# Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham/D

​Danielites.—A tribe who eschew fish, flesh, and fowl, and drink no alcohol; neither do they snuff, smoke, or chew tobacco. At a fruit banquet, held on August, 1877, it was decided to organise a "Garden of Danielites" in Birmingham.
Dates.—The most complete work giving the dates of all the leading events in the world's history is "Haydn's Book of Dates," the latest edition bringing them down to 1882. For local events, the only "Local Book of Dates" published is that of 1874, but "Showell's Dictionary' of Birmingham" (by the same author), will be found to contain more reliable data than any book hitherto issued. For information of a general character, respecting the immediate neighbourhood and ​adjoining counties, our readers cannot do better than refer to the files of Birmingham newspapers, preserved in the Reference Library, or write to the present editors of the said papers, gentlemen noted for their urbanity, and readiness to tell anybody anything.
Dawson, George, See "Parsons, Preachers, and Priests," and "Statues."
Deaf and Dumb Asylum.—See "Philanthropic Institutions."
Debating Societies.— From time immemorial the Brums have had their little Parliaments, mostly in public-house parlours and clubrooms, and certain Sunday nights gathering at "Bob Edmonds" and other well-known houses have acquired quite an historical interest; but the regularly-constituted " Spouting Clubs" of the present day cannot claim a very long existence, the Birmingham Debating Society having held their first palaver on the 3rd of Dec, 1846. In 1855 they joined the Edgbastonians. The latest of the kind started in 1884, is known as the Birmingham Parliamentary Debating Society, and has its premier, parties, and political fights, in proper Parliamentary style.
Deer stealers.—There was a taste for venison in more classes than one in 1765, for it was found necessary to offer rewards for the detection of those persons who stole the deer from Aston Park.
Dental Hospital.—see "Hospitals."
Deodands.—Prior to the passing of 9 and 10 Vict., 1846, Coroner's Juries had the power of imposing a "deodand" or penalty on any article or animal which had been instrumental in causing the death of a human being, the said animal or article being forfeited if the owner did not pay.
Deritend.—In some antique records the name has been .spelt "Duratehend." For this and other reasons it has been thought to have had its origin rather from the ancient British, as "dur" is still the Welsh word for water, and its situation on the Rea (a Gaelic word signifying a running stream) seems to give a little foundation therefor. Mr. Toulniin Smith, in whose family the "Old Crown House" has descended from the time it was built, and who, therefore, is no mean authority, was of opinion that the name was formerly "Der-yat-end," or "Deer-Gate-End," from the belief that in ancient days there was here an ancient deer forest. Leland said he entered the town by "Dirtey," so perhaps after all Deritend only means "the dirty end." Like the name of the town itself, as well as several other parts of it, we can only guess at the origin.
Deritend Bridge.—Old records show that some centuries back there was a bridge here of some sort, and occasionally we find notes of payments made for repairs to the roads leading to the gates of the bridge, or to the watchmen who had charge thereof, who appear to have been in the habit of locking the gates at night, a procedure which we fear our "Dirtyent" neighbours of to-day would be inclined to resent. The Act for building the present bridge was obtained in 1784; the work was commenced in 1789, but not completed till 1814.
Dickens, Charles, made his first appearance amongst us at a Polytechnic Conversazione held February 28, 1844, his last visit being to distribute prizes to students of the Midland Institute. January 6, 1870. In December, 1854, he gave the proceeds of three "Readings," amounting to £227, to the funds of the Institute, in which he always took great interest.—See also "Theatrical Notes," &c.
Digbeth, or Dyke Path, or Ducks' Bath, another puzzle to the antiquarians. It was evidently a watery place, and the pathway lay low, as may be seen at "Ye Olde Leather Bottel."
​Dining Halls—Our grandfathers were content lo lake their bread and cheese by the cosy fireside of a publichouse kitchen; this was followed b}sundry publicans reserving a better room, in which a joint was served up for their "topping customers." One who got into trouble and lost his license, conceived the idea of opposing his successor, and started dining-rooms, sending out for beer as it was required, but not to his old shop. This innovation took, and when the railways began bringing in their streams of strangers, these dining-rooms paid well (as several of the old ones do still). The next step was the opening of a large room in Slaney Street (June 8, 1863), and another in Cambridge Street, with the imposing title of "Dining Halls," wherein all who were hungry could be fed at wholesale prices—provided they had the necessary cash. Our people, however, are not sufficiently gregarious to relish this kind of feeding in flocks, barrackroom fashion, and though the provisions were good and cheap, the herding together of all sorts spoilt the speculation, and Dining Halls closed when "Restaurants" opened.—See "Luncheon Bars."
