Part three of my descriptive walk to Newhall Hill and George Street.
Contents:
On exiting Cecil Street we enter Hanley Street, flanked by Cliveland Street to the left and Summer Street to the right, the ‘White Swan’ situated on the corner comes into view. Thomas Bagnal, a youthful Landlord of 26, took on the pub’s license in March 1881. Census records reveal that Thomas resides at the Swan with his 25-year old wife, Liza and their three young children.
During the 1870’s the traditional undivided bars were becoming less common. Instead, pubs changed to include a public and private bar, providing customers the option of their preferences for socialising. The screened off private bars offered a more intimate setting for; bookies, shopkeepers or clerks. Public bars were frequented normally by manual workers, or women engaging in gossip. [23]
The atmosphere of the bars known as “bottle and jug” rooms would have a bench and varied tremendously. Men usually served if there was sawdust on the floor or a spittoon in the corner, a phrase still used today “Spit and Sawdust Pub” generally meaning from where I come from a pretty basic place, rather lacking in comfort. Meanwhile bars, with carpeted floors or cushion seats, were often served by an "expected warmhearted and jolly barmaids", although their profession was not without its challenges
A Saloon bar Fittings by James Yates Birmingham 1896 A Victorian Pub Interior of 1879 as depicted by George du Maurier
Across the street from the White Swan, lived 27-year old Ellen Jasper at number 33, highly likely employed by Thomas, given that her occupation stated on the census as a ‘barmaid’ and her proximity to the pub.
Birmingham Mail Tuesday 30 May 1882 - Incident at the White Swan
A VIOLENT FELLOW, John Owen, boatman, who has often been trouble, was charged with having been drunk and riotous, and also with doing wilful damage. The prisoner went into the White Swan Inn, Hanley Street, last evening, and being drunk was not served. He appeared to be annoyed at this, for he went outside and broke three panes of glass, value 4s, with a brick.—Prisoner, who said the brick was thrown at him and accidentally went through the window, was sent to gaol for two months.
Many of the articles I read of the late 19th century, write of the social change’s to Birmingham, often concerning the working conditions of the labour market. Eliza Orme was an early feminist and a pioneering figure in advocating women's rights and employment opportunities in England. Recognised as being the first women in England to obtain a degree in law, she was a staunch supporter of women’s freedom to pursue careers in any Industry. Her work involved being a member of the Society for the Promotion of the Employment of Women, Eliza Orme’s influence increased further when she assumed the role of Senior Lady Assistant Commissioner to the Royal Commission on Labour. [24]
In 1892 leading a team of Lady Commissioners, she embarked on a comprehensive investigation into the working conditions of women throughout the British Isles, with Eliza personally addressing the “barmaid question”, she visited numerous pubs and engaged with nearly 300 individuals. She gained their trust by serving for a time as a barmaid
Barmaids who worked in the taverns and public houses of working-class streets, were often perceived as beneath the social status amongst their contemporaries who worked in restaurants and theatres, they faced societal disdain from the gentrified masses. In reality the truth being they were as hard working as any artisan trader, as recorded by Eliza and the articles in the Birmingham Post and Mail. The accounts of barmaid's lives reveal the arduous nature of their work—exposure to sulphurous smoke, often bad atmosphere's, constant draughts whistling through the rooms that gave the girls sore throats and heart complaints. Long hours of sixteen and seventeen hour days, standing almost constantly and a typical working week of 76 to 78 hours. [25]
It was impossible to get away from the smoked filled streets to take a Sunday or midweek walk in the countryside, to feel the grass under their feet or even see the sky above their heads.
From the 12000 plus occupation records that I have researched in Birmingham. For Barmaids the average working age is just 22, and despite facing those challenges mentioned above, many women preferred the work of a barmaid over a domestic servant. Landlord’s preference for also employing barmaids rather than barmen was the tact shown by girls in being able to handle drunk men and managing customers without quarrels. [26]
Wages though were meagre, with women earning 12 to 15 shillings and girls of fifteen 9.77 shillings a week. Apart from the exhaustive work hours, a major complaint from the girls was being charged for glass breakages added to their challenges. [27]
Witness Statements given to Eliza Orme for her Report into Working Conditions of Barmaids:
No. 16 is a married woman, who has remained in the bar under an assumed name since it is contrary to the custom of the trade to employ married women as bar-maids. They used bad language and frequently fought. Her next place was uncomfortable as to food and lodging, but the customers were respectable. She stayed three months only. She left her third situation after two days in consequence of attempted familiarity on the part of her employer. No10 is singularly like No. 16 in several resnects. She is a married woman, who has continued her occupation as barmaid under an assumed name. During about seven years she has been in eight places, and left two of them on account of her employer's immoral conduct. No. 15 complained of the low class of persons frequenting a public-house near a prison ; but she said it was not permitted to serve those who had had enough.
