or foe could tell at sight whom they slew or met in fight, doubtless the "Kings-At-Arms," the "Heralds," and the "Pursuivants" of the College of Arms founded by Richard III. were functionaries of great utility, but their duties nowadays are but few, and consist almost solely of tracing pedigrees for that portion of the community whom our American cousins designate as "shoddy," but who, having "made their pile," would fain be thought of aristocratic descent. In such a Radical town as Birmingham, the study of _or_ and _gules, azure_ and _vert_, or any of the other significant terms used in the antique science of heraldry, was not, of course, to be expected, unless at the hands of the antiquary or the practical heraldic engraver, both scarce birds in our smoky town, but the least to be looked for would be that the borough authorities should carefully see that the borough coat of arms was rightly blazoned. It has been proved that the town's-name has, at times, been spelt in over a gross of different ways, and if any reader will take the trouble to look at the public buildings, banks, and other places where the blue, red, and gold of the Birmingham Arms shines forth, he will soon be able to count three to four dozen different styles; every carver, painter, and printer apparently pleasing himself how he does it. It has been said that when the question of adopting a coat of arms was on the _tapis_, the grave and reverend seniors appointed to make inquiries thereanent, calmly took copies of the shields of the De Berminghams and the De Edgbastous, and fitted the "bend lozengy" and the "parti per pale" together, under the impression that the one noble family's cognisance was a gridiron, and the other a currycomb, both of which articles they considered to be exceedingly appropriate for such a manufacturing town as Birmingham. Wiser in their practicability than the gentlemen who designed the present shield, they left the currycomb quarters in their proper _sable_ and _argent_ (black and white), and the gridiron _or_ and _gules_ (a golden grid on a red-hot fire.) For proper emblazonment, as by Birmingham law established, see the cover.
~Heathmill Lane.~--In 1532 there was a "water mill to grynde corne," called "Heth mill," which in that year was let, with certain lands, called the "Couyngry," by the Lord of the Manor, on a ninety-nine years' lease, at a rent of £6 13s. 4d. per year.
~Here we are again~!--The London _Chronicle_ of August 14, 1788, quoting from a "gentleman" who had visited this town, says that "the people are all diminutive in size, sickly in appearance, and spend their Sundays in low debauchery," the manufacturers being noted for "a great deal of trick and low cunning as well as profligacy!"
~Highland Gathering.~--The Birmingham Celtic Society held their first "gathering" at Lower Grounds, August 2, 1879, when the ancient sports of putting stones, throwing hammers, etc., was combined with a little modern bicycling, and steeple-chasing, to the music of the bagpipes.
~Hill (Sir Rowland).~--See "_Noteworthy Men_."
~Hills.~--Like unto Rome this town may be said to be built on seven hills, for are there not Camp Hill and Constitution Hill, Summer Hill and Snow Hill, Ludgate Hill, Hockley Hill, and Holloway Hill (or head). Turner's Hill, near Lye Cross, Rawley Regis is over 100ft. higher than Sedgley Beacon, which is 486ft. above sea level. The Lickey Hills are about 800ft. above same level, but the highest hill within 50 miles of Birmingham is the Worcestershire Beacon, 1395ft. above sea level. The highest mountain in England, Scawfell Pike, has an elevation of 3229ft.
~Hailstorms.~--In 1760 a fierce hailstorm stripped the leaves and fruit from nearly every tree in the apple orchards in Worcestershire, the hail lying on the ground six to eight inches deep, many of the stones and lumps of ice being three and four inches round. In 1798, many windows at Aston Hall were broken by the hail. A very heavy hailstorm did damage at the Botanical gardens and other places, May 9, 1833. There have been a few storms of later years, but none like unto these.
