Living in Cecil Street 1881: A labourer prioritising his family, the Barrel Welders Arms Suicide and the Pearl Button Trade

An imaginary scene of Cecil Street - drawn by Mami Yarwood & digital blending by Andy Yarwood

As we continue on with our first descriptive walk to Newhall Hill and George Street, our journey leads us to Cecil Street, via a brief walk through New Summer Street.

If you were to explain to someone, a typical back-to-back street in 1880’s Birmingham, a very good example would be Cecil Street. The scene would be bustling with activity, the narrow, densely populated street filled with a mix of residential homes and small workshops and larger factories. Entering into the street, we see in front of us The Barrel Welders Arms, surrounded by small and larger manufacturers. The sounds you would hear would be a symphony of industrial noises - the clanking of metal from the Iron, brass & wire works and from nearby forges. The rhythmic beat and pounding of hammers, and hiss of steam from factories.

Navigating along the cobbled street, we see rows of front houses and back-to-backs, mainly situated on the north side with larger factories on the south side. People going about their daily lives, sitting on doorsteps engaging in casual conversations, and children playing in the street in between wandering Chickens. Laundry might be hanging from lines strung between buildings, and the air would be filled with the distinct smell of coal, metalworking and perhaps the smell of food being cooked.

Cecil Street in 1881

See large image here

	Total Houses	Residents	% Properties with Courts (Back-to-Back)	Widows	Children Working
Ward Street	48	222	73%	12 - 25%	13
Cecil Street	155	829	74%	30 - 19%	38

Among the 108 streets I've researched, Cecil Street is ranked at 89th in its poverty rating, 47.1% of households are in Poverty and 70th position in terms of population density, with a total street population of 829, including 90 recorded lodgers taken from the 1881 census.  For more detailed statistics on various streets, you can refer to the information available on my main website. As and when I research more streets for my ramble blogs, I will add to the above table with further statistical information for each street.

Trades of the Street

The top three occupation trades consisted of: Manufacturing 36%, Domestic & Button Trade etc 16% and construction 15 % of the 217 jobs in the street.

Many individuals who lived in the street worked either at home, such as 34 year old Joseph Tabberer, a general labourer supporting his family of five at No.17.  Despite a challenging weekly wage of approximately 22.2 shillings for a 54-hour workweek, [15] we can speculate the Tabberer family prioritised education for their 12-year old son, Joseph, who, unlike many children of his age was a scholar.

This decision stands in contrast to other families where children, like 11-year old Charles Fisher at No.94, were compelled to work, often in the sweated trades. This reality we can see in the street, where there are 93 children aged between eleven and fifteen, of which thirty-eight (40%) are working.

In the span of seven years, the Tabberer family, are still residing at No. 17 Cecil Street, moving from acute poverty in 1881 to a more stable position by 1888. This positive transformation is reflected in Joseph Tabberer's elevation from general labourer to becoming an Iron Forger, as indicated in the Kellys 1888 directory. This change likely brought financial relief, allowing the family to move beyond acute poverty, to having a surplus income, and provide a standard meal for the family, rather that equivalent of the workhouse diet.

What does a typical family having a classification of ‘E’ grading from my poverty line research.

On the right are the meals recorded for a 34 year old widow and her children over a 96 day period. [16]

A mixture of trades and retailers can be seen in the street, examples being Edward Crutchley the Butcher at No.14, Frederick Johnston. Grocery Shop at No 34, the Provision Shopkeeper of Ellen Jones at No 35, or Myra Harris the Hucksters at No.55.

