Boadicea's war chariots (A.D. 61), as well as the Britons' swords, were made in this neighbourhood.
When escaping from Boscobel, in the guise of Miss Lane's servant, Charles II. had to appeal to a blacksmith at Erdington to re-shoe his horse. The knight of the hammer was a republican, and his majesty chimed in with the man's views so readily, that the latter complimented his customer on "speaking like an honest man." Miss Lane afterwards married Sir Clement Fisher, of Packington, and her portrait may be still seen at the Hall.
During the battle of Waterloo, the Duke of Wellington saw a little fellow in plain clothes riding about on a cob, and, beckoning him up, told him he was in danger. The little man, however, said he had come to see a fight, and meant to stop it out. Shortly after, the Duke wanting a messenger, employed the rider of the cob to take a message across the field, directing a certain regiment to charge the enemy. This was done, and the Duke took his messenger's card and saw no more of him at that time; but afterwards, finding that the little man was the traveller to a Birmingham button maker, he appointed him to a situation in the Mint, at £800 a year.
In 1766, it was necessary to have 25 constables ready to protect the farmers coming to market with their corn, the times were so hard with the poor. In the following year large quantities of rice were purchased by subscription and one gentleman, it is said, himself gave away half-a-ton per day for ten days.
In 1853, a premium of £30 was offered for the best design of an illuminated clock, to be erected on the open space in front of Christ Church.
A Queen Anne's farthing of rare type was turned up in the Bull Ring, in July, 1879.
The body of William Woodward was found (March 21, 1878) in the branches of a tree in Little Green Lane, he having climbed up there previous to death.
The living of free breakfasts on a Sunday morning to the poor children of the streets, was commenced July 4, 1875. at Park Street Ragged Schools.
A system of supplying school-children with penny dinners is the latest philanthropic movement.
The hottest day recorded in our local history was June 23, 1868.
The Orsini bombs used in Paris, January 15, 1858, were made in this town.
A hundred years back, meetings of the inhabitants were called by the tolling of one of St. Martin's bells.
The declaration of war, or cessation thereof, used to be proclaimed in the market by the High Bailiff.
The 7th Earl of Stirling officiated in this town as a Nonconformist minister, simply styling himself the Rev. John Alexander; he died Dec. 29, 1765, and was buried in the Old Meeting graveyards. His sister, who became Countess in her own right, was married to a local manufacturer, William Humphrys.
Sessions.-The first of the Borough Quarter Sessions was held July 5 1839 M. D. Hill, Esq., Recorder. On the 25th of November following the magistrates began to sit daily at Petty Sessions.
Secular Club and Institute.-The members having bought the remainder of lease (32 years) of No. 18, Crescent, for £340, have fitted it up for the purposes of their club and on June 1 1877 the foundation-stone was laid of a lecture hall at the rear, 70ft. long by 19ft. wide. St. Georges Hall, Upper Dean Street, was their former meeting place.
Sewerage and Sanitary Works.-The disposal of the sewage of a large town away from the sea or tidal rivers has at all times been a source of difficulty, and Birmingham forms no exception to the rule. When it was in reality but the little "hardware village" it has so often been