Witness 8 told me she was 22 and had six years experience as a barmaid. The fatigue of standing all day as the main complaint. Licensed houses are allowed to open from: 5am to to midnight Saturday, 6am to 22:00 weekdays 12:30pm to 2:30pm and 6pm to 10pm on Sunday. Hours were from 8 a.m. to 12.30 at night, and she declared she was never in bed until half-past one in the morning. During this long spell. she had 20 minutes for dressing, 20 minutes for dinner, an hour and a half for rest with a walk in the afternoon, and 20 minutes for tea.
Hours - Birmingham Mail 1st May 1889
A plea for the overworked - Birmingham Mail 9th April 1883
The physical and emotional toll upon these young ladies led to agitation and a national strike of barmaids, an early instance of organised labour action Despite the overtly sexist reporting in newspapers [28]
“the great metropolis is calling upon her sisters in suffering to strike a bold blow for freedom, to strike off the shackles—or bangles. Henceforth the neat-handed nymph who dispenses the nectarian juice sweetened by her sweetest smile will be a trades unionist.”
the barmaids' revolt marked a bold step towards asserting their rights and challenging the expectations of Society. In this historical context, one can't help but speculate that young women like Ellen Jasper might have sown the seeds for future movements, including suffragette activism that would emerge years later
Barmaids Agitation - Birmingham Mail 1st May 1889
Sir,—With respect to the article published in the Mail of the 23th headed "Fashionable Bars,” I consider it unfair talk of girls holding positions as “barmaids” in the way in which it does. Though to some extent holding with barmaids regards the insults they have put with from mashers. The same time speaks of them if they were brainless idiots, and had no thoughts above the ordinary routine business, unless reading ‘'shilling shockers” and eating “chocolate’’ are considered such. It has often struck me that girls holding positions similar to myself are looked upon by their own sex (especially by lady novelists) as creatures” belonging to a totally different sphere to themselves. I therefore now take the opportunity of expressing my opinions on the subject.—yours, &c., April 30th. One of the annoyed
The barmaids Revolt - Birmingham Mail 30th April 1889
In the late 19th century, particularly around 1881, Birmingham, like many industrial cities in England, witnessed a significant influx of Irish immigrants. Hanley Street contains a significant number of individuals who were born in Ireland (see map below: Households highlighted in green)
This migration was driven by various factors, including economic opportunities, agricultural difficulties in Ireland, and the growth of industry in Birmingham. In 1831 Aston contained less than a thousand individuals (946) and by 1881 it had risen to 53,844. [29]
Before the devastating potato famine of 1845, Irish agitation intensified in the 1830s-1840s. The dire conditions of poverty and hunger prevailed in Ireland, where small farms had been repeatedly divided by English Protestants until families could barely eke out a living, were often ignored.
Feargus O'Connor was a prominent figure in the Chartist movement, which was a working-class movement advocating for political reform and representation in Britain during the mid-19th century. O'Connor was born in County Cork, Ireland in 1794 but spent much of his life in England. He was a physical force and a charismatic leader and a skilled orator who became known for his passionate speeches and tireless advocacy for the rights of working-class people. [30]
Feargus O'Connor
Illustrated London News - Tue 01 May 1979 Chartist Trail
The Chartist movement emerged in response to widespread social and economic inequalities, as well as political disenfranchisement among the working classes. O'Connor's contribution to the Chartist movement was significant. He founded the National Land Company in 1845, which aimed to help working-class people purchase land and become self-sufficient by collecting subscriptions from supporters and use the money to buy estates.
The potato crop failure in 1845 dealt a severe blow to political activism in Ireland, as survival became the primary concern for the population. While seeking independence from Britain, Irish tenant farmers also struggled to own the land they cultivated. Only 24% of the population resided in urban areas, while 70% of the land was owned by just 2,000 individuals, leaving three million tenants landless. [31]
Many sought better economic prospects away from Ireland, and with Birmingham’s rapid expansion and burgeoning industries, offered employment opportunities that attracted Irish immigrants who were seeking a new life.
