SHOWELL'S

Dictionary of Birmingham.


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Danielites.—A tribe who eschew fish, flesh, and fowl, and drink no alcohol; neither do they snuff, smoke, or chew tobacco. At a fruit banquet, held on August, 1877, it was decided to organise a "Garden of Danielites" in Birmingham.

Dates.—The most complete work giving the dates of all the leading events in the world's history is "Haydn's Book of Dates," the latest edition bringing them down to 1882. For local events, the only "Local Book of Dates" published is that of 1874, but "Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham" (by the same author), will be found to contain more reliable data than any book hitherto issued. For information of a general character, respecting the immediate neighbourhood and adjoining counties, our readers cannot do better than refer to the files of Birmingham newspapers, preserved in the Reference Library, or write to the present editors of the said papers, gentlemen noted for their urbanity, and readiness to tell anybody anything.

Dawson, George, See "Parsons, Preachers, and Priests," and "Statues."

Deaf and Dumb Asylum.See "Philanthropic Institutions."

Debating Societies.—From time immemorial the Brums have had their little Parliaments, mostly in public-house parlours and clubrooms, and certain Sunday nights gathering at "Bob Edmonds" and other well-known houses have acquired quite an historical interest; but the regularly-constituted "Spouting Clubs" of the present day cannot claim a very long existence, the Birmingham Debating Society having held their first palaver on the 3rd of Dec., 1846. In 1855 they joined the Edgbastonians. The latest of the kind started in 1884, is known as the Birmingham Parliamentary Debating Society, and has its premier, parties, and political fights, in proper Parliamentary style.

Deer Stealers.—There was a taste for venison in more classes than one in 1765, for it was found necessary to offer rewards for the detection of those persons who stole the deer from Aston Park.

Dental Hospital.See "Hospitals."

Deodands.—Prior to the passing of 9 and 10 Vict., 1846, Coroner's Juries had the power of imposing a "deodand" or penalty on any article or animal which had been instrumental in causing the death of a human being, the said animal or article being forfeited if the owner did not pay.

Deritend.—In some antique records the name has been spelt "Duratehend." For this and other reasons it has been thought to have had its origin rather from the ancient British, as "dur" is still the Welsh word for water, and its situation on the Rea (a Gaelic word signifying a running stream) seems to give a little foundation therefor. Mr. Tonlmin Smith, in whose family the "Old Crown House" has descended from the time it was built, and who, therefore, is no mean authority, was of opinion that the name was formerly "Der-yat-end," or "Deer-Gate-End," from the belief that in ancient days there was here an ancient deer forest. Leland said he entered the town by "Dirtey," so perhaps after all Deritend only means "the dirty end." Like the name of the town itself, as well as several other parts of it, we can only guess at the origin.

Deritend Bridge.—Old records show that some centuries back there was a bridge here of some sort, and occasionally we find notes of payments made for repairs to the roads leading to the gates of the bridge, or to the watchmen who had charge thereof, who appear to have been in the habit of locking the gates at night, a procedure which we fear our "Dirtyent" neighbours of to-day would be inclined to resent. The Act for building the present bridge was obtained in 1784; the work was commenced in 1789, but not completed till 1814.

Dickens, Charles, made his first appearance amongst us at a Polytechnic Conversazione held February 28, 1844, his last visit being to distribute prizes to students of the Midland Institute, January 6, 1870. In December, 1854, he gave the proceeds of three "Readings," amounting to £227, to the funds of the Institute, in which he always took great interest.—See also "Theatrical Notes," &c.

Digbeth, or Dyke Path, or Ducks' Bath, another puzzle to the antiquarians. It was evidently a watery place, and the pathway lay low, as may be seen at "Ye Olde Leather Bottel."

