evening at the gardens, where they were kept by the rain until it was late. When they went out, not being well acquainted with the road, owing to the darkness of the night, and still more so to the shameful negligence of somebody, in not putting up a rail or any kind of fence, they walked into the deepest part of the river, some little way above the flood- gates, down to which they were floated; and they must, by Mr. Fallows' account, have been in their uncomfortably perilous situation full an hour.
In the following advertisements we have still further proof of the great changes which were now being made; and of the spirit of speculation of which the "correspondent" quoted above complained:—
April 11th, 1796.—To be Let, on a re-building Lease, and entered upon immediately, all those three Dwelling-houses, situate on the Northern side of, and fronting to, High-street, in Birmingham, and adjoining to the Dwelling-houses of Charles Taylor, Esq., and now in the several Tenures of Messrs. Plimley, Nichols, and Alsop, with a great depth of Land behind the said Houses, sufficient for the purpose of erecting convenient Warehouses, and other Buildings.
N.B. The above situation is a very centrical one, it being in one of the most principal streets in Birmingham, either for a Wholesale or Retail Business, and well worth the Notice of any Person wishing to enter into either of them. Also to be Let for Building, the Land whereon the Black Boy Inn and Buildings now stand, situate in Edgbaston Street, Birmingham.
N.B. That as the House adjoining the said Inn will be taken down, and a good opening made out of Edgbaston Street, to communicate with the Warwick and Alcester Roads, for Carriages this year, the above Spot of Land will be a very desirable one, either to erect an Inn, or other Buildings upon.
Valuable Freehold Estates.
April 24th, 1797.-To be peremptorily Sold by Auction by T. Warren (by Direction of Messrs, Princep and the Trustees of the late Joseph Carles, Esq., who have mutually entered into an agreement for that purpose,) at the house of Mrs. Mary Lloyd, all that spacious and convenient Dwelling House, four stories high, containing four Rooms on each Floor, with Brewhouse, Laundry over it, and other Accommodations, situate in Park Street, opposite Shut Lane End, together with a very large Space of Vacant Land or Garden Ground behind the same, all entire, walled round, and very suitable for the erection of other Buildings, Warehouses, or Shops; all which said Premises were late in the Holding of Mr. John Colmore, at the yearly Rent of £25, but are now untenanted. Also two other Dwelling Houses adjoining to the above, and fronting to Park Street aforesaid, with Gardens and other Appurtenances thereto, now or late in the several Tenures of Mrs. Richards and William Tay, at the yearly rent of £16.
Our next advertisement is full of pleasant reminiscences to all Birmingham people who are near or beyond middle life. The "road leading from the Crescent Bridge to the Cottage of Content," was composed entirely of gardens. The Cottage of Content still remains to remind us of a state of things which no longer exist. The gardens have all disappeared.