Hucksters the food street sellers were resented by tradesman and shopkeepers alike, who had rent, rates, lighting charges and servants to pay. The Birmingham Butchers association ineffectually sought action against the presence of meat peddlers in the city. [17]

Amidst the businesses, the Barrel Welders Arms and a few beer retailers like James Cure at No.5 added to the street's character. However, not all stories were pleasant, as illustrated by a "Shocking Suicide" reported in the Birmingham Journal on July 21, 1865.

an imaginary image of the scene - drawn by Reina Yarwood

Shocking Sucide in Cecil Street.—An inquest was held yesterday, at the Gun Barrel Welders' Arms, Cecil Street, before Dr. Birt Davies, borough coroner, touching the death of William Bourne. Deceased was single man, and 20 years of age. He lived at 11, Brearley Street, and was a spoon and fork polisher, employed at the works of Messrs. Rowlinson Brothers, Cecil Street. About half-past six on Thursday morning he went to work, and a sent lad called James Parker, who worked in the same shop with him, to the engineer, asking how long he should before be started the engine. lad went, and on returning, found the door fast, and thinking deceased was gone home burst the trap in the door open, intending to draw back the latch. On looking through, however, he saw the floor covered with blood, and deceased lying beside the door. He then gave an alarm, and the door was burst open. Deceased was found with his throat cut from ear to ear, and quite dead. By his side lay a short knife, which was used in the shop, covered with blood. The shop door was bolted and locked For some time past deceased has been drinking heavily, and on Wednesday night last he was very restless in bed, and told a man called John Turner, who slept with him, that he was frightened, and requested him not to to sleep. Turner asked him what was frightened about, and deceased did not reply, but whenever Turner dozed off to sleep deceased shook him. On the previous Sunday the two men went for a walk together, and whilst on the canal side deceased, who was very drunk, said that he had a good mind to drown himself. He laughed at the time, and Turner thought he was joking. Turner said that deceased was teetotaller for three weeks, and a fortnight ago he broke out, and since that time had been rather strange in his mariners, and he thought his head was affected. It was stated that the previous Saturday he lost his wages, and his sister remonstrated with him on his conduct. The Coroner summed up, and the Jury returned a verdict of " Suicide, whilst a state of temporary insanity.

Edward and Bridget Moore live at No. 53, born in County Mayo and married at St. Peters, Birmingham.They have four children; daughters Mary (20), Maggie (18) and Catherine (14)  and seventeen year old son Edward. All of the family except mum Bridget are working, this undoubtedly helps with the family financial position, which places them in ‘C’ grading. Their resilience was tested in a violent incident.

Birmingham Mail - 7th February 1882

BRUTAL ASSAULT. James Perry (29), brasscaster, of Cowper Street, Summer Lane, was charged with violently assaulting Bridget Moore, of Cecil Street, and her daughter, Maggie Moore, last night. —Mr. B. Hebbert prosecuted, and Air. Francis defended.—At about half past five o’clock last evening, the prisoner, in company with a woman, went up to Bridget Moore and struck her violently on the head with basin which he was carrying, and then hit her twice on the head with a poker which he obtained from bis companion. Ho afterwards struck Maggie Moore on the head with the poker, and she in self-defence struck him the head with another poker.—For the defence, several witnesses were called, who stated that they did not ace the prisoner strike either of the Moores with poker, but tuat Maggie* Moore assaulted him violently by striking him on the head with one. —Police- Wood apprehended the prisoner in public-house at ten o'clock last night, and lie was very violent when being taken tho station.—Mr. Goodman said the prisoner had committed most brutal and he would h&ve to go goal for six weeks for each assault.

Expand the lists below to read more newspaper articles from the 1890s

Disorderly and drunk - John MacDonald of possibly 64 Cecil Street.

Birmingham Mail - 3rd April 1882

James Murray (27). New Summer Street, machinist, was charged with wilfully breaking a box, value 1s, the property of Emily Lees, shopkeeper, Summer Lane, and John Macdonald (25), court, Cecil Street, steel roller, was charged, together with Murray, with being drunk and disorderly, and using obscene language in Summer Lane on Saturday. Murray was also charged with attempting to rescue Macdonald from the custody of the police, and, further, with assaulting James Jerrett, back of 173, Unett Street, also in Summer Lane, on Saturday:—Macdonald was fined 20s. and costs, or one month’s imprisonment with hard labour, and Murray was ordered to pay a fine of 10s. and costs, and Is. damage, or 14 days’ imprisonment with hard labour.

Death of a child - William and Catherine Lloyd of No.5 Court 8.