Diocese.—Birmingham is in the diocese of Worcester, and in the Archdeaconry of Coventry.
Directories.—The oldest Birmingham Directory known was printed in 1770, but there had been one advertised a few years earlier, and every now and then after this date one or other of our few printers ventured to issue what they called a directory, but the procuring a complete list of all and every occupation carried on in Birmingham appears to have been a feat beyond their powers, even sixty years back. As far as they did go, however, the old directories are not uninteresting, as they give us glimpses of trade mutations and changes compared with the present time that appear strange now even to our oldest inhabitants. Place for instance the directory of 1824 by the side of White's directory for 1874 (one of the most valuable and carefully compiled works of the kind yet issued). In the former we find the names of 4,980 tradesmen, the different businesses under which they are allotted numbering only 141; in 1874 the trades and professions named tot up to 745, under which appears no less than 33,462 names. In 1824, if we are to believe the directory, there were no factors here, no fancy repositories, no gardeners or florists, no pearl button makers, no furniture brokers or pawnbrokers(!), no newsagents, and, strange to say, no printer. Photographers and electro-platers were unknown, though fifty years after showed 68 of the one, and 77 of the latter. On the other hand, in 1824, there were 78 auger, awlblade and gimlet makers, against 19 in 1874; 14 bellows makers, against 5; 36 buckle and 810 button makers, against 10 and 265; 52 edge tool makers and 176 locksmiths, against 18 of each in 1874; hinge-makers were reduced from 53 to 23; gilt toy makers, from 265 to 15. (Considering the immense quantity of gilt trifles now sent out yearly, we can only account for these figures by supposing the producers to have been entered under various other headings). Among the trades that have vanished altogether, are steelyard makers, of whom there were 19 in 1824; saw-makers, of whom there were 26; tool-makers, of whom there were 79, and similorers, whatever they might have been. Makers of the time-honoured snuffers numbered 46 in 1824, and there were even half-a-dozen manufacturers left at work in 1874. The introduction of gas-lighting only found employ, in the first-named year, for three gasfitters; in 1874, there were close upon 100. Pewterers and manufacturers of articles in Britannia metal numbered 75 in 1824, against 19 in 1874, wire-drawers in the same period coming down from 237 to 56. The Directories of the past ten years have degenerated into mere bulky tomes, ​cataloguing names certainly, but published almost solely for the benefit(?) of those tradesmen who can be coaxed into advertising in their pages. To such an extent has this been carried, that it is well for all advertisers to be careful when giving their orders, that they are dealing with an established and respectable firm, more than one bogus Directory having come under the notice of the writer during the past year or two. The issue of a real Post Office Directory for 1882, for which the names, trades, and addresses were to be gathered by the letter-carriers, and no body of men could be more suitable for the work, or be better trusted, was hailed by local tradesmen as a decided step in advance (though little fault could be found with the editions periodically issued by Kelly), but unfortunately the proposed plan was not successfully carried out, and in future years the volume will be principally valued as a curiosity, the wonderfully strange mistakes being made therein of placing the honoured name of Sir Josiah Mason under the head of "Next-of-Kin Enquiry Agents," and that, too, just previous to the exposure of the numerous frauds carried out by one of the so-called agents and its curiousness is considerably enhanced by the fact that a like error had been perpetrated in a recent edition of Kelly's Directory.
Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society in 1882 gave assistance to 642 persons, at an average cost of 9s. 9½d. each—£315 19s. 4d. £161 16s. 5d. of this amount came from the convicts' gratuities, while the cost of aiding and helping them took £192 2s.
Dispensary.— Established in 1794; the first stone of the building in Union Street was laid December 23, 1806, and it was opened for the reception of patients early in 1808, the cost being about £3,000. It has been one of the most valuable institutions of the town thousands receiving medical assistance every year, and is supported by voluntary subscriptions. A branch Dispensary was opened in Monument Road, Feb. 27, 1884. Provident Dispensaries, to which members pay a small monthly sum for medicine and attendance were organised in 1878, the first branch being opened at Hockley in October of that year. In the first fifteen months 3,765 individuals paid subscriptions, and about £577 was paid for drugs and doctors fees. There are also branches at Camp Hill and Small Heath.
Dissenters.—In 1836 there were 45 places of worship belonging to various denominations of Dissenters here ; there are now about 145.—See "Places of Worship."