Dining Halls.—Our grandfathers were content to take their bread and cheese by the cosy fireside of a public-house kitchen; this was followed by sundry publicans reserving a better room, in which a joint was served up for their "topping customers." One who got into trouble and lost his license, conceived the idea of opposing his successor, and started dining-rooms, sending out for beer as it was required, but not to his old shop. This innovation took, and when the railways began bringing in their streams of strangers, these dining-rooms paid well (as several of the old ones do still). The next step was the opening of a large room in Slaney Street (June 8, 1863), and another in Cambridge Street, with the imposing title of "Dining Halls," wherein all who were hungry could be fed at wholesale prices—provided they had the necessary cash. Our people, however, are not sufficiently gregarious to relish this kind of feeding in flocks, barrackroom fashion, and though the provisions were good and cheap, the herding together of all sorts spoilt the speculation, and Dining Halls closed when "Restaurants" opened.—See "Luncheon Bars."

Diocese.—Birmingham is in the diocese of Worcester, and in the Archdeaconry of Coventry.

Directories.—The oldest Birmingham Directory known was printed in 1770, but there had been one advertised a few years earlier, and every now and then, after this date one or other of our few printers ventured to issue what they called a directory, but the procuring a complete list of all and every occupation carried on in Birmingham appears to have been a feat beyond their powers, even sixty years back. As far as they did go, however, the old directories are not uninteresting, as they give us glimpses of trade mutations and changes compared with the present time that appear strange now even to our oldest inhabitants. Place for instance the directory of 1824 by the side of White's directory for 1874 (one of the most valuable and carefully compiled works of the kind yet issued). In the former we find the names of 4,980 tradesmen, the different businesses under which they are allotted numbering only 141; in 1874 the trades and professions named tot up to 745, under which appears no less than 33,462 names. In 1824, if we are to believe the directory, there were no factors here, no fancy repositories, no gardeners or florists, no pearl button makers, no furniture brokers or pawnbrokers (!), no newsagents, and, strange to say, no printer. Photographers and electro-platers were unknown, though fifty years after showed 68 of the one, and 77 of the latter. On the other hand, in 1824, there were 78 auger, awlblade and gimlet makers, against 19 in 1874; 14 bellows makers, against 5; 36 buckle and 810 button makers, against 10 and 265; 52 edge tool makers and 176 locksmiths, against 18 of each in 1874; hinge-makers were reduced from 53 to 23; gilt toy makers, from 265 to 15. (Considering the immense quantity of gilt trifles now sent out yearly, we can only account for these figures by supposing the producers to have been entered under various other headings). Among the trades that have vanished altogether, are steelyard makers, of whom there were 19 in 1824; saw-makers, of whom there were 26; tool-makers, of whom there were 79, and similorers, whatever they might have been. Makers of the time-honoured snuffers numbered 46 in 1824, and there were even half-a-dozen manufacturers left at work in 1874. The introduction of gas-lighting only found employ, in the first-named year, for three gasfitters; in 1874, there were close upon 100. Pewterers and manufacturers of articles in Britannia metal numbered 75 in 1824, against 19 in 1874, wire-drawers in the same period coming down from 237 to 56. The Directories of the past ten years have degenerated into mere bulky tomes, cataloguing names certainly, but published almost solely for the benefit (?) of those tradesmen who can be coaxed into advertising in their pages. To such an extent has this been carried, that it is well for all advertisers to be careful when giving their orders, that they are dealing with an established and respectable firm, more than one bogus Directory having come under the notice of the writer during the past year or two. The issue of a real Post Office Directory for 1882, for which the names, trades, and addresses were to be gathered by the letter-carriers, and no body of men could be more suitable for the work, or be better trusted, was hailed by local tradesmen as a decided step in advance (though little fault could be found with the editions periodically issued by Kelly), but unfortunately the proposed plan was not successfully carried out, and in future years the volume will be principally valued as a curiosity, the wonderfully strange mistakes being made therein of placing the honoured name of Sir Josiah Mason under the head of "Next-of-Kin Enquiry Agents," and that, too, just previous to the exposure of the numerous frauds carried out by one of the so-called agents and its curiousness is considerably enhanced by the fact that a like error had been perpetrated in a recent edition of Kelly's Directory.

Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society in 1882 gave assistance to 642 persons, at an average cost of 9s. 9-1/2d. each—£315 19s. 4d. £161 16s. 5d. of this amount came from the convicts' gratuities, while the cost of aiding and helping them took £192 2s.

Dispensary.—Established in 1794; the first stone of the building in Union Street was laid December 23, 1806, and it was opened for the reception of patients early in 1808, the cost being about £3,000. It has been one of the most valuable institutions of the town, thousands receiving medical assistance every year, and is supported by voluntary subscriptions. A branch Dispensary was opened in Monument Road, Feb. 27, 1884. Provident Dispensaries, to which members pay a small monthly sum for medicine and attendance, were organised in 1878, the first branch being opened at Hockley in October of that year. In the first fifteen months 3,765 individuals, paid subscriptions, and about £577 was paid for drugs and doctors fees. There are also branches at Camp Hill and Small Heath.

Dissenters.—In 1836 there were 45 places of worship belonging to various denominations of Dissenters here; there are now about 145.—See "Places of Worship."

Distances from Birmingham to neighbouring places, county towns, trade centres, watering places, &c. Being taken from the shortest railway routes, this list may be used as a guide to the third-class fares— Reckoned at 1d. per mile:—

Miles
Aberdare 111
Aberdeen 437½
Abergavenny 79
Abergele 109
Aberystwith 123½
Acock's Green
Albrighton 20
Alcester 24
Aldershot 111½
Alnwick 52½
Alrewas 26
Alton Towers 52½
Alvechurch 13½
Arbroath 310
Ashbourne 56¼
Ashby-de-la-Zouch 41½
Ashton-under-Lyne 84½
Aylesbury 84
Bala 94
Banbury 42
Bangor 135
Barmouth 116
Barnsley 95½
Barnstaple 181
Barnt Green 12
Barrow-in-Furness 160
Basingstoke 108½ 118½
Bath 98½
Battersea 115½
Bedford 82
Beeston Castle 64½
Belper 50
Berkswell 13
Berwick 281
Bescot Junction
Bettws-y-Coed 134
Bewdley 22½
Bilston
Birkenhead 90
Blackburn 113
Blackpool 124
Bletchley 65½
Blisworth 49½
Bloxwich 10½
Bolton 95¼
Borth 113
Bournemouth 173
Bradford 120½
Brecon 95
Bredon 40½
Brettle Lane 12
Bridgnorth 20
Bridgewater 127
Brierley Hill 11½
Brighton 166
Bristol 94
Bromsgrove 16
Bromyard 41
Buckingham 70½
Builth Road 88
Burslem 49
Burton-on-Trent 32
Bury St Edmunds 133
Bushbury Jun'tion 13
Buxton 79
Cambridge 111½
Cannock 15½
