A 1780 View From Ladywood

32.1. Map 10

'A clear sunny day blessed my viewing from the late Mr. Perrott's Observatory in Edgbaston. To the westward, Warley Woods, where lies the Estate of Mr. Sam Galton II, and high ground towards The Quinton, backed by the near hills of Lickey and Clent. To the north the treeless waste of Handsworth Heath, and the Barr Beacon clear against the sky over beyond Tame. While to the east, the High Town of Birmingham was to be discerned betimes amid the smoke of Foundries hard by the Canal Wharves and that arising from the Forges of Old Town toward Rea.

'Looking then across Ladywood Brook and over Mr. Perrott Noel's House and Garden, I beheld the trees and hedges of Rotton Park, that ancient preserve of the Lords Birmingham, long since enclosed and made fair, bordered by Shireland Brook. I could discover the roofs of the Holly Bush and Bear Inns at the further extremity of Beaks Farm, and follow thence the course of the said brook, by the willows that did grow beside it, where it divideth both Shires and Parishes, until its conflowing with Hockley Brook across the north bound. There lay the Pool of Mr. Sam. Harvey, sword-cutler, at Pig Mill, which I could descry as also the Soho hill of Mr. Matt. Boulton and the Hockley Great Pool, 3 furlongs in length, for that there were but few trees or houses on that shameful waste called Birmingham Heath of 787 acres between the Hockley Brook vale and my point of observa-tion, save only the Hamlet of Winson Green.

Of Mr. Boulton's great manufactory I might discern the chimneys and roofs, and in the Park beyond his fine white house, built for him by Mr. Sam. Wyatt, wherein the Prince of Soho doth entertain his Companions of the Lunar Society, and where-from he may observe his mighty works upon the stream below. There, though hid from my view save for its tall chimney, dwells within its cave of brick that Monster which consuming coal doth belch forth steam, I mean Mr. Jas. Watt's Fire Engine 'Beelzebub'.

'Near the whole Parish lay before me. My eye was caught by the wheeling sails of windmills, one nigh to Smethwick Great Reservoir, a second upon the Heath towards Brookfields, yet a third below Holloway Head. I followed with my eye the course of Ladywood Brook from the Mire called Roach Pool down to the Bridge at the foot of Spring Hill nigh to the Tollgate, and thence to Little Hockley Pool. Close thereto I espied that Folly of our time, the ruin called Hockley Abbey, though it be neither ruin nor Abbey, being but lately built in antique style of Dross from Aston Furnace by one Richard Ford. Upon the rill called Winson Green Brook I did distinguish two Pools upon the Heath, the lower being Meredith's and the upper a Reservoir of water for the Navigation which there doth cross the brook.

'Brindley, that unlettered Genius of Waterways, laid out the line of his Cut across the Parish 11 years since. Little has been the altering and less the amend-ing of his work, though the need be great. As I look north, I see the greatest of those several Divergencies from a straight line, where the Vessels, of which a score may be counted in view, must turn most sharp or ground upon the Bank, as some do to the general Delay, and near go back whence they came. Upon the Navi-gation nigh to the Old Lodge there stands a Glasshouse, but lately built to have the Advantage of smooth travel by water for its fragile Wares. Another such is proposed upon the Turnpike, where it crosses the Canal hard by the Windmill.

'Save to the east where lies the Town of Birmingham are few houses to be seen and those well apart excepting at Winson and Gib Heath and Hockley Pound, whilst not one Highway crosses Rotton Park but only Foredroves. There is new building upon Summer Hill, and at Islington nigh to the Tollgate at the Five Ways, where stand elegant new Houses upon straight Streets. Yet are these but outliers of the Town, which stretches no further to the northward than the Square about St. Paul's Chapel. That fine Church yet lacks the Spire its builder planned. There lie new Thoroughfares about Bingley House this side of Mr. John Baskerville's Mansion on Easy Hill. These I can discern, and Col. Vyse's House at Ladywood and lesser mansions near at hand : but much else to eastward lies hid in smoke.

'Turning now to the Parish wherein the Tower doth stand, I observe Edgbaston below me from the Holly Bush to the River Rea, all made into fair closes save to westward where are Copses, to south-west where lies Metchley Park in which Danes' Camp is found, and to south-east where is Edgbaston Park and the Hall, residence of Sir Henry Gough Bart.. The great Lake, made upon the Chad Brook which prettily traverses my view, throws back the Sun from its placid waters all wreathed in trees. A pleasant Prospect and but few Houses save at Good Knaves' End.