Distances from Birmingham to neighbouring places, county towns, trade centres, watering places, &c. Being taken from the shortest railway routes, this list may be used as a guide to the third-class fares—Reckoned at 1d. per mile:—
| | Miles. |
| Aberdare | 111 |
| Aberdeen | 437½ |
| Abergavenny | 79 |
| Abergele | 109 |
| Aberystwith | 123½ |
| Acock's Green | 4½ |
| Albrighton | 20 |
| Alcester | 24 |
| Aldershot | 111½ |
| Alnwick | 52½ |
| Alrewas | 26 |
| Alton Towers | 52½ |
| Alvechurch | 13½ |
| Arbroath | 310 |
| Ashbourne | 56½ |
| Ashby-de-la-Zouch | 41½ |
| Ashton-under-Lyne | 84½ |
| Aylesbury | 84 |
| Bala | 94 |
| Banbury | 42 |
| Bangor | 135 |
| Barmouth | 116 |
| Barnsley | 95½ |
| Barnstaple | 181 |
| Barnt Green | 12 |
| Barrow-in-Furness | 160 |
| Basingstoke | 108½ |
| Bath | 98½ |
| Battersea | 115½ |
| Bedford | 82 |
| Beeston Castle | 64½ |
| Belper | 50 |
| Berkswell | 13 |
| Berwick | 281 |
| Bescot Junction | 7½ |
| Bettws-y-Coed | 134 |
| Bewdley | 22½ |
| Bilston | 9 ​ |
| Birkenhead | 90 |
| Blackburn | 113 |
| Blackpool | 124 |
| Bletchley | 65½ |
| Blisworth | 49½ |
| Bloxwich | 10½ |
| Bolton | 95½ |
| Borth | 113 |
| Bournemouth | 173 |
| Bradford | 120½ |
| Brecon | 95 |
| Bredon | 40½ |
| Brettle Lane | 12 |
| Bridgnorth | 20 |
| Bridgewater | 127 |
| Brierley Hill | 11½ |
| Brighton | 166 |
| Bristol | 94 |
| Bromsgrove | 16 |
| Bromyard | 41 |
| Buckingham | 70½ |
| Builth Road | 88 |
| Burslem | 49 |
| Burton-on-Trent | 32 |
| Bury St. Edmunds | 133 |
| Bushbury Jun'tion | 13 |
| Buxton | 79 |
| Cambridge | 111½ |
| Cannock | 15½ |
| Canterbury | 175½ |
| Cardiff | 109 |
| Carlisle | 196 |
| Carmarthen | 187½ |
| Carnarvon | 143½ |
| Castle Bromwich | 5½ |
| Castle Douglas | 248½ |
| Chapel-en-le-Frith | 89 |
| Cheadle | 77 |
| Cheddar | 115½ |
| Chelsea | 110 |
| Cheltenham | 49½ |
| Chepstow | 84 |
| Chester | 75 |
| Chesterfield | 65½ |
| Chippenham | 117 |
| Chipping Norton | 60 |
| Chirk | 62½ |
| Church Stretton | 54 |
| Cinderford | 83½ |
| Cirencester | 84½ |
| Clapham Junction | 113 |
| Clay Cross | 62 |
| Cleobury Mortimer | 29 |
| Clifton Bridge | 97 |
| Coalbrookdale | 30 |
| Codsall | 16½ |
| Coleford | 80 |
| Coleshill | 11½ |
| Colwich | 25½ |
| Colwyn Bay | 115 |
| Congleton | 58 |
| Conway | 120½ |
| Coventry | 18½ |
| Cradley | 9 |
| Craven Arms | 61½ |
| Crewe Junction | 54 |
| Croydon | 123 |
| Crystal Palace | 120 |
| Darlaston | 9½ |
| Darlington | 175½ |
| Deepfields | 9½ |
| Denbigh | 97 |
| Derby | 42½ |
| Devizes | 143½ |
| Didcot | 76 |
| Dolgelly | 106 |
| Doncaster | 96½ |
| Dorchester | 184 |
| Dorking | 133 |
| Droitwich | 23 |
| Dublin | 232 |
| Dudley | 8 |
| Dumfries | 229 |
| Dundee | 347 |
| Dunstable | 79 |
| Durham | 198 |
| Edinburgh | 297½ |
| Elgin | 450 |
| Ely | 127 |
| Erdington | 4½ |
| Etruria | 47 |
| Evercreech Junct'n | 121 |
| Evesham | 34 |
| Exeter | 170 |
| Falmouth | 286½ |
| Farrington | 87 |
| Fearnall Heath | 25 |
| Fenny Compton | 34½ |
| Fenny Stratford | 67 |
| Festiniog | 145 |
| Filey | 178 |
| Fleetwood | 126 |
| Flint | 87i |
