| Humphrey's descendant John built a mock-Gothic tower of brick and
stone to 'complete the view' from his house. The ridge over which
Lady Wood had grown was bare except for hedgerow trees, and beyond
was the smoky pall of Birmingham. 'Perrott1s Folly' 1758-62, which
gave Monument Lane its name, is 96 feet high : its seven storeys have
rococo plasterwork within. In 1854 it was leased by the Midland Institute
as a weather observatory. Cleared of the terraces that formerly obscured
it, the restored tower is still in use. Follett Osler, meteorologist
and inventor, who gave Birmingham its Council House clock and GMT,
was the first Director, followed by the Kelleys father and son 1917
- 67.
The Wednesbury Road was turnpiked in 1725, Hagley (Halesowen) Road
in '53, and Dud-ley Road in '60. Tollgates and keepers' houses were
built at the foot of Constitution Hill, Five Ways, and Sandon Road
(Smethwick Lane) corner, and on the site of Spring Hill Library.
Twenty years after the turnpiking Hutton described Dudley Road as
'des-picable beyond description' and Hagley Read as 'chequered with
good and evil, chiefly the latter'. Although engineers and materials
were provided by the Trusts, local pa-rishioners were still the
unwilling labour force on their statutory days. Both highways to
and from the Black Country were 'much used for the carriage of iron
goods, coal and lime'. Canal competition brought improvement - and
50% higher tolls! By the early C19th two carriage widths of cambered
macadam had been laid down the centre of the boggy swaths, ditches
dug, holloways infilled, and fords paved - later bridged.
|
Previous
Index