Birmingham in the Middle Ages

In 1086 Birmingham was one of the poorest and least peopled manors in the area. It was average in size, about 4½ square miles, and 12 miles in perimeter. Less than 250 years later it was the wealthiest place in the county after Coventry and Warwick, and continued to grow despite its distance from markets and ports, poor communications, and lack of materials.

Reasons for the Growth of Birmingham

1. POSITION. Well placed to be focus of economic life of Plateau. Produce of Avon and Arden, Black Country metal,
Droitwich salt. Roads between great religious houses, Worcester, Coventry, Lichfield, came to Deritend ford, best crossing of Rea. Local vills made tracks to Birmingham market.
2. HEALTHY SITUATION. High, well-drained site, excellent water supply at all times. Pleasant south-facing slope.
3. MARKETS AND FAIRS. Ruling family of Birmingham did well for manor and selves by obtaining early charters.
Market (Thursdays) from c.1150, perhaps before, Whitsuntide Fair (3 days) from 1251. Later, Michaelmas Fair.
4. REA BRIDGE. Probably C13th. timber, usable when ford flooded. Stone bridges later.
5. MANUFACTURES. Early change from subsistence agriculture to wool production and making of wares in metal and
leather for sale, in Birmingham market and elsewhere. Early rise of merchant class, selling around Midlands and further. Local vills supplying staple commodities, buying Birmingham products.
6. MATERIALS. Wool for weaving, hides for leather, iron from south Staffs., imported on packhorse back. Local
charcoal, moulding sand. Manor no better placed than many others, transport always difficult and costly: but producers were sure of a sale in Birmingham.
7. FREEDOMS. From C12th to C16th the de Birmingham family held the manor, often absent, preferred money rents to villeinage services. Gradual change to free burgages, tenants able to pursue profit in manufacture, commerce. Steward in charge, manor officials acquired power to order affairs. No lord jealous of rights, no great church or abbey, no restrictive charter or trade gilds.
8. GILD OF HOLY CROSS, 1392-1547. Perhaps formed to maintain bridge and causeway? Not a trade gild, open to
all men of substance including 'foreigners'. Bridge and highway maintenance, gild hall, chantry and priest, relief of poor.

Boundaries of Birmingham Manor (Modem Place-Names)
Boundary with Edgbaston from River Rea to Bearwood, with Smethwick thence to Hockley Brook, with Handsworth thence to Soho Hill, with Aston thence to Aston Brook, with Duddeston thence to the Rea, and with Bordesley east of the river again to the Rea.

An old- stream course from the Rea at Belgrave Road to Great Colmore Street, Islington Row, Ladywood Road, Reservoir Road (perambulation tracks). Roch Pool, centre of Canal Reservoir; valley of culverted Rotton Park Brook (dips in Portland, Gillott, Stanmore Roads); curved line west to Holly Bush Inn at Bearwood. North east, Shireland Brook (county, manor, City boundary) to and east along Hockley Brook, culverted from Nineveh Road. Aston Brook
Street, Legge Street. Gosta Green, A-B Row (Aston - B'ham Parish Bound), Curzon Street, Rea. Until 1555 Deritend Township east of river was in B'ham lordship: boundary from Montagu Street to High Street Bordesley, Clyde Street, Highgate Park, Vaughton Street, to Rea.

9.1. Map 8

Lord's Demesne: Holme (Flood Meadow) Park, Little Park. Best arable and meadows. Bounded by Bristol Street,
High Street? Rotton Park - hunting preserve.

Common Fields: an arc west of demesne from south to east bound, bordered by Monument Lane, Icknield Street,
Key Hill, Hockley Brook? Priory and Glebe lands later reduced the area. Probably early enclosure into crofts for pasture.

Waste: west of the fields and north of Dudley Road lay the common pasture, later called Birmingham Heath. Infertile,
lacking water; pools made on streams - Hockley Great and Little, Roch, etc.

Borough: the built-up area, comprising the single street from Deritend to Dale End, and the nearer ends of the side
streets. Not an incorporated town.

Foreign: all of the manor except the Demesne and Borough. Hamlet of Winson Green the only dwelling site outside
the Borough.