Birmingham Mail - 27th August 1881

Another inquest was held on the body of the female child of William and Catherine Lloyd, Cecil Street. The mother was attended by a midwife at the birth of the child on Monday afternoon. The midwife, Mrs. Goldenwray, said the child was a strong one for an eight months’ child. Medical evidence was given to show that death resulted from convulsions, the result of natural causes. The jury returned verdict accordingly. 

Deaths from Neglect in Cecil Street

Birmingham Daily Post - 30th November 1886

The adjourned inquest into the, death of Catherine Brown (25), wife of William Owen Brown, took place yesterday, before Mr. Hawkles, coroner, at his Court, Moor: Street. The husband of deceased, who is described as a mender of chairs, china, and umbrellas, was in court in charge of a police officer. At the opening of the inquest on the 20th instant, Ann Singleton, widow, 6 Court, 3 house, Cecil Street, stated that the, deceased and her husband came to live with her on the 1st of March last. They lived with witness downstairs; and had a separate bedroom upstairs. The room was unfurnished. When they came deceased and her husband brought as their furniture, a box and a bag of dirty, rotten straw. The straw was spread on the floor for a bed. They brought nothing else, excepting some saucepans and an old bed quilt. Brown vas in the habit of coming home twice a week drunk. -The first witness called yesterday was a midwife named Eliza Small who lives at No. 22, St. George's Street. She said that on Tuesday, October 26, she was sent for to deceased, whom she found suffering from colic pains in the bowels. She gave deceased two pills, and engaged, herself  to attend deceased in her confinement, which was expected daily. Deceased was then lying on the floor on some straw and some bits of bagging. There was nothing in the room except a box and an old chair. She asked Brown if he could not get a better bed for deceased, and he replied, that it was of no use, as they would soon be off. At half-past two on, the morning Tuesday, the 9th of November. witness was sent for deceased, whom she found lying on the floor as before. About an hour afterwards a female child was born. The confinment was not attended by any dangerous symptoms. Witness asked for the materials to main deceased some gruel, and told Brown that some brandy would be wanted. He went out, but came back saying that the publicans would not get up and supply him. She told him that if he asked a policeman to knock for him the publican would be bound to supply him but he didnot go out again. Nothing could he found to make gruel with, and all deceased had was a cup of tea Mrs Singleton gave her. Before going away that morning Witnessed urged Brown to get something better for his wife to lie on, if only a mattress, which he could get for a shilling. Brown replied that he had no money, but that he was going out to, got some, She then advised him to go for the parish doctor, and then deceased would be supplied with the things that were necessary to make her comfortable. He said that he could not go that morning, as he had to go to Acock’s Green to work. That was about half-past nine. There was a fire in the bedroom. Later in the day witness found deceased in great pain, She asked deceased for a penny for some turpentine, and paid 11/2. for brandy herself, and made a drink with some ginger. Deceased, who had been complaining of thirst, was very grateful for this. On Thursday there was some oatmeal in the house. and some gruel was made, but then deceased was to weak to take it. During all this time deceased had not been able to suckle the baby, which was getting very weak. Witness said that a bottle ought to be got for it, but it never had one.Deceased was still worse on the Thursday evening and witness went to Mr. Prosser, surgeon, and begged a bottle of medicine for her, and this seemed to do her good. Several times she urged Brown to get a mattress or a bed, but he always made some excuse. On the Friday deceased was very and witness said to Brown, ''You must get the parish doctor