Page:Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham.djvu/110

98 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 Galton, 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 mouths.

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 here 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—

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.; Homœpathic Hospital, £195 5s. 3d.; Orthopœdic 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