~Hector.~--The formation of Corporation Street, and the many handsome buildings erected and planned in its line, have improved off the face of the earth, more than one classic spot, noted in our local history, foremost among which we must place the house of Mr. Hector, the old friend and schoolfellow of Dr. Samuel Johnson. The great lexicographer spent many happy hours in the abode of his friend, and as at one time there was a slight doubt on the matter, it is as well to place on record here that the house in which Hector, the surgeon, resided, was No. 1, in the Old Square, at the corner of the Minories, afterwards occupied by Mr. William Scholefield, Messrs. Jevons and Mellor's handsome pile now covering the spot. The old rate books prove this beyond a doubt. Hector died there on the 2nd of September, 1794, after having practised as a surgeon, in Birmingham, for the long period of sixty-two years. He was buried in a vault at Saint Philip's Church, Birmingham, where, in the middle aisle, in the front of the north gallery, an elegant inscription to his memory was placed. Hector never married, and Mrs. Careless, a clergyman's widow, Hector's own sister, and Johnson's "first love," resided with him, and appears by the burial register of St. Philip's to have died in October, 1788, and to have been buried there, probably in the vault in which her brother was afterwards interred. In the month of November, 1784, just a month before his own decease, Johnson passed a few days with his friend, Hector, at his residence in the Old Square, who, in a letter to Boswell, thus speaks of the visit:--"He" (Johnson) "was very solicitous with me, to recollect some of our most early transactions, and to transmit them to him, for I perceived nothing gave him greater pleasure than calling to mind those days of our innocence. I complied with his request, and he only received them a few days before his death." Johnson arrived in London from Birmingham on the 16th of November, and on the following day wrote a most affectionate letter to Mr. Hector, which concludes as follows:--
"Let us think seriously on our duty. I send my kindest respects to dear Mrs. Careless. Let me have the prayers of both. We have all lived long, and must soon part. God have mercy upon us, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!"
This was probably nearly the last letter Johnson wrote, for on the 13th of the following month, just twenty-seven days after his arrival in London from Birmingham, oppressed with disease, he was numbered with the dead.
~Hinkleys.~--Otherwise, and for very many years, known as "The Inkleys," the generally-accepted derivation of the name being taken from the fact that one Hinks at one time was a tenant or occupier, under the Smalbroke family, of the fields or "leys" in that locality, the two first narrow roads across the said farm being respectively named the Upper and the Nether Inkleys, afterwards changed to the Old and New Inkleys. Possibly, however, the source may be found in the family name of Hinckley, as seen in the register of Harborne. A third writer suggests that the character of its denizens being about as black as could be painted, the place was naturally called Ink Leys. Be that as it may, from the earliest days of their existence, these places seem to have been the abode and habitation of the queerest of the queer people, the most aristocratic resident in our local records having been "Beau Green," the dandy--[see "_Eccentrics_"]--who, for some years, occupied the chief building in the Inkleys, nicknamed "Rag Castle," otherwise Hinkley Hall. The beautiful and salubrious neighbourhood, known as "Green's Village," an offshoot of the Inkleys, was called so in honour of the "Beau."
~Hiring a Husband.~--In 1815, a Birmingham carpenter, after ill-treating his wife, leased himself to another woman by a document which an unscrupulous attorney had the hardihood to draw up, and for which he charged thirty-five shillings. This precious document bound the man and the woman to live together permanently, and to support and succour each other to the utmost of their power. The poor wife was, of course, no consenting party to this. She appealed to the law; the appeal brought the "lease" before the eyes of the judiciary; the man was brought to his senses (though probably remaining a bad husband), and the attorney received a severe rebuke.