or she will be lost. All that the baby had was some milk and water which witness gave to with a spoon. On the Friday evening Mr. Prosser came and saw deceased. When witness saw Mrs. Brown on Saturday afternoon she found her weaker than ever, and, suffering from diarrhea, but the baby appeared to be no worse. On Sunday she found deceased very bad indeed, and the baby so ill that witness thought at first it was dead. A mutton chop was prepared for Mrs. Brown, but she was too ill to eat it. On Monday deceased was sinking fast, and witness obtained 6d. from Mr. Prosser, the surgeon, with which she purchased a small quantity of brandy, a portion of which she have to Mrs. Brown The baby died on the following Wednesday, deceased having been totally unable to suckle it. Brown knew that a bottle was wanted for the child. On the Tuesday. Brown was very tipsy. Mr. Prosser cameconc that day and a told him that he might have a bolten of straw from his stable if he would fetch it : But Brown never went for it. On the Tuesday Mr Barwise, the parish doctor, also came, a neighbour, of  Mrs Jones, having fetched him of her own accord. Mrs. Brown died on Friday morning, the 19th. MrsSingleton the landlady having repeated her evidence, William Henry Harding, caretaker of the Parish Offices, said that on the night of the 16th Brown came to the offices with an order from Mr. Barwise. In accordance with this order witness made out tickets for 2lb of beef and three pints of 1o milk for deceased. Brown was drunk and in a filthy condition. Mr. Prosser, surgeon, said that on the came to his father's surgery and asked for a certificate to bury the baby. Brown was drunk.-Mr. Prnssir surgeon, gave evidence corroborative of the statements of Mrs. Small. He said that on the Friday night Mrs. Small asked him for some medicine for a poor woman, and promised to pay 6d for it if she could get it. Witness went on Tuesday, the 15th, and found deceased lying on some straw on the floor, there being not sufficient straw for her to have any below the knees. For bed clothes she had a few old rags thrown over her. The. baby was lying beside deceased on the straw. Deceased was suffering from diarrhea , shortness of breath, and groat exhaustion and appeared to he dying. he enquired for nourishment, and waswals told there was none in the house. He had some sent for, and some brandy, in order that be might see whether or not deceased could swallow.. It was impossible for the baby to he suckled. Deceased had great difficulty in swallowing a, drop of brandy that was administered. The baby was dying, and all attempts to feed it were unsuccessful on account of its weak state. it was a fully-developed and well-formed child. witness recommended that a bed some kind be got, and next Morning he said they might have a bolten of straw from his house to make deceased most comfortable while a bed was being got. On the Thursday witness sent  for some more brandy and gave Mrs. Singleton sixpence to buy some straw at the corn dealers, no one having been to fetch any from witness's stables. Deceased became much Worse on Thursday evening. From his knowledge of the case post mortem examination, be thought death was due to want of nourishment' and warmth, which would tend to produce septicemia. If deceased had had proper attention, he thought she would not have ded. The attention he referred would have been rendered if the parish authorities had been applied to in time. The baby died from starvation Detective Sargent Barrett, who arrested Brown at about eight o'clock in the evenings of the 19th at his lodgings, said that, he found Brown lying downstairs on the floor in front of the fire. When told that he would be charged with causing the death of his wife and child by neglecting them, prisoner said, "She is not my wife. I have very little work; trade is bad." Prisoner was then arrested. Brown, when challenged, said that be had done all that lay in his power. He had done his duty. he also asserted that when he went out for brandy he did try to get some by asking a policeman to call the landlord of the Public House.

