FRANCIS BRETT YOUNG’S BIRMINGHAM NORTH BROMWICH – CITY OF IRON by MICHAEL HALL A thesis submitted to The University of Birmingham for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSPHY Department of Modern History School of Historical Studies The University of Birmingham December 2007 University of Birmingham Research Archive e-theses repository This unpublished thesis/dissertation is copyright of the author and/or third parties. The intellectual property rights of the author or third parties in respect of this work are as defined by The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 or as modified by any successor legislation. Any use made of information contained in this thesis/dissertation must be in accordance with that legislation and must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the permission of the copyright holder. i FRANCIS BRETT YOUNG’S BIRMINGHAM North Bromwich – City of Iron ABSTRACT In this thesis I investigate Francis Brett Young’s Birmingham portrait in his North Bromwich novels, showing it to be a valid interpretation, though biased to suit the anti-urban prejudices of its author. Chapter One sets Young in his biographical and literary context. Birmingham during the North Bromwich era (c1870-1939) is examined and the role of novels as historical source established. In Chapter Two I define and explore Young’s North Bromwich canon, one exemplar among many historical realities, and show that the name and soubriquets of North Bromwich interpret Birmingham. Chapter Three investigates North Bromwich’s climate and topography, commercial, political and civic life, indicating clear Birmingham parallels. Chapter Four describes North Bromwich suburbs, housing and transport, each of which accurately replicates Birmingham originals. In Chapter Five I show North Bromwich’s recreational and religious life reflecting Young’s own Birmingham experience. Chapter Six traces North Bromwich’s interpretation of Birmingham’s educational provision, particularly concentrating upon its university’s evolution. Chapter Seven establishes links between North Bromwich and Birmingham medicine, revealing thinly-disguised fictional characters as key Birmingham practioners. Summarizing the above, Chapter Eight confirms the integrity of Young’s North Bromwich portrait and his seminal role in the on-going literary interpretation of Birmingham. ii FRANCIS BRETT YOUNG’S BIRMINGHAM North Bromwich – City of Iron DEDICATION I dedicate Francis Brett Young’s Birmingham North Bromwich – City of Iron To my family Sue, Cath, Simon, Lin, Jon, Thomas and Joshua whose love is my constant encouragement and support iii FRANCIS BRETT YOUNG’S BIRMINGHAM North Bromwich – City of Iron ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to express my particular indebtedness to my supervisor, Professor Carl Chinn, M.B.E., for his guidance, enthusiasm and encouragement. I am grateful for the willing help received from: Libraries and staff: Patrick Baird and staff of Birmingham Reference Library; Christine Penney, Birmingham University Archivist and staff of Special Collections, Birmingham University Library Cath Hughes, Local Studies Librarian, Atherstone; Jonathan Dixon, British Library at Boston Spa; Geraint Morgan, Llandudno Library; Roger Hull, Liverpool Record Office; Bridgett Howlett, Senior Archivist, Joint Archive Service, London; Ruth Barriskill, Guildhall Library, Corporation of London; Kath Lapsley, Library Information Officer, Manchester Library Museum Service; Amanda Hodgson, Local Studies Library, Nottingham; Deidre Buck, Library and Information Assistant, Sheffield Central Library; Museums and staff: Phil Watson, Principal Curator, Collection Management, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery; Rachel Boak, Museum Assistant, Museum of Costume, Bath Edwina Ehrman, Curator of Dress and Decorative Art, Museum of London David Cross, Keeper, West Midlands Police Museum. Robert Arnott and Jonathan Reinarz of the University of Birmingham, Steven Van-Hagen of Edge Hill University, Keith Hodgkins and Ken Smith of the Brewery History Society have all supplied valuable information. H.J. Haden, J. Hunt and A. Rankin readily made available to me material from their personal Francis Brett Young collections. iv FRANCIS BRETT YOUNG’S BIRMINGHAM North Bromwich – City of Iron TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter One Setting the Scene 1 Francis Brett Young in Context 6 Birmingham 1870-1939 22 The Novel as a Source of Birmingham History 33 Chapter Two North Bromwich: An Overview 64 North Bromwich and its Sobriquets 70 Chronological Survey of the North Bromwich Canon 75 North Bromwich – One Reality among Many 111 Chapter Three A Mighty City 124 The Topography and Climate of North Bromwich 127 The Commercial Life of North Bromwich 141 The Political and Civic Life