An History of Birmingham (1783) by William Hutton
page 272 of 347 (78%)
page 272 of 347 (78%)
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and transfer it into his favourite piece, of a dying Saviour. But did
that Saviour teach such doctrine? Humanity would wish rather to have lost the piece, than have heard of the cruelty. What, if the injured ghost of the criminal is at this moment torturing that of the painter?-- But as this capacious field is beyond the line I profess, and, as I have no direct accusation against the people of my regard, I shall not enter. DERITEND BRIDGE. Cooper's-mill, situated upon the verge of the parishes of Afton and Birmingham, 400 yards below this bridge, was probably first erected in the the peaceable ages of Saxon influence, and continued a part of the manorial estate 'till the disposal of it in 1730. Before the water was pounded up to supply the mill, it must have been so shallow, as to admit a passage between Digbeth and Deritend, over a few stepping stones; and a gate seems to have been placed upon the verge of the river, to prevent encroachments of the cattle. This accounts for the original name, which Dugdale tells us was _Derry-yate-end:_ derry, low; yate, gate; end, extremity of the parish; with which it perfectly agrees. The mill afterwards causing the water to be dammed up, gave rise to a succession of paltry bridges, chiefly of timber, to preserve a communication between the two streets. |
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