Canterbury 175½
Cardiff 109
Carlisle 196
Carmarthen 187½
Carnarvon 143½
Castle Bromwich 5-3/4
Castle Douglas 248½
Chapel-en-le-Frith 89
Cheadle 77
Cheddar 115½
Chelsea 110
Cheltenham 49½
Chepstow 84
Chester 75
Chesterfield 65½
Chippenham 117
Chipping Norton 60
Chirk 62½
Church Stretton 54
Cinderford 83½
Cirencester 84½
Clapham Junction 113
Clay Cross 62
Cleobury Mortimer 29
Clifton Bridge 97
Coalbrookdale 30
Codsall 16½
Coleford 80
Coleshill 11½
Colwich 25½
Colwyn Bay 115
Congleton 58
Conway 120½
Coventry 18½
Cradley 9
Craven Arms 61½
Crewe Junction 54
Croydon 123
Crystal Palace 120
Darlaston
Darlington 175½
Deepfields
Denbigh 97
Derby 42½
Devizes 143½
Didcot 76
Dolgelly 106
Doncaster 96½
Dorchester 184
Dorking 133
Droitwich 23
Dublin 232
Dudley 8
Dumfries 229
Dundee 347
Dunstable 79
Durham 198
Edinburgh 297½
Elgin 450
Ely 127
Erdington
Etruria 47
Evercreech Junct'n 121
Evesham 34
Exeter 170
Falmouth 286½
Farrington 87
Fearnall Heath 25
Fenny Compton 34½
Fenny Stratford 67
Festiniog 145
Filey 178
Miles
Fleetwood 126
Flint 87½
Folkestone 202
Forfar 304
Forge Mills 9
Four Ashes 19
Frome 138
Furness Abbey 158½
Garstang 115
Glasgow 286
Glastonbury 140
Gloucester 56½
Gosport 150
Gravelly Hill 3
Great Barr
Great Bridge 7
Grimsby 136½
Guildford 120
Hagley 13½
Halesowen 9
Halifax 122½
Hanley 47½
Harborne 4
Harlech 126
Harrowgate 133
Harrow 101
Hartlebury 22
Hartlepool 186
Hastings 192½
Hatton 17¼
Haverfordwest 218½
Heath Town 12
Hednesford 17½
Henley-on-Thames 103
Hereford 57
Hertford 108
Higham Ferrers 69½
High Wycombe 95
Hitchin 92
Holyhead 159¼
Holywell 91½
Huddersfield 105½
Hull 134
Ilfracombe 195
Inverness 490
Ipswich 167
Ironbridge 30
James Bridge 9
Jedburgh 263
Keighley 116½
Kendal 148
Kenilworth 21
Kidderminster 18½
Kilmarnock 278½
Kings Heath 5
Kings Norton 6
Kingstown 226
Kingswood 13
Knowle 10½
Lancaster 127½
Langley Green
Leamington 21
Ledbury 43
Leeds 115
Leicester 39½
Leominster 80
Lichfield 18
Lincoln 91½
Liverpool 97½
Llanberis 143
Llandudno 123
Llanelly 167½
Llangollen 72½
Llanrwst 131
Llanymynech 69
London 113
Longton 48
Loughborough 50
Lowestoft 201
Ludlow 69½
Lydney 79
Lye Waste 10½
Lynn 135
Macclesfield 66
Machynllyth 101
Maidenhead 105½
Maidstone 175½
Malvern (Great) 36½
Manchester 85
Margate 187
Market Bosworth 27-1
Market Drayton 48
Market Harboro' 46
Marlborough 133½
Marston Green
Maryport 224
Matlock Bath 59
Menai Bridge 136
Merthyr 111½
Middlesbro' 176