of North Bromwich 153 Chapter Four The Suburbs 175 Blockley, Jewellers’ Quarter, Winsworth, Lower Sparkdale 179 Alvaston 189 Tilton 199 The Homes of North Bromwich 210 North Bromwich – Road and Rail 217 Chapter Five The Arts, Leisure and Religion 230 The Arts 234 Cafés, Inns, Clubs, Grand Midland Hotel 252 Sports, Pastimes, Excursions 263 Religion 272 Chapter Six Education 285 The Evolution of North Bromwich University 293 North Bromwich Students 319 Chapter Seven Medicine 329 Hospitals 335 Patients 345 Midwives, Doctors and Druggists 353 Chapter Eight Conclusions 376 v Appendices 398 Appendix 1: North Bromwich Chronology 399 Appendix 2: North Bromwich Suburbs, Streets, Buildings, Shops, Businesses and Other Facilities 401 Appendix 3: Bath Row’s Theatrical Lodgings, 1901 407 Appendix 4: Unused Extracts from the North Bromwich Canon 410 Bibliography 416 1. Primary 417 1.1. Young, Francis Brett 417 1.1.i North Bromwich Canon 417 1.1.ii Other Published Works 418 1.1.iii Manuscripts 419 1.2 Birmingham 421 1.2.i Fiction: prior to and contemporary with Young 421 1.2.ii Fiction: post Young 423 1.2.iii Poetry 425 1.2.iv Life Stories and Biographies 426 1.2.v History: general 428 1.2.vi History: specific 431 1.3 Newspapers, Magazines and Journals 441 1.4 Maps 444 1.5 Fiction 445 1.5.i Regional, Industrial and Condition of England 445 Fiction 1.5.ii Other 449 1.6 Poetry 450 1.7 Paintings 450 2. Secondary 451 2.1 Literary Criticism and Biography 451 2.1.i Studies and other sources making specific reference to Young 451 2.1.ii General 454 2.2 History and Biography 457 2.3 Other Printed Works 464 3. Interviews 466 vi FRANCIS BRETT YOUNG’S BIRMINGHAM North Bromwich – City of Iron LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS The Laurels, Buckhouse Lane, Hales Owen, Francis Brett Young’s family home 7 From collection of H. J. Haden* Map showing The Laurels, Francis Brett Young’s birthplace 8 From OS Worcestershire Sheet 5.13 (1884) Birmingham Town Hall – exterior 17 F.F. & Co Postcards* Birmingham Town Hall – interior 17 From Dent, R.K. (1880) Old and New Birmingham, Birmingham, Houghton & Hammond, p 474 Birmingham Coat of Arms granted April 1889 126 From Jones, J.E. (1911) A Short History of Birmingham, Birmingham, Cornish Bros, Frontispiece Birmingham Town & District Bank, 63 Colmore Row (1867) 134 From Hickman, D. (1970) Birmingham, London, November Books Ltd, p 35 Union Club, 85 Colmore Row, Birmingham (1869) 134 Photograph by Poulton & Son, London, from Dent, R.K. (1894) The Making of Birmingham, Birmingham, J.L. Allday, p 563 Policeman on point duty at junction of Stephenson Place, New Street 137 and Corporation Street From Local Studies Collection, Birmingham Central Library Birmingham Exchange, Stephenson Place, designed by Edward Homes, 139 opened 1865 Photograph by Whitlock, from Dent, R.K. (1894) p568 Advertisement for Nutting & Co, 70 Edgbaston Street, Birmingham 148 From Official Handbook of the Grand Scenic Bazaar, Bingley Hall, Birmingham, June 19th to 23rd 1906, p 52* Francis Brett Young photographed at Whitlock’s Studio, Birmingham, 1886 149 From Francis Brett Young Manuscript Collection, University of Birmingham Library, Special Collection vii Arthur Moore’s Oyster Rooms, New Street, Birmingham 149 Poulton Series from McKenna, J. (1979) Birmingham as it Was: The City 1857-1914, Birmingham, Public Libraries Fitu Model, Chastleton House, Gloucestershire 150 By permission of National Trust; Photograph taken by Michael Hall (08.08.2003)* Craig Goch 163 RA (Postcards) Ltd* Caban Goch 163 Unattributed Postcard* Aftermath of Lloyd George Riot, Birmingham Town Hall, December 1901 165 Unattributed Postcard* Map showing North Bromwich Suburbs 176 Jewellery-Maker’s Workbench 179 From Cattell, J., Ely, S. and Jones, B. (2002) The Birmingham Jewellery Quarter, Swindon, English Heritage, p 44 Holy Trinity Church, Bordesley, c 1914 188 From Holy Trinity Church Bordesley, 1823-1923: The Centenary of The Consecration of the Church, June 23rd 1923 - Some notes on the one hundred year history of the church Local Studies Collection, Birmingham Central Library Map showing 105 Harborne Road – Home of Gertrude Dale, Francis Brett 191 Young’s student lodgings 1905-1906 From OS Warwickshire Sheet 13.12 (1904) Plan showing 99-107 Harborne Road 192 From Calthorpe Estate Lease Book (1888) Quinton Parish Church 201 Photograph taken by Michael Hall (26.06.2005)* 807-815 Hagley Road West, Quinton 201 Photograph taken by Michael Hall (26.06.2005)* The Birmingham Post passing Quinton Gate 1842 by W.J. Pringle 202 From collection of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery Quinton Toll House and Hagley Road Wesleyan Chapel 203 Dainty Series Postcard* viii College Road Primitive Methodist Chapel, Quinton 203 Unattributed photograph* Tinker’s Stores, 734-736 Hagley Road West Quinton