Jury returned a verdict of manslaughter against Brown, and added so expression of their high admiration of the noble conduct of Mr. Presser in attending the woman and giving her money and medicine. The case of the baby was then gone into. The jury on the recommendations of the coroner, found a verdict of "Death from starvation, and severely censured Brown for his neglect.

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Exploring Birmingham's Craftsmanship: Pearl Button Manufacturing

On the Cecil Street Map, I have highlighted 20 properties in light yellow, where individuals or the whole household worked in either the Button or Pearl Button Trade, typically a sweating trade.

Sweating was used as a term to essentially define a sub-contracting system of certain trades, where the middleman drastically reduced the wages of the person who actually completed the work, taking advantage of the workers vulnerability.

Sweating trades were usually conducted in the homes of workers and almost exclusively the working-class population, with a majority being married women, widows, or elderly spinsters. 

Children were often engaged in this work due to the nimbleness of their fingers, the financial constraints and harsh realities that families faced during this period of time, where financial survival often necessitated the employment of children, and in some cases as low as 6 years of age.

"You must either make the children work or let them starve." [18]

In tracing the history of button manufacturing back to 1750, Birmingham, or Bromichan as it was referred to, emerges as a notable hub, recognised for its skilled artisans in crafting boxes, buckles, buttons, and various iron and steel wares.

Bradford's 1751 plan of the town reveals picturesque walks by the Rea side, providing a pleasant route for lovers from Heath Mill Lane. Mount Pleasant, now Ann Street, showcased country residences surrounded by gardens, where the common practice included drying clothes on hedges in Snow Hill.[20] 

By 1885, Birmingham boasted 265 button manufacturers, employing nearly 6,000 hands. The diverse production included pearl, glass, horn, bone, ivory, gilt metal, wood, linen, silver, brass, steel, and papier-maché buttons. The trade flourished, creating a demand for various buttons, from those worn on shooting coats to smaller ones for vests, along with fancier options for ladies' dresses, boot-buttons, shirt-buttons, and studs. [19] 

Pearl buttons, a significant part of this trade, were crafted from the shell of the Concha Margaretifera, commonly known as the mother-of-pearl oyster. The most extensive pearl fisheries were found in Bahrain on the west side of the Persian Gulf, with diving for pearls primarily occurring during the intensely hot months of July, August, and September.

Divers engaged in this perilous task would compress their nostrils with small pieces of horn and plug their ears with beeswax. A net attached to their waists held the oysters, and a stone, connected to a boat by a rope, aided their descent and ascent.

The intricate manufacturing process involved multiple steps, including piercing, filing, bottoming, shanking, edging, and polishing. Different operations were handled by various artisans, including children, contributing to the complex and layered nature of the industry.

Birmingham relied on five types of pearl shell, each playing a role in the diverse button-making processes. The trade, however, faced challenges, particularly in the workforce. Garret masters, often working with their families in confined spaces, encountered pressure to convert buttons into immediate cash. Factors, colloquially known as "Slaughtermen," took advantage of these masters, charging excessively for the initial purchase of the pearl shell and then underpaying for the buttons produced out of it.

Birmingham hook & eye and button carders [20]

Work hours in the industry were nominally set at twelve hours a day, with ten hours of actual work after allowing two hours for meals. Child labour was prevalent, as young children assisted adults, working long hours in less-than-ideal conditions, This gave rise to concerns about the education and well-being of these children, posing questions about their future. Boys of 7, 8, or 9 years old severely beaten and knocked about for not being able to work fast enough

It was argued that children, even if they attended Sunday School, it would not be of use to them, due to the importance of their work to their family and not just to the button trade but children were also required to work in many other trades, such as the pin, nail and screw trades.

Amid these challenges, the pearl button trade in Birmingham thrived, marked by a notable complaint of a shortage of hands to meet the growing demand. The industry, while not shrouded in mystery, had a significant impact on the lives of workers, with some individuals choosing to venture into the business independently.

In the realm of the button trade, the picture is one of stark contrasts. While the adults and young women, aged fifteen or sixteen and above, appeared to be generally well-paid and well-clad, a distressing narrative unfolded among the young children. Almost without exception, these children were ragged and dirty to the extreme. Many cobbers toiled away with insufficient clothing, their knees peeking through holes in trousers, and shoulders exposed through shirts or jackets. A pervasive sickly and unwholesome look permeated their appearance. The female children, also known as "putters in," mirrored this squalid state – pale, prematurely serious, if not melancholy, expressions etched on their countenances.

           

On the right is a a description of the work completed for carding hooks and eyes. [21]

Even in the face of such dire conditions for the younger workforce, women employed in the manufacturing process, including the arduous tasks of grinding and polishing steel, expressed satisfaction with their earnings. They considered their wages superior to what a woman could earn in any form of needlework. Remarkably, few voiced complaints about the hardness or unwholesomeness of their work. [22]

Indeed, it appears that individuals with wealth and the large manufacturers not only exploited the working classes in Birmingham by driving down costs for those producing buttons but also extended this exploitative practice to individuals on the continents who dived for the shells used in pearl button manufacturing. The chain of exploitation seemed to reach from the industrial heart of Birmingham to the remote shores where the precious shell resources were harvested.