Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham eBook

Thomas Harman
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 737 pages of information about Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham.

Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham eBook

Thomas Harman
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 737 pages of information about Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham.
flats, and on the first floor there are four residences, one being formed over the firemen’s waiting room and office.  On this floor additional bed rooms are provided for men with families requiring them; and the second floor is a reproduction of the first.  On the top of all there is a flat upon which are erected five wash-houses, the remainder of the space being used as a drying ground or play ground for children, the whole enclosed with iron palisades.  In the basement there is a lock-up cellar for each of the residences.

Fish Market.—­A rather plain-looking erection, of the open-shed style of architecture was put up at the corner of Bell Street in 1870. the foundation stone being laid July 14.  It has since been enlarged, and is now much more ornamental as well as being useful.  The estimated cost of the alterations is put at L16,000 including fittings.  The original area was only 715 square yards, but to that has been added 909 square yards, and Bell Street (to which it will have a frontage of 240 feet), which will be widened to 16 yards, is to be covered with iron and glass roof, Lease Lane is also to be widened for access to the market.

Lincoln’s Inn.—­This is a huge block of offices erected in Corporation Street, opposite the County Court, in 1883. and which, like its London namesake, is intended for the accommodation of solicitors, accountants, and other professional gentlemen.  There are a number of suites of offices surrounding an inner court (66ft. by 60ft.), with from two to eight rooms each, the street frontages in Corporation Street and Dalton Street being fitted as shops, while there is a large room under the court (48ft. by 42ft.) suitable for a sale room or other purpose.  The outside appearance of the block is very striking, having a large entrance gateway with a circular bay window over it, surmounted by a lofty lower.  The tower has four clock faces, pinnacles at the angles, and a steep slate roof and is 120 feet high.  There are also two flanking towers, at the extreme ends of the front.  These have canted bay windows below them, and their pediments are surmounted by figures representing Mercury and Athaene.  The space on each side between the central and the flanking tower is divided into three bays, having ornamental dormers above them, and being divided by niches, which will serve to hold allegorical figures of the arts.  The windows are ornamented by tracery, and the facade is enriched by a free use of carving.  The architect is Mr. W.H.  Ward, and the cost of the pile about L22,000.

Market Hall.—­The foundation stone was laid Feb. 28, 1833, and it was opened for business Feb. 14, 1835.  The building, which is constructed of freestone, from the designs of Mr. Edge, cost about L30,000, though considerable sums have since been spent on it.  The large vaults constructed under the Hall in 1875 coat about L4,000.  It contains an area of 39,411 square feet, being 365 feet long,

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Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.