Milford Haven 228
Milverton 21
Mold 87
Monmouth 96½
Montrose 401
Moreton-in-Marsh 46
Moseley 3-3/4
Much Wenlock 33
Nantwich 56
Neath 105½
Netherton 8
Newark 71½
Newcastle-on-Tyne 215
Nwcstle-udr-Lyme 47½
Newmarket 126
Newport (Salop) 39
Newport (Mon) 101
Newton Road 5
Newton Stewart 278
Northallerton 160
Northampton 49
Northfield 8-3/4
North Shields 216½
Norwich 181
Nottingham 58
Nuneaton 20
Oakengates 28½
Oldbury
Oldham 85
Olton 5
Oswestry 62½
Oxford 66
Paisley 286
Pelsall 11
Pembroke Dock 175
Penkridge 22-3/4
Penmaenmawr 125
Penrith 178
Penzance 302
Miles
Perry Barr 4
Pershore 43½
Perth 344
Peterborough 96½
Plymouth 222½
Pontypool 90
Port Dinorwic 139
Portishead 105½
Portmadoc 134
Portsmouth 162½
Prestatyn 101
Princes End
Prollheli 138
Queen's Ferry 82
Ramsgate 192½
Reading 93
Redcar 189
Redditch 17
Reigate 138½
Rhyl 105
Rickmansworth 98
Rochdale 104½
Ross 70
Rotherham 88
Round Oak 10½
Rowsley 63½
Ruabon 67½
Rugby 80½
Rugeley 21½
Runcorn 75
Ruthin 116
Ryde 160
St Alban's 101
St Asaph 111
St Helens 85½
St Leonard's 190½
Salford Priors 28
Salisbury 157½
Saltburn 191
Sandbach 58½
Scarboro' 173
Selly Oak
Sharpness 75
Sheffield 79
Shepton Mallett 152
Shifnal 25
Shrewsbury 42
Shustoke 12
Smethwick
Solihull
Southampton 139
Southport 107½
South Shields 209
Spon Lane
Stafford 29
Stamford 72
Stechford
Stirchley Street
Stirling 336
Stockport 79
Stoke 45½
Stokes Bay 150
Stourbridge 13½
Stourport 22
Stranraer 301
Stratford-on-Avon 26
Stroud 70
Sunderland 208
Sutton Coldfield 7
Swansea 156½
Swan Village
Swindon 100
Tamworth 18
Taunton 138½
Teignmouth 184
Tenbury 38
Tewkesbury 44½
Thirsk 151
Thrapstone 75½
Tipton 8
Torquay 195½
Towcester 54
Trefnant 113
Trentham 43
Trowbridge 128
Truro 275½
Tunbridge Wells 165
Tunstall 47
Tutbury 37
Ulverstone 152
Uppingham 61½
Upton-on-Severn 49
Uttoxeter 45¼
Uxbridge 118
Wakefield 101½
Wallingford 84¼
Walsall 8
Warminster 120
Warrington 78
Warwick 21½
Water Orton
Wednesbury 8
Wednesfield 12
Weedon 42
Welshpool 61
Wellington 32
Wells 123
Wem 52
West Bromwich 4
Weston-supr-Mare 114
Weymouth 191
Whitacre Junction 10½
Whitby 187
Whitchurch 51
Whitehaven 193
Wigan 91
Willenhall 11
Willesden Junction 107
Wilnecote 16½
Wincanton 130
Winchester 127
Windermere 156
Windsor 113
Winson Green
Wirksworth 56
Witton
Woburn Sands 70
Wokingham 100
Wolverhampton 12
Wolverton 60
Worcester 27½
Worthington 50
Wrexham 72
Wylde Green 6
Yarmouth 201
Yeovil 152
York 130½

