Page:Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham.djvu/348

336 Waterspouts and Whirlwinds are not of common occurrence hereabouts. One of the former burst over the Lickey Hills, April 13, 1792, the resulting flood reaching to Bromsgrove. A whirlwind at Coleshill, April 4,, 1877, played havoc with some hay-ricks, hedges, trees, &c.

Water Street, formerly Water Lane, had a brook running down one side of it when houses were first built there.

Weather Cocks.—Mention is made of Weather Cocks as early as the ninth century, and it has been supposed that the Cock was intended as an emblem of the vigilance of the clergy, who irreverently styled themselves the Cocks of the Almighty, their duty being, like the cock which roused Peter, to call the people to repentance, or at any rate to church. There are the longest-lived birds we know of. The one which had been perched on the old spire of St. Martin's for a hundred years or more was brought down July 22, 1S53, and may still be seen at Aston Hall, along with the old bird that tumbled of Aston church October 6, 1877. The last was made of copper in July, 1830, and contained, among other articles, a copy of Swinney's Birmingham Chronicle of June 29, 1815, with a full account of the Battle of Waterloo.

Weighing Machines were introduced by John Wyatt, in 1761, and the first was purchased by the Overseers in 1767, so that the profits might reduce the poor rates-. It was situated at the top corner of Snow Hill, and so much did the Overseers value it, that they gave notice, (Feb. 18th, 1783) of their intention of applying to Parliament for the monopoly of securing "the benefit of weighing out coals to the town."

Welsh Cross.—One of the Old-time Market-houses at the corner of Bull Street, the bottom portion of the edifice being used by country people as abutter market. The upper room was for meetings and occasionally used for the detention of prisoners who came (it has been said) through the window on to a small platform for the pillory or cat-o'-nine-tails, according to their sentence.

West Bromwich, if we are to credit "Brictunia Depicto," published in 1753, was originally West Bromicham, or West Birmingham.

Wheeley's Lane, though one of the quietest thoroughfares in Edgbaston, was formerly used as part of the coach-road to Bristol, those vehicles passing the Old Church and down Priory Road.Windmill.—The old windmill that used to be on Holloway Head is marked on the 1752 map, and it has been generally understood that a similar structure stood there for many generations, but this one was built about 1745. The sails might have been seen in motion forty or forty-five years ago, and probably corn was then ground there. After the departure of the miller and his men it was used for a time as a sort of huge summer house, a camera obscura being placed at the top, from which panoramic views of the neighbourhood could be taken. It was demolished but a few years back.

Woman's Rights.—A local branch of the Women's Suffrage Association was formed here in 1868: a Women's Liberal Association was instituted in October, 1873; a branch of the National Union of Working Women was organised January 29th, 1875; and a Woman Ratepayers' Protection Society was established in August, 1881. With ladies on the School Board, lady Guardians, lady doctors, a special Women's Property Protection Act, &c., &c., it can hardly be said that our lady friends are much curtailed of their liberty. We know there are Ladies' Refreshment Rooms, Ladies' Restaurants, and Ladies' Associations for Useful Work and a good many other things, but we doubt if the dear creatures of to-day would ever dream of having such an institution as