Sheldon In 1756

Walking around Sheldon new brick buildings seen across the hedges - bordered by path. We went west on the path to Kents Moat, past a huge old oak tree. Site bare, all stone taken long since, house not lived in for more than two centuries: surrounding land emparked, fenced on Yardley boundary by Lord Digby, largest landowner in Sheldon. Windmill now a ruin.

East on path to deep-ditched Garretts Green Lane, road-mending party at work. Two carts, one provided by Lord Digby, other by Mr. Taylor, new owner of part of the manor; and some poorer tenants, grudgingly giving statutory 6 days' work per year on roads under the Highways Surveyor. He was a 'substantial householder', appointed by the Parish Vestry to do job - unpaid, so unwilling. Stones being tipped into ruts and holes - no proper surface, no lasting repair. Bareness of landscape - all woodland gone, timber used for building, and to make charcoal for Birmingham furnaces. Yardley steeple visible from afar. Coleshill too.

Path to Tile Cross : fields of potatoes and root crops - first sowing of turnips this year, will provide food for more cattle in winter, so more can be kept - on left; Rye-Eddish Field to right, still in selions (strips). All cultivated, good wheat crop - ready market for grain in Birmingham. Meet family going there - turned out by landlord, wishing to make larger & more efficient farm -seeking work in industry.

At Tile Cross, White Hart Inn, tile and brick kilns behind; since wood used up, more brick buildings, most farms being rebuilt. Visit Sheldon Hall, still partly moated; central Hall and added wings, half-timbered, completed 150 years before. Babbs Mill not yet rebuilt, still at work : named after C16th millers.

Down Tile Cross Lane - Ridding Field still largely unenclosed to Mackinton. No village now - one large farm, newly rebuilt, with half-timbered barn, and outbuildings for workers, and few cots nearby. Bell Inn and smithy on lane to Marston Green. Mill at confluence of brooks vanished. Along Radleys, see men digging out marl, spreading it on field : Mr. Taylor pays tenants money for thus improving land, increasing their crops and so his rents.

Elms Farm at Radleys-Church Lane corner, St. Giles's Church below, looking as now. Ring o'Bells Inn, pound for lost animals, stocks on green nearby. Mill still turning beyond village, which was still small - dozen houses at the most. Church tower now 300 years old - manor too small to afford spire like Yardley's.

Queue of paupers at Vestry door: widows and workless. There had been 60 farms scattered about Sheldon in 1650, now there were 45. Once every family could support itself with its own garden, crops and animals : now many were landless and receiving weekly payments from the Overseers of the Poor. Rector there as Chairman of Vestry, with Churchwardens and Constable. 50 scholars came out of school, two-storied, north of church, led by Mr. Butler, their master : boys and girls, some from out of Sheldon, taught to read and write - perhaps.

1762 Matthew Boulton, manufacturer of Snow Hill, opened new factory, Soho Works, on Hockley Brook. Water-powered machinery: space for many small firms as well as Boulton's - eventual labour force 1000 people. 'I sell here what all the world desires to have - power'. Food riots Taylor & Lloyd's Bank founded in High Street. John Taylor - gilt buttons, japanned snuffboxes, Union Street factory employed 200 (new-style industry - but backyard workshops still) Sampson Lloyd, ironmaster-corn & rolling mills.