Chapter II.—1801-1811.
§ 1.Appearance of the Town.
Great and important changes were made in the appearance of the town during this decade. The principal were the removal of the houses which surrounded St. Martin's Church, and the enlarging of the churchyard. To appreciate the difference thus made we have only to compare the present aspect of the Bull-Ring and the church with that which we see in the old maps. Land for building on was announced to be sold or let in all parts of the town, and although these ten years were far from being prosperous, and were chiefly distinguished by a brief peace, succeeded by a renewal of the bloodiest and most expensive war on record, the town continued steadily to increase, and the open spaces to be built upon. Our first advertisement is
Land to Build Upon.
March 1, 1802.—To be Let, several quantities of Land, belonging to Miss Fisher, situated in the Parish of Birmingham, heretofore called the Workhouse Field, and frontingto several new laid out Streets there (already in part built upon) and called Moland, Legge, and Fisher Streets. The same may be respectively taken, in small Building Lots, or in any larger Quantity that may appear more eligible for building upon. For further Particulars enquire of Mr. Josiah Robins, Surveyor, or Mr. W. Horne, No. 22, Legge-street aforesaid.
The next takes us to a part of the town which at this time was a scene of rural beauty: a very paradise of cottages surrounded by their beautiful gardens. The Cottage of Content exists at the present time: the gardens are almost all built upon:—
A Capital Garden.
May 17, 1802.—To be disposed of, a Garden, lately belonging to Mr. John Smith, Die-sinker, deceased, with an excellent Summer House, a choice Collection of Fruit Trees, Flowers, Shrubs, well fenced, &c., situated near the Cottage of Content. For Particulars apply to Mr. W. Jenkins, Loveday-street, Birmingham.
N.B.—Mr. Parr, at the Cottage, will shew the Garden.
The following is the last record we have relating to a once famous ornament of the town:—
