Page:Walks in the Black Country and its green border-land.pdf/25

Rh keep their property by pretending a Norman descent or connexion. What it was in population or occupation up to the time of Henry VII the scant history of the period does not indicate. The first credible account of it is given by rare old Leland, who visited it in 1538. He says, "There be many smithes in the towne that used to make knives and all mannour of cuttinge tooles, and many lorimers that make bittes, and a great many naylors, &c." Thus it is quite probable that the leading manufactures of Birmingham have distinguished it for at least 300 years. In Leland's day it ranked among the small towns of the kingdom. It was then built chiefly on one street, only a quarter of a mile long, with one parish church and a market. And yet the old traveller seems to have been much impressed with the character and capacity of the town. Since his day, the one street "a quarter of a mile long," has threaded out into streets that count up an aggregate mileage of about 100 miles in length, while the number of dwelling houses increases at the rate of 4,000 per annum; and it is probable every month adds to the population a greater number of inhabitants than the town contained in 1538. Still, for a long time after Leland's visit, the very locale of the town was connected with others in the vicinity better known. The memories of two or three generations when linked together, can reach