Page:Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham.djvu/14

2 issued at Oxford this year mention is made of "Bremincham inhabited with blacksmiths, and forging sundry kinds of iron utensils."

Birmingham in 1635.—As showing the status the town held at this date we find that it was assessed for "ship money" by Charles I, at £100, the same as Warwick, while Sutton Coldfield had to find £80 and Coventry £266.

Birmingham in 1656.—Dugdale speaks of it as "being a place very eminent for most commodities made of iron."

Birmingham in 1680-90.—Macaulay says: The population of Birmingham was only 4,000, and at that day nobody had heard of Birmingham guns. He also says there was not a single regular shop where a Bible or almanack could be bought; on market days a bookseller named Michael Johnson (father of the great Samuel Johnson) came over from Lichfield and opened a stall for a few hours, and this supply was equal to the demand. The gun trade, however, was introduced here very soon after, for there is still in existence a warrant from the Office of Ordnance to "pay to John Smart for Thomas Hadley and the rest of the Gunmakers of Birmingham, one debenture of ffour-score and sixteen poundes and eighteen shillings, dated ye 14th of July, 1690."—Alexander Missen, visiting this town in his travels, said that "swords, heads of canes, snuffboxes, and other fine works of steel," could be had "cheaper and better here than even in famed Milan."

Birmingham in 1691.— The author of "The New State of England," published this year, says: "Bromichan drives a good trade in iron and steel wares, saddles and bridles, which find good vent at London, Ireland, and other parts." By another writer, "Bromicham" is described as "a large and well-built town, very populous, much resorted to, and particularly noted a few years ago for the counterfeit groats made here, and dispersed all oven the kingdom."

Birmingham in 1731.—An old "Road-book" of this date, says that " Birmingham, Bromicham, or Bremicham, is a large town, well built and populous. The inhabitants, being mostly smiths, are very ingenious in their way, and vend vast quantities of all sorts of iron wares." The first map of the town (Westley's) was published in this year. It showed the Manor-house on an oval island, about 126 yards long by 70 yards extreme width, surrounded by a moat about twelve yards broad. Paradise Street was then but a road through the fields; Easy Hill (now Easy Row), Summer Hill, Newhall Hill, Ludgate Hill, Constitution Hill, and Snow Hill pleasant pastures.

Birmingham in 1750.—Bradford's plan of the town, published in 1751, showed a walk by Rea side, where lovers could take a pleasant stroll from Heath Mill Lane. The country residences at Mount Pleasant (now Ann Street) were surrounded with gardens, and it was a common practice to dry clothes on the hedges in Snow Hill. In "England's Gazetteer," published about this date, Birmingham or Bromichan is said to be "a large, well-built, and populous town, noted for the most ingenious artificers in boxes, buckles, buttons, and other iron and steel wares; wherein such multitudes of people are employed that they are sent all over Europe; and here is a continual noise of hammers, anvils, and files."

Birmingham in 1765.—Lord and Lady Shelburne visited here in 1765. Her ladyship kept a diary, and in it she describes Mr. Baskerville's house (Easy Row) as "a pretty place out of the town." She also mentions visiting a Quaker's to see "the making of guns."

Birmingham in 1766.—In "A New Tour through England," by George