~Historical.~--A local Historical Society was inaugurated with an address from Dr. Freeman, Nov. 18, 1880, and, doubtless, in a few years the reports and proceedings will be of very great value and interest. The fact that down to 1752 the historical year in England commenced on January 1, while the civil, ecclesiastical, and legal year began on the 25th of March, led to much confusion in dates, as the legislature, the church, and civilians referred every event which took place between January 1 and March 25 to a different year from the historians. Remarkable examples of such confusion are afforded by two well-known events in English history: Charles I. is said by most authorities to have been beheaded January 30, 1648, while others, with equal correctness, say it was January 30, 1649; and so the revolution which drove James II. from the throne is said by some to have taken place in February, 1688, and by others in February, 1689. Now, these discrepancies arise from some using the civil and legal, and others the historical year, though both would have assigned any event occurring _after_ the 25th of March to the same years--viz., 1649 and 1689. To avoid as far as possible mistakes from these two modes of reckoning, it was usual, as often seen in old books or manuscripts, to add the historical to the legal date, when speaking of any day between January 1 and March 25, thus:
8(_i.e._ 1648, the civil and legal year. Jan.30. 164- ( 9(_i.e._ 1649 the historical year.
or thus, January 30, 1648-9.
This practice, common as it was for many years, is, nevertheless, often misunderstood, and even intelligent persons are sometimes perplexed by dates so written. The explanation, however, is very simple, for the lower or last figure always indicates the year according to our present calculation.
~Hockley Abbey.~--Near to, and overlooking Boulton's Pool, in the year 1799 there was a piece of waste land, which being let to Mr. Richard Ford, one of the mechanical worthies of that period, was so dealt with as to make the spot an attraction for every visitor. Mr. Ford employed a number of hands, and some of them he observed were in the habit of spending a great part of their wages and time in dissipation. By way of example to his workmen he laid aside some 12/-to 15/-a week for a considerable period, and when trade was occasionally slack with him, and he had no other occupation for them, he sent his horse and cart to Aston Furnaces for loads of "slag," gathering in this way by degrees a sufficient quantity of this strange building material for the erection of a convenient and comfortable residence. The walls being necessarily constructed thicker than is usual when mere stone or brick is used, the fancy took him to make the place represent a ruined building, which he christened "Hockley Abbey," and to carry out his deceptive notion the date 1473 was placed in front of the house, small pebbles set in cement being used to form the figures. In a very few years by careful training nearly the whole of the building was overgrown with ivy, and few but those in the secret could have guessed at the history of this ruined "abbey." For the house and some fifteen acres of land £100 rent was paid by Mr. Hubert Gallon, in 1816 and following years, exclusive of taxes, and by way of comfort to the heavily-burdened householders of to-day, we may just add that, in addition to all those other duties loyal citizens were then called upon to provide for the exigencies of the Government, the parochial taxes on those premises from Michaelmas, 1816, to Michaelmas, 1817, included two church rates at 30s. each, three highway rates at 30s. each, and _thirty-six_ levies for the poor at 30s. each--a total of £61 10s. in the twelve months.
~Hollow Tooth Yard.~--At one time commonly called the "Devil's Hollow Tooth Yard." This was the name given to the Court up the gateway in Bull Street, nearest to Monmouth Street.
~Holt Street,~ Heneage Street, Lister Street, &c., are named after the Holte family.
~Home Hitting.~--The Rev. John Home, a Scotch divine, who visited Birmingham in 1802, said, "it seemed here as if God had created man only for making buttons."
~Horse Fair.~--Formerly known as Brick-kiln Lane, received its present name from the fairs first held there in 1777.
~Horses.~--To find out the number of these useful animals at present in Birmingham, is an impossible task; but, in 1873, the last year before its repeal, the amount paid for "horse duty" in the Borough was £3,294 7s. 6d., being at the rate of 10s. 6d. on 6,275 animals.
