Page:Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham.djvu/280

268 registered in the last three months of 1882 (14.93 inches), was the largest for any three consecutive mouths ever recorded by our painstaking meteorologist, the late Mr. T. L. Plant, of Moseley.

Ravenhurst.—The old house at Camp Hill, which gave names to Hurst Street and Ravenhurst Street, leading in the direction of the mansion, where in 1810 there were found a number of coins and tokens of the period of Queen Elizabeth and Charles I., as well as sundry Scotch "bawbees."

Rea.—This little river takes its rise among the Lickey Hills, and from certain "geological discoveries made in 1883, there is every reason to believe that, in Saxon days, it was a stream of considerable force. The name Rea, or Rhei, is of Gaelic derivation, and, with slight alteration, it is the name of some other watercourses in the kingdom. From time to time, alterations have been made in the course_ of the Rea, and prior to the introduction of steam its waters were used extensively for mill-power, dams, fleams, and shoots interfering with the free running in all directions. Long little better than an open sewer, there is a prospect that, within a few years, it may be cleansed and become once more a limpid stream, if the sanitary authorities will but find some more convenient site as burial-place for unfortunate canines and felines.

Rebellion of 1745.—The first news of the Rebellion and of the landing of the Young Pretender reached here Aug. 19, 1745. The Scotch did not come so far as Birmingham, but [though thousands of swords were made here for "Bonnie Prince Charlie"] some little preparation was made to receive them. At a meeting held October 5, 1745, it was proposed to form a regiment of volunteers against them, and Sir Lister Holte found 250 hordes to pursue the unfortunate "Pretender," whose great-grandfather had been the guest of Sir Lister's ancestor.

Rebus.—Poking fun at our town is no new game, as may be seen by the following local rebus (by "Dardanus") copied from the Gentleman's Magazine of 1752:—

""Take three-fourths of a creature which many admire, That's often confined in a castle of wire; Three-fourths of a herb that the garden doth yield, And a term used by husbandmen ploughing the field; With that part of a swine which is now much in fashion, And a town you'll discover in this brave English nation.""

The answer was Bird, Mint, G, and Ham—Birmingham, the scribe who poetically replied, winding-up by saying that it was

""A town that in trading excels half the nation, Because, Jove be thanked, there is no Corporation!""

Recorders.—The first Recorder appointed for the borough was Mr. Matthew Davenport Hill, whose name is so intimately connected with the history of Reformatory and Industrial Schools. Mr. Arthur Robarts Adams, Q.C., who succeeded Mr. M. D. Hill on his resignation in January, 1866, was a native of the county, and had acted as Deputy-Recorder for some years. He died in an apoplectic fit, while out shooting (Dec. 19, 1877), in Hagley Wood, near Oxford, in his 65th year. The present Recorder is Mr. John Stratford Dugdale, of Blythe Hall, Coleshill.

Recreation Grounds.—Early in 1854 Joseph Sturge set apart a field in Wheeley's Lane as a public playground for children, and this must rank as the first recreation ground. The last is the disused burial ground of St. Mary's Church, which, after an expenditure of about £1,500 was thrown open to the public as "St. Marys Garden," October 16, 1882.— See "Parks."

Red Book.—Quite a local institution is the yearly publication known