Tower.—­Originally, all guns made here for Government, had to be put together in London, but when the French Revolution broke out, it was seen that a quicker mode of procedure was necessary, and an establishment in Bagot Street was erected in 1798, where all guns for Government were viewed and stamped with the “Tower” mark.  Hence the name.

Town Criers were first appointed in 1526.  Jacob Wilson entered into office May 4, 1853, and was pensioned off with 15s. a week in August, 1879, after a family tenure of the office, according to Jacob, of about 350 years.  Surely it was a crying shame to stop the children of that family from crying in the future.  The last of the criers did not last long after deposition from office, Jacob’s last words being uttered in 1881.

Town Improvements.—­Some fifty and odd years ago Dobbs, a local comedian, used to sing,

  “Brumagem has altered so,
  There’s scarce a place in it I know;
  Round the town you now must go
  To find old Brumagem.”

Had he lived till these days he might well have sung so, for improvements are being carried out so rapidly now that in another generation it is likely old Birmingham will have been improved off the face of the earth altogether.  Prior to the days of steam, our forefathers went about their work more leisurely, for it was not until 1765 that the Act was obtained for the “enlightening” of the streets, and four years later when the first Act was passed (April 21, 1769) for street improvements.  The Street Commissioners appointed by this Act, and who held their first meeting May 22, 1769, for many years did little more than regulate the traffic of the streets, keep them clean_ish_, and look after the watchmen.  In course of time the operations of the said Commissioners were extended a little, and it is to them that we owe the existence of the central open space so long known as the Bull Ring, for they gave L1,730, in 1801, for the removal of nine tenements there and then blocking the way.  Money must have been of more value then than now, for if such a purchase was necessary at the present date one or two more figures would require being added to the amount.  This town improvement was completed in 1806, when the Commissioners purchased the remaining houses and shops round St. Martin’s, but property owners had evidently learned something during the five years, for whereas the Commissioners at first estimated the further cost at L10,957, they reluctantly had to provide no less than L22,266, the additional sum required being swallowed up by “incidental expenses.”  The poet already quoted had apparently been absent during these alterations, for he wailingly bemoaned—­

  “Poor old Spiceal Street half gone,
  The poor old Church stands all alone,
  And poor old I can only groan,
  That I can’t find Brumagem.”