The Irish often settled in Digbeth and Aston, bringing with them, their cultural, traditions, and their Catholic faith. They established social networks and their own identity, created clubs and their own churches. Discrimination, stereotypical attitudes and prejudice against Irish communities were not uncommon.
As time passed, Irish immigrants and their descendants became integral parts of Birmingham's diverse population and attitudes changed. My own family history illustrates this journey: my great-great-grandmother, Catherine Malone, was born in 1841 in Tipperary and left Ireland in 1861 on board the Mangerton Steam Boat. She eventually settled in Pritchett Street with my great-great-grandfather James Nelson of Edinburgh.
It is plausible to imagine that Catherine, would have encountered or have known individuals from Hanley Street who shared her Irish heritage. Especially the close knit nature of Irish communities in Birmingham, which would have led to connections and interactions amongst people with similar backgrounds, fostering a sense of solidarity and shared experiences.
1881 Census Records for Hanley Street - Residents born in Ireland
Studying the businesses along any street, always provides fascinating insights into its daily life and in particular, retailers and shopkeepers. For the families and households I have researched into, I collect the data using the 1881 census records and then map out their lives on the 1888 ordnance survey maps which does offer guidance.
But its only when I start to look and delve further that I gain a true insight into an individual and their life that I then obtain a more nuanced understanding, not just an individual person or family but also the Street they live in.
Hanley Street, in particular, would have bustled with a diverse range of retailers catering to the needs of the local community. Among them, there was a cobbler crafting and repairing shoes, a baker producing fresh bread and pastries, a wardrobe dealer offering clothing and textiles, a coal dealer, as well as beer retailers, butchers, and grocers supplying provisions to local residents. [32]
One notable establishment that caught my eye on Hanley Street was Edwin Savory's shop at No. 8, where he operated as a milk seller. Interestingly, while the 1881 census listed him as a Carter, responsible for transporting goods with a horse-drawn vehicle, historical records like Kelly's and Post Office Directories identified him as a milk seller. This might suggest he not only was a retailer but he may have been an early milkman. Or it could have been a discrepancy and in fact it was his wife Clara who was the shopkeeper.
In today's world, a shop dedicated solely to selling milk may seem uncommon, as we are so used to buying from supermarkets etc. However, in the past, specialised shops like Edward Savory's would have been essential for providing fresh milk to local residents, offering a glimpse into the unique and the different shopping patterns for the consumers and needs of Birmingham's past.
In the 1840s, milk in Birmingham was a vital part of the diet for many and a crucial source of nutrition, especially in an era without advanced refrigeration. However, concerns about the quality and safety of milk were prevalent and the public's view of milk varied. Adulteration, where substances like water or additives were mixed with milk, was a common issue, leading to public health concerns that led to public outrage, prompting calls for food safety regulations. [33]
In the 1860’s Birmingham's consumption of milk was minimal, and much of the fluid sold as milk was actually of poor quality, often diluted with water (adulteration). Hundreds of cows were kept in the streets and courts of the town, in crowded and miserable surroundings. The cow’s morals were such that she produced low quality milk, to make the milk seem better, the owner would add water from a nearby spring. However, this water was also used to collect waste from the cow's living space, ensuring cross contamination. [34]
So, when the doctor suggests that someone should drink milk for their health, the Cow reciprocates her poor quality of life, indirectly ensuring the doctor always had a constant supply of patients to treat due to outbreaks of typhoid fever.
The rest of the towns supply was derived from the small farms in the immediate neighbourhood and was brought in by carts.
In 1872 the Adulteration act become law, for the watering down of milk, inspectors would take samples to check if cream was abstracted or water added. The first effects of the act was to reduce the consumption of milk by restricting the supply and one by one the cows living in the town were expelled.
The lost supply from the court-yard cows was replaced by farmers who diligently milked their cows twice a day, morning and evening. The refrigeration process, ingeniously achieved by running the milk over cold water tubes, not only preserved its freshness but also eliminated any undesirable odors.