| Folkestone | 202 |
| Forfar | 304 |
| Forge Mills | 9 |
| Four Ashes | 19 |
| Frome | 138 |
| Furness Abbey | 158½ |
| Garstang | 115 |
| Glasgow | 286 |
| Glastonbury | 140 |
| Gloucester | 56½ |
| Gosport | 150 |
| Gravelly Hill | 3 |
| Great Barr | 4½ |
| Great Bridge | 7 |
| Grimsby | 136½ |
| Guildford | 120 |
| Hagley | 13½ |
| Halesowen | 9 |
| Halifax | 122½ |
| Hanley | 47½ |
| Harborne | 4 |
| Harlech | 126 |
| Harrowgate | 133 |
| Harrow | 101 |
| Hartlebury | 22 |
| Hartlepool | 186 |
| Hastings | 192½ |
| Hatton | 17¼ |
| Haverfordwest | 218½ |
| Heath Town | 12 |
| Hednesford | 17½ |
| Henley-on-Thames | 103 |
| Hereford | 57 |
| Hertford | 108 |
| Higham Ferrers | 69½ |
| High Wycombe | 95 |
| Hitchin | 92 |
| Holyhead | 159¼ |
| Holywell | 91½ |
| Huddersfield | 105½ |
| Hull | 134 |
| Ilfracombe | 195 |
| Inverness | 490 |
| Ipswich | 167 |
| Ironbridge | 30 |
| James Bridge | 9 |
| Jedburgh | 263 |
| Keighley | 116½ |
| Kendal | 148 |
| Kenilworth | 21 |
| Kidderminster | 18½ |
| Kilmarnock | 278½ |
| Kings Heath | 5 ​ |
| Kings Norton | 6 |
| Kingstown | 226 |
| Kingswood | 13 |
| Knowle | 10½ |
| Lancaster | 127½ |
| Langley Green | 5¼ |
| Leamington | 21 |
| Ledbury | 43 |
| Leeds | 115 |
| Leicester | 39½ |
| Leominster | 80 |
| Lichfield | 18 |
| Lincoln | 91½ |
| Liverpool | 97½ |
| Llanberis | 143 |
| Llandudno | 123 |
| Llanelly | 167½ |
| Llangollen | 72½ |
| Llanrwst | 131 |
| Llanymynech | 69 |
| London | 113 |
| Longton | 48 |
| Loughborough | 50 |
| Lowestoft | 201 |
| Ludlow | 69½ |
| Lydney | 79 |
| Lye Waste | 10½ |
| Lynn | 135 |
| Macclesfield | 66 |
| Machynllyth | 101 |
| Maidenhead | 105½ |
| Maidstone | 175½ |
| Malvern (Great) | 36½ |
| Manchester | 85 |
| Margate | 187 |
| Market Bosworth | 27½ |
| Market Drayton | 48 |
| Market Harboro' | 46 |
| Marlborough | 133½ |
| Marston Green | 6½ |
| Maryport | 224 |
| Matlock Bath | 59 |
| Menai Bridge | 136 |
| Merthyr | 111½ |
| Middlesbro' | 176 |
| Milford Haven | 228 |
| Milverton | 21 |
| Mold | 87 |
| Monmouth | 96½ |
| Montrose | 40l |
| Moreton-in-Marsh | 46 |
| Moseley | 3¾ |
| Much Wenlock | 33 |
| Nantwich | 56 |
| Neath | 105½ |
| Netherton | 8 |
| Newark | 71½ |
| Newcastle-on-Tyne | 215 |
| Nwcstle-udr-Lyme | 47½ |
| Newmarket | 126 |
| Newport (Salop) | 39 |
| Newport (Mon.) | 101 |
| Newton Road | 5 |
| Newton Stewart | 278 |
| Northallerton | 160 |
| Northampton | 49 |
| Northfield | 8¾ |
| North Shields | 216½ |
| Norwich | 181 |
| Nottingham | 58 |
| Nuneaton | 20 |
| Oakengates | 28½ |
| Oldbury | 5½ |
| Oldham | 85 |
| Olton | 5 |
| Oswestry | 62½ |
| Oxford | 66 |
| Paisley | 286 |
| Pelsali | 11 |
| Pembroke Dock | 175 |
| Penkridge | 22¾ |
| Pennaenmawr | 125 |
| Penrith | 178 |
| Penzance | 302 |
| Perry Barr | 4 |
| Penshore | 43½ |
| Perth | 344 |
| Peterborough | 96½ |
| Plymouth | 222½ |
| Pontypool | 90 |
| Port Diiiorwic | 139 |
| Portishead | 105½ |
| Portmadoc | 134 |
| Portsmouth | 162½ |
| Prestatyn | 101 |
| Princes' End | 9½ |
| Prollheli | 138 |
| Queen's Ferry | 82 |
| Ramsgate | 192½ |
| Reading | 93 |
