Edgbaston, Warkwickshire in the 1850s

[sarah_robbo]

Hello all,

I have just got two death certificates through (on GRO PDF!) for my 4th Great Grandfather and his daughter, my 3rd Great Grandmother.

I am not familiar with Birmingham areas, but the family constantly states areas like Hareborne, West Bromwich, Halesowen, Edgbaston areas.

Isaac Needham Robertson (Born 1795) died in 1856 in the workhouse, Birmingham according to his death certificate. In the district of All Saints. Was there just the one workhouse at the time? In 1851 I think I have him as a lodger in Sandy Lane, Edgbaston, Kings Norton.

His daughter, Charlotte Robertson (Born 1821) died 18th March 1859. Unmarried address is 66 Lee Bank Road, Edgbaston, Warkwickshire.  She died having had 'Psoas abscess 3 years' and Phthisis Pulmonalis [consumption or pulmonary tuberculosis] 6 months.

Prior to the address given at death in 1859, In 1841 have Charlotte Living on Bridge Street West, in the parish of St George in Birmingham next to her grandmother Mary Morrel with siblings. Could be in the same house or neighbours. In 1851 she seems to be Living With widowed grandmother mother Ann Merrell at Court No 2 Great Barr Street and a pattern tie stitcher

I know from certificates that Charlotte had my 2nd GGF Ernest Edwin illegitimately in 1854.

I just want to see if anyone knows more about these areas at the time? I think they might poss be slum type areas?

Thank you!



s x

[KGarrad]

Some info here:
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Birmingham/

Birmingham workhouse opened in 1852 in Winson Green, junction of Dudley Road and Western Road.

There were also workhouses at Aston and King's Norton:
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Aston/
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/KingsNorton/

[mrsruz]

I wouldn't describe them as slum areas, but definitely working class.
The central Birmingham streets were certainly very poor & overcrowded, the outer areas less so. All of them were subsequently amalgamated with Birmingham.

[Bearnan]

I have ancestors who lived in Great Barr Street and others in surrounding streets in the Deritend area which is situated just down from the Bull Ring. Living conditions for them were dreadful. Several of them finished their days in Birmingham Workhouse Infirmary, this later became Dudley Road Hospital .
The children of my great great grandparents were orphaned and they went to Marston Green Cottage homes.

[jim1]

1866 map
Western Rd. Workhouse in the blue square.
Bridge St. West in red.
Gt. Barr St. in blue.
There are 2 Sandy Lane's in B'ham neither of them are in Edgbaston (not King's Norton as that is another Parish in Worcs.)
Can't see your man on the census so can't take a look.
Probably this Sandy Lane in Green.
Lee Bank Rd. in yellow.
Lee Bank Rd. was on the edge of the urban sprawl of B'ham which was encroaching into the more affluent Edgbaston home of the middle & upper classes.