~Hospital Saturday.~--The fact of the contributions on Hospital Sundays coming almost solely from the middle and more wealthy classes, led to the suggestion that if the workers of the town could be organised they would not be found wanting any more than their "betters." The idea was quickly taken up, committees formed, and cheered by the munificent offer of £500 from Mr. P.H. Muntz towards the expenses, the first collection was made on March 15th 1873, the result being a gross receipt of £4,705 11s. 3d. Of this amount £490 8s. 10d. was collected from their customers by the licensed victuallers and beerhouse keepers; the gross totals of each year to the present time being--
1873 . . £4,705 11 3 1874 . . 4,123 15 2 1875 . . 3,803 11 8 1876 . . 3,664 13 8 1877 . . 3,200 17 0 1878 . . 3,134 5 0 1879 . . 3,421 10 2 1880 . . 3,760 9 0 1881 . . 3,968 18 7 1882 . . 4,888 18 9 1883 . . 5,489 9 0 1884 . . 6,062 16 6
After deducting for expenses, the yearly amounts are divided, _pro rata_, according to their expenditures among the several hospitals and similar charities, the proportions in 1883 being:--General Hospital. £1,843 4s. 1d.; Queen's Hospital, £931 8s. 3d.; General Dispensary, £561 1s. 7d.; Children's Hospital, £498 0s. 4d.; Eye Hospital, £345 0s. 4d.; Birmingham and Midland Counties' Sanatorium, £211 0s. 4d., Women's Hospital, £193 1s. 9d.; Homoepathic Hospital, £195 5s. 3d.; Orthopædic Hospital, £138 13s. 6d.; Lying-in Charity, £67 6s. 5d.; Skin and Lock Hospital, £44 14s. 8d.; Ear and Throat Infirmary, £26 12s. 8d.; Dental Hospital, £9 5s. 3d.; and Birmingham Nursing District Society, £34 17s. 7d. The total sum thus distributed in the twelve years is £48,574 18s. 9d.
~Hospital Sunday.~--There is nothing new under the sun! Birmingham has the honour of being credited as the birth-place of "Hospital Sundays," but old newspapers tell us that as far back as 1751, when Bath was in its pride and glory, one Sunday in each year was set aside in that city for the collection, at every place of worship, of funds for Bath Hospital; and a correspondent writing to _Aris's Gazette_ recommended the adoption of a similar plan in this town. The first suggestion for the present local yearly Sunday collection for the hospitals appeared in an article, written by Mr. Thos. Barber Wright, in the _Midland Counties Herald_ in October, 1859. A collection of this kind took place on Sunday, the 27th, of that month, and the first public meeting, when arrangements were made for its annual continuance, was held in the Town Hall, December 14th same year, under the presidency of Dr. Miller, who, therefrom, has been generally accredited with being the originator of the plan. The proceeds of the first year's collection were given to the General Hospital, the second year to the Queen's, and the third year divided among the other charitable institutions in the town of a like character, and this order of rotation has been adhered to since.
The following is a list of the gross amounts collected since the establishment of the movement:--
1859 General Hospital..........£5,200 8 10 1860 Queen's Hospital.......... 3,433 6 1 1861 Amalgamated Charities..... 2,953 14 0 1862 General Hospital.......... 8,340 4 7 1863 Queen's Hospital.......... 3,293 5 0 1864 Amalgamated Charities..... 3,178 5 0 1865 General Hospital.......... 4,256 11 11 1866 Queen's Hospital.......... 4,133 2 10 1867 Amalgamated Charities..... 3,654 9 7 1868 General Hospital.......... 4,253 9 11 1869 Queen's Hospital.......... 4,469 1 8 1870 Amalgamated Charities..... 4,111 6 7 1871 General Hospital.......... 4,886 9 2 1872 Queen's Hospital.......... 5,192 2 3 1873 Amalgamated Charities..... 5,370 8 3 1874 General Hospital.......... 5,474 17 11 1875 Queen's Hospital.......... 5,800 8 8 1876 Amalgamated Charities..... 5,265 10 10 1877 General Hospital.......... 5,280 15 3 1878 Queen's Hospital.......... 6,482 12 10 1879 Amalgamated Charities..... 5,182 3 10 1880 General Hospital.......... 4,886 1 8 1881 Queen's Hospital.......... 4,585 1 3 1882 Amalgamated Charities..... 4,800 12 6 1883 General Hospital.......... 5,145 0 5 1884 Queen's Hospital..........