Dogs.—A 5s. duty on dogs came into force April 5, 1867; raised to 7s. 6d. in June, 1878; This was not the first tax of the kind, for a local note of the time says that in 1796 "the fields and waters near the town were covered with the dead carcases of dogs destroyed by their owners to avoid payment of the tax." The amount paid per year at present for "dog licenses" in Birmingham is about £1,800. The using of dogs as beasts of burden (common enough now abroad) was put a stop to in London at the end of Oct. 1840, though it was not until 1854 that the prohibition became general. Prior to the passing of the Act in that year, dogs were utilised as draught animals to a very great extent in this neighbourhood by the rag-and-bone gatherers, pedlars, and little merchants, as many as 180 of the poor brutes once being counted in five hours as passing a certain spot on the Westbromwich Road. There have been one or two "homes" for stray dogs opened, but it is best in case of a loss of this kind to give early information at the nearest police station, as the art of dog stealing has latterly been much cultivated in this town, and it should be considered a duty to one's neighbour to aid in putting a stop thereto.

Dog Shows.—The first local Dog Show was held in 1860, but it was not until the opening in Curzon Hall, December 4, 1865, that the Show took rank as one of the "yearly institutions" of the town.—See "Exhibitions."

Domesday Books.—The so-called Domesday Book, compiled by order of William the Norman Conqueror, has always been considered a wonderful work, and it must have taken some years compiling. Some extracts touching upon the holders of land in this neighbourhood have already been given, and in a sense they are very interesting, showing as they do the then barrenness of the land, and the paucity of inhabitants. Though in Henry VIII.'s reign an inventory of all properties in the hands of Churchmen was taken, it did not include the owners of land in general, and it was not till Mr. John Bright in 1873 moved for the Returns, that a complete register of the kind was made. It would not be easy, even if space could be given to it, to give the list of individuals, companies, and corporation who claim to be possessors of the land we live on in Birmingham and neighbourhood; but a summary including the owners in this and adjoining counties may be worth preserving. As will be seen by the annexed figures, Warwick and Stafford rank high in the list of counties having large numbers of small owners (small as to extent of ground, though often very valuable from the erections thereon). There can be no doubt that the Freehold Land and Building Societies have had much to do with this, and as Birmingham was for years the headquarters of these Societies, the fact of there being nearly 47,000 persons in the county (out of a total population of 634,189) who own small plots under one acre, speaks well for the steady perseverance of the Warwickshire lads. That we are not wrong in coming to this conclusion is shown by the fact that leaving out the Metropolitan Counties, Warwick heads, in this respect, all the shires in the kingdom.

WARWICKSHIRE.
Owners of Numbr. Acres Extent of lands. Gross estimated rental. £
Less than 1 acre 46894 5883 1808897
acre and under 10 1956 7727 93792
10 acres " " 50 1328 31485 114243
50 " " 100 447 31904 76178
100 " " 500 667 137372 398625
500 " " 1000 82 55542 134005
1000 " " 2000 47 67585 208718
2000 " " 5000 34 100185 275701
5000 " " 10000 8 53380 90848
10000 " " 20000 4 49953 74085
No areas given 49 -- 43205



Total 51516 541021 3318303
STAFFORDSHIRE.
Owners of Numbr. Acres Extent of lands. Gross estimated rental. £
Less than 1 acre 33672 4289 974133
1 acre and under 10 4062 14164 252714
10 acres " " 50 1891 44351 224505
50 " " 100 544 39015 124731
100 " " 500 557 111891 881083
500 " " 1000 90 62131 177372
1000 " " 2000 79 70637 278562
2000 " " 5000 28 90907 219792
5000 " " 10000 13 82560 136668
10000 " " 20000 7 96700 212526
20000 " " 50000 1 21433 41560
No areas given 2456 -- 606552
No rentals returned 1 2 --



Total 43371 638084 3630254
WORCESTERSHIRE.
Owners of Numbr. Acres Extent of lands. Gross estimated rental. £
Less than 1 acre .......160[**] 8 4733 444945
1 acre and under 10 2790 10136 151922
10 acres " 50 1305 31391 138517
50 " " 100 457 32605 92257
100 " " 500 589 118187 258049
500 " " 1000 66 46420 122817
1000 " " 2000 34 46794 89267
2000 " " 5000 25 78993 131886
5000 " " 10000 5 33353 54611
10000 " " 20000 3 38343 88703
No areas given 522 -- 112107