| Redcar | 189 |
| Redditch | 17 |
| Reigate | 138½ |
| Rhyl | 105 |
| Rickmansworth | 98 |
| Rochdale | 104½ |
| Ross | 70 |
| Rotherham | 88 |
| Round Oak | 10½ |
| Rowsley | 63½ |
| Ruabon | 67½ |
| Rugby | 30½ |
| Rugeley | 21½ |
| Runcorn | 75 |
| Ruthin | 116 |
| Ryde | 160 |
| St. Alban's | 101 |
| St. Asaph | 111 |
| St. Helens | 85½ |
| St. Leonard's | 190½ |
| Salford Priors | 28 |
| Salisbury | 157½ |
| Saltburn | 191 |
| Sandbach | 58½ |
| Scarboro' | 173 |
| Selly Oak | 2½ |
| Sliarpness | 75 |
| Sheffield | 79 |
| Shepton Mallett | 152 |
| Shifnal | 25 |
| Shrewsbury | 42 |
| Shustoke | 12 |
| Smethwick | 3½ |
| Solihull | 6½ |
| Southampton | 139 |
| Southport | 107½ |
| South Shields | 209 |
| Spon Lane | 4½ |
| Stafford | 29 |
| Stamford | 72 |
| Stechford | 3½ |
| Stirchley Street | 3½ |
| Stirling | 336 |
| Stockport | 79 |
| Stoke | 45½ |
| Stokes Bay | 150 |
| Stourbridge | 134 |
| Stourport | 22 |
| Stranraer | 301 |
| Stratford-on-Avon | 26 |
| Stroud | 70 |
| Sunderland | 208 |
| Sutton Coldfield | 7 |
| Swansea | 156½ |
| Swan Village | 5½ |
| Swindon | 100 ​ |
| Tamworth | 18 |
| Taunton | 138½ |
| Teignmouth | 184 |
| Tenbury | 38 |
| Tewkesbury | 44½ |
| Thirsk | 151 |
| Thrapstone | 75½ |
| Tipton | 8 |
| Torquay | 195½ |
| Towcester | 54 |
| Trefuant | 113 |
| Trentham | 43 |
| Trowbridge | 128 |
| Truro | 275½ |
| Tunbridge Wells | 165 |
| Tunstall | 47 |
| Tutbury | 37 |
| Ulverstone | 152 |
| Uppingham | 61½ |
| Upton-on-Severn | 49 |
| Uttoxeter | 45¼ |
| Uxbridge | 118 |
| Wakefield | 101½ |
| Wallingford | 84½ |
| Walsall | 8 |
| Warminster | 120 |
| Warrington | 78 |
| Warwick | 21½ |
| Water Orton | 7½ |
| Wednesbury | 8 |
| Wednesfield | 12 |
| Weedon | 42 |
| Welshpool | 61 |
| Wellington | 32 |
| Wells | 123 |
| Wem | 52 |
| West Bromwich | 4 |
| Weston-supr-Mare | 114 |
| Weymouth | 191 |
| Whitacre Junction | 10½ |
| Whitby | 187 |
| Whitchurch | 51 |
| Whitehaven | 193 |
| Wigan | 91 |
| Willenhall | 11 |
| Willesden Junction | 107 |
| Wilnecote | 16½ |
| Wincanton | 130 |
| Winchester | 127 |
| Windermere | 156 |
| Windsor | 113 |
| Winson Green | 2½ |
| Wirksworth | 56 |
| Witton | 3½ |
| Woburn Sands | 70 |
| Wokingham | 100 |
| Wolverhampton | 12 |
| Wolverton | 60 |
| Worcester | 27½ |
| Worthington | 50 |
| Wrexham | 72 |
| Wylde Green | 6 |
| Yarmouth | 201 |
| Yeovil | 152 |
| York | 130½ |
Dog's.—A 5s, duty on dogs came into force April 5, 1867; raised to 7s. 6d, in June, 1878; This was not the first tax of the kind, for a local note of the time says that in 1796 ' ' the fields and waters near the town were covered with the dead carcases of dogs destroyed hy their owners to avoid payment of the tax." The amount ])aid per year at present for "dog licenses" in Birmingham is about £1,800. The using of dogs as beasts of burden (common enough now abroad) was put a stop to in London at the end of Oct. 1840, though it was not until 1854 that the prohibition became general. Prior to the passing of the Act in that year, dogs were utilised as draught animals to a very great extