Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham - A History and Guide Arranged Alphabetically by Thomas T. Harman;Walter Showell
page 213 of 741 (28%)
page 213 of 741 (28%)
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London from Birmingham, oppressed with disease, he was numbered with the
dead. ~Hinkleys.~--Otherwise, and for very many years, known as "The Inkleys," the generally-accepted derivation of the name being taken from the fact that one Hinks at one time was a tenant or occupier, under the Smalbroke family, of the fields or "leys" in that locality, the two first narrow roads across the said farm being respectively named the Upper and the Nether Inkleys, afterwards changed to the Old and New Inkleys. Possibly, however, the source may be found in the family name of Hinckley, as seen in the register of Harborne. A third writer suggests that the character of its denizens being about as black as could be painted, the place was naturally called Ink Leys. Be that as it may, from the earliest days of their existence, these places seem to have been the abode and habitation of the queerest of the queer people, the most aristocratic resident in our local records having been "Beau Green," the dandy--[see "_Eccentrics_"]--who, for some years, occupied the chief building in the Inkleys, nicknamed "Rag Castle," otherwise Hinkley Hall. The beautiful and salubrious neighbourhood, known as "Green's Village," an offshoot of the Inkleys, was called so in honour of the "Beau." ~Hiring a Husband.~--In 1815, a Birmingham carpenter, after ill-treating his wife, leased himself to another woman by a document which an unscrupulous attorney had the hardihood to draw up, and for which he charged thirty-five shillings. This precious document bound the man and the woman to live together permanently, and to support and succour each other to the utmost of their power. The poor wife was, of course, no consenting party to this. She appealed to the law; the appeal brought the "lease" before the eyes of the judiciary; the man was brought to his senses (though probably remaining a bad husband), and the attorney |
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