Total 21804 441061 1685735 

Duddeston Hall, and the Holte Family.—The first record of this family we have is towards the close of the thirteenth century when we find mention of Sir Henry Holte, whose son, Hugh del Holte, died in 1322. In 1331 Simon del Holte, styled of Birmingham, purchased the manor of Nechells "in consideration of xl li of silver." In 1365 John atte Holte purchased for "forty marks" the manor of Duddeston, and two years later he became possessed by gift of the manor of Aston. For many generations the family residence was at Duddeston, though their burial place was at Aston, in which church are many of their monuments, the oldest being that of Wm. Holte, who died September 28, 1514. That the Holtes, though untitled, were men of mark, may be seen by the brass in the North Aisle of Aston Church to the memory of Thomas Holte, "Justice of North Wales, and Lord of this town of Aston," who died March 23, 1545. His goods and chattels at his death were valued at £270 6s. 2d.—a very large sum in those days, and from the inventory we find that the Hall contained thirteen sleeping apartments, viz., "the chambur over the buttrie, the chappel chambur, the maydes' chambur, the great chambur, the inner chambur, to the great chambur, the yatehouse chambur, the inner chambur to the same, the geston chambur, the crosse chambur, the inner chambur to the same, the clark's chambur the yoemen's chambur, and the hyne's chambur." The other apartments were "the hawle, the plece, the storehouse, the galarye, the butterye, the ketchyn, the larderhowse, the dey-howse, the bakhowse, the bultinge howse, and the yeling howse," —the "chappell" being also part of the Hall. The principal bedrooms were hung with splendid hangings, those of the great chamber being "of gaye colors, blewe and redde," the other articles in accordance therewith, the contents of this one room being valued at xiij li. xiv. s. iiijd. (£13 14s. 4d.) The household linen comprised "22 damaske and two diapur table clothes" worth 4s.; ten dozen table napkins (40s.); a dozen "fyne towells," 20s.; a dozen "course towells" 6s. 8d.; thirty pair "fyne shetes" £5; twenty-three pair "course shetes" £3; and twenty-six "pillow beres" 20/-. The kitchen contained "potts, chafornes, skymmers, skellets, cressets, gredires, frying pannys, chfying dishes, a brazon morter with a pestell, stone morters, strykinge knives, broches, racks, brandards, cobberds, pot-hangings, hocks, a rack of iron, bowles, and payles." The live stock classed among the "moveable goods, consisted of 19 oxen, 28 kyne, 17 young beste, 24 young calves, 12 gots, 4 geldings, 2 mares, 2 naggs and a colte, 229 shepe, 12 swyne, a crane, a turkey cok, and a henne with 3 chekyns"—the lot being valued at £86 0s. 8d. Sir Thomas's marriage with a daughter of the Winnington's brought much property into the family, including lands, &c., "within the townes, villages, and fields of Aston, next Byrmyngham, and Wytton, Mellton Mowlberye (in Leicestershire), Hanseworthe (which lands did late belonge to the dissolved chambur of Aston), and also the Priory, or Free Chappell of Byrmyngham, with the lands and tenements belonging thereto, within Byrmyngham aforesaid, and the lordship or manor of the same, within the lordship of Dudeston, together with the lands and tenements, within the lordship of Nechells, Salteley, sometime belonging to the late dissolved Guild of Derytenne," as well as lands at "Horborne, Haleshowen, Norfielde and Smithewicke." His son Edward, who died in 1592, was succeeded by Sir Thomas Holte (born in 1571; died December, 1654), and the most prominent member of the family. Being one of the deputation to welcome James I. to England, in 1603, he received the honour of knighthood; in 1612 he purchased an "Ulster baronetcy," at a cost of £1,095 [this brought the "red hand" into his shield]; and in 1599 he purchased the rectory of Aston for nearly £2,000. In April, 1618, he commenced the erection of Aston Hall, taking up his abode there in 1631, though it was not finished till April, 1635. In 1642 he was honoured with the presence of Charles I., who stopped at the Hall Sunday and Monday, October 16 and 17. [At the battle of Edge Hill Edward Holt, the eldest son, was wounded—he died from fever on Aug. 28, 1643, during the siege of Oxford, aged 43] The day after Christmas, 1643, the old squire was besieged by about 1,200 Parliamentarians from Birmingham (with a few soldiers), but having procured forty musketeers from Dudley Castle, he held the Hall till the third day, when, having killed sixty of his assailants and lost twelve of his own men, he surrendered. The Hall was plundered and he was imprisoned, and what with fines, confiscations, and compounding, his loyalty appears to have cost him nearly £20,000. Sir Thomas had 15 children, but outlived them all save one. He was succeeded in his title by his grandson, Sir Robert, who lived in very straightened circumstances, occasioned by the family's losses during the Civil War, but by whose marriage with the daughter of Lord Brereton the Cheshire property came to his children. He died Oct. 3, 1679, aged 54, and was followed by Sir Charles, who had twelve children and lived till June 15, 1722, his son, Sir Clobery, dying in a few years after (Oct. 24, 1729). Sir Lister Holte, the next baronet, had no issue, though twice married, and he was succeeded (April 8, 1770), by his brother, Sir Charles, with whom the title expired (March 12, 1782), the principal estates going with his daughter and only child, to the Bracebridge family, as well as a dowry of £20,000. In 1817, an Act of Parliament was obtained for the settlement and part disposal of the whole of the property of this time-honoured and wealthy family—the total acreage being 8,914a. 2r. 23p, and the then annual rental £16,557 Os. 9d.—the Aston estate alone extending from Prospect Row to beyond Erdington Hall, and from Nechells and Saltley to the Custard House and Hay Mill Brook. Several claims have been put forward by collateral branches, both to the title and estates, but the latter were finally disposed of in 1849, when counsel's opinion was given in favour of the settlements made by Sir Lister Holte, which enabled the property to be disposed of. The claimants to the title have not yet proved their title thereto, sundry registers and certificates of ancient baptisms and marriages being still wanting.

Duddeston Ward Hall.—The name tells what it is for. The first stone was laid Dec. 15, 1877; it was opened June 1, 1878; will seat about 300, and cost £3,500, which was found by a limited Co.

Dungeon.—This very appropriate name was given to the old gaol formerly existing in Peck Lane. A writer, in 1802, described it as a shocking place, the establishment consisting of one day room, two underground dungeons (in which sometimes half-a-dozen persons had to sleep), and six or seven night-rooms, some of them constructed out of the Gaoler's stables. The prisoners were allowed 4d. per day for bread and cheese, which they had to buy from the keeper, who, having a beer license, allowed outsiders to drink with his lodgers. This, and the fact that there was but one day room for males and females alike, leaves but little to be imagined as to its horrible, filthy condition. Those who could afford to pay 2s. 6d. a week were allowed a bed in the gaoler's house, but had to put up with being chained by each wrist to the sides of the bedsteads all night, and thus forced to lie on their backs. The poor wretches pigged it in straw on the floors of the night rooms. See also "Gaols" and "Prisons."

Dwarfs.—The first note we have of the visit here of one of these curiosities of mankind is that of Count Borulawski, in 1783: though but 39 inches high it is recorded that he had a sister who could stand under his arm. The next little one, Manetta Stocker, a native of Austria, came here in 1819, and remained with us, there being a tombstone in St. Philip's churchyard bearing this inscription:—

In Memory of MANETTA STOCKER, Who quitted this life the fourth day of May, 1819, at the age of thirty-nine years. The smallest woman in this kingdom, and one of the most accomplished. She was not more than thirty-three inches high. She was a native of Austria.

General Tom Thumb (Charles Stratton) was exhibited at Dee's Royal Hotel, in September, 1844, when he was about ten years old, and several times after renewed the acquaintance. He was 31 inches high, and was married to Miss Warren, a lady of an extra inch. The couple had offspring, but the early death of the child put an end to Barnum's attempt to create a race of dwarfs. Tom Thumb died in June 1883. General Mite who was exhibited here last year, was even smaller than Tom Thumb, being but 21 inches in height. Birmingham, however, need not send abroad for specimens of this kind, "Robin Goodfellow" chronicling the death on Nov. 27, 1878, of a poor unfortunate named Thomas Field, otherwise the "Man-baby," who, though twenty-four years of age, was but 30 inches high and weighed little over 20lbs., and who had never walked or talked. The curious in such matters may, on warm, sunny mornings, occasionally meet, in the neighbourhood of Bromsgrove Street, a very intelligent little man not much if any bigger than the celebrated Tom Thumb, but who has never been made a show of.

Dynamite Manufacture.—See "Notable Offences."


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