Transportation of milk to the city was a well-orchestrated operation, with a combination of road and rail networks utilised depending on the distance. The Midland Railway Company played a significant role in facilitating this trade, offering special rates and services to support a few large dealers who distributed it to smaller retailers, with other wholesalers supplying some 156 dairymen and 2000 registered milk retailers. [35]
By 1886 Birmingham consumed 10,000 gallons of milk a day [36] and was a vital part of the diet for many and a crucial source of nutrition for infants as well adding it to their tea. Doctors preached the advantages of milk as food and although the Adulteration act empowered inspectors to purchase samples of milk from shops or streets for analysis. Concerns, however continued about the quality and safety of milk, were prevalent and the public's view of milk varied as can be seen in the various newspaper articles.
Notes from the Reports of Public Analysts.
City Of Birmingham Annual Report of the City Analyst 1928
In 1897, when a vendor was cautioned for preserving his milk with formaldehyde, he said that he intended to go on using the preservative, and that the Committee could not stop him. Unfortunately that statement was correct, as at that time while formaldehyde could readily be detected in milk, there was no available means for determining it, and prosecutions could not be instituted unless the amount of adulterant was stated.
Even though rigorous testing was now in place by 1881, the true quality of the milk was still being revealed, as can be seen in the notes taken from Showells 1881 Directory below and a small selection of the many articles I found in British Newspaper Archives for various milk sellers being fined for the continued adulteration of milk
Milk.—The reports of the Borough Analyst for several successive years, 1879 to 1882, showed that nearly one-half the samples of milk examined were adulterated, the average adulteration of each being as much as 20 per cent.; and a calculation has been made that the Brums pay £20,000 a year for the water added to their milk! Next to the bread we eat, there is no article that should be kept freer from adulteration than milk, and the formation of a Dairy Company, in April, 1882, was hailed as a boon by many. The Company started with a nominal capital of £50,000 in £5 shares, and it rigidly prosecutes any farmer who puts the milk of the "wooden cow" into their cans. [36]
Coloured and Bleached Foods in 1874
COLOURED AND BLEACHED FOODS.-In 1874 three vendors were fined for sweets known as “Birds’ Eggs,” which were coloured yellow with chromate of lead, but no similar adulteration has been detected since. In 1907, 11 samples of preserved peas and beans contained copper varying from 0.1 to 1.0 grain of metallic copper per pound. In 3 samples the presence of a “small quantity” of copper was declared on the label, but not in the case of the larger amounts. The two samples of preserved peas examined last year were found to be free from copper.
The colouring of milk has never been common in Birmingham. In the decades commencing 1888 and 1898, 1.4 per cent. of the milks were coloured. In 1904 the Committee sent out a warning circular on the matter to milk dealers, and in the next ten years only 0.3 per cent. of the samples were coloured.
British Medical Journal of 1904 stated that “At present cows` milk is too often, when it reaches the houses of the poor, in a state which renders it dangerous to life”.
Milk Adulteration - Birmingham & Aston Chronicle Saturday 6 June 1885
Fever Spread by Milk - Birmingham Mail Tuesday 7 June 1881
Milk as Food - Warwickshire Herald Thursday 10 December 1885
Life of George Dillon
Exciting Chase After A Till Thief
Birmingham Mail 21st Nov 1901
During yesterday afternoon a youth named George Dillon (17). 13 court, 13 house, Northwood Street, coolly walked into the shop of a grocer named Alfred Ashford, of Lower Tower Street, and abstracting the till. made off. The act was the work of an instant, and by the time a hue and cry had been raised Dillon had obtained a long start. Police-constable Watson (C 127) and a number of other persons joined in pursuit, and the thief, till in hand, was thus kept in view. Along Summer Lane went top speed. Dropping the till in his progress, Dillon made along Hanley Street and Cecil Street, but Watson gained steadily, and at the end of a mile chase secured his quarry. Asked what he had to say before the Stipendiary, this morning, the prisoner sullenly replied, Nothing? —Mr. Colmore: shall have to say something to you I’m afraid; it is most impudent robbery.—lt was stated that the contents of the till were 5s. Prisoner had been before the Court on four or five minor charges, but each time had been discharged.—The Stipendiary, upon this, remarked that he was sure it was time prisoner was sent to prison. The sentence was a month's hard labour.
George Dillon, a young man of 19 years was born on September 16, 1881, in Lench Street Birmingham. Standing at 5 feet 3 inches tall, with a chest measuring 32.33 inches, George possess striking blue eyes, a fresh complexion and a full head of brown hair.
His life is shared with his parents, Thomas and Eliza, as well as his three younger sisters, in the bustling neighbourhood of Northwood Street, within Birmingham’s renowned Jewellery Quarter.
George was employed as a Brass Polisher, faced a challenging upbringing alongside his father, Thomas, who worked as a Brass Turner. In the Dillon household, they were the sole bread-earners, it was a responsibility that young men like George were expected to contribute to the household finances.
Away from home-life, the three month Prison Sentence for the theft of the till may have given George time to evaluate his life, because as soon as he was released he enlisted in the Royal Warwickshire Army Corps on March 14, 1902 and embarked on a military journey that spanned over a decade.
George’s military service was not without its trials and tribulations. His disciplinary record is a litany of mishaps and tells a story of transgressions and infractions. Starting with his attestation at his enlistment Interview:
“You are herby warned that if after enlistment it is found that you have given a wilfully false answer to any of the following seven questions, you will be liable to a punishment of two years imprisonment with hard labour”.
Are you married - No
Have you ever been sentenced to Imprisonment - No
Oops, we’ll gloss over the three month prison sentence for till theft and having been just released one month previous. George clearly was desperate to join the Army but he did grapple with disciplinary issues, painting a portrait of a man facing internal struggles at home and within the structured environment of the military.
George was deployed to Dublin but In his first few months service he was disciplined six times, from continually breaking out of barracks to drunken disturbances, culminating in the illegal possession of three boots and was charged two months imprisonment in Dublin.
After his release, he was posted to Bermuda and later Gibraltar, and over the years, George continually struggled with conduct problems, for being drunk to gambling and small acts of violence. After 13 years of service, George was discharged on March 13, 1914. He intended to return to the familiar streets of Northwood Street, possibly seeking solace in the familiarity of his previous life in Birmingham. It was a fortunate time for George to leave the Army, as little did he know that the world was on the brink of a catastrophic event - the outbreak of World War I, which would later unfold in the same year.
For me when I look at George and his life, I warm to a person who faced difficulties from the day he was born, the life he was given and the oppression imposed upon him by the establishment. This is a man who had never left the streets of Birmingham and yes was involved in petty crime but was posted to Dublin, Gibraltar and Bermuda and gave 13 years service to the Army. These experiences must have been eye opening to a working-class lad from Birmingham.
Post-military, George returned to Northwood Street, living at 8 Court 7 House, and in the 1939 census records, he was found to be married to Mary. Working as a general labourer and electroplate worker, George displayed resilience in the face of adversity.
In reflecting on George Dillon's life, one might see beyond the surface, understanding the complexities of his circumstances. His story becomes a testament to the challenges faced by those at the lower rungs of society in early 20th-century Birmingham—a narrative shaped by struggle, resilience, and the pursuit of a meaningful life amid difficult circumstances.
following list of Georges offences taken from hir army records
UK 07-05-02 Posted to confinement tried for breaking out of barracks and sentenced to 1 days hard labour for being absent
Dublin 20-06-02 Breaking out of barracks
Dublin 27-06-02 Drunk and creating a disturbance in Barracks & breaking windows in the guards rooms
Dublin 30-06-02 Improperly dressed on duty. Sentence 1 days hard labour
Dublin 16-08-02 Absent from answering his name. Sentence 3 days hard labour
Dublin 06-09-02 Convicted by the civil powers of Dublin for illegal possession of three boots - 2 months imprisonment
10-10-02 Posted to Bermuda
Bermuda 01-05-03 attempting to rescue a prisoner. 14 days hard labour
Bermuda 18 11-03 Refusing to work when on work sentenced 10 days hard labour
29-03-04 Posted to Gibraltar
Gibraltar 16-05-04 absent from barracks, drunk and causing a disturbance, arrived back at 11:20pm. Sentence 10 days hard labour
Gibraltar 20-06-04 drunk and causing a disturbance in the barrack room. Fined 6s 1 days hard labour
Gibraltar 22-10-04 Drunk in the Barracks room and gambling. Sentence 8 days hard labour
Gibraltar 22-06-05 Irregular conduct. Sentence 7 days hard labour
UK - 14-09-05 to 13-03-14
On being discharged from the Army, George superior office disdainfully wrote:-
"Conduct, Bad, he has been guilty of possession of foods. Addicted to alcohol”
If you see, Georges last recorded misconduct was in 1905, so no credit given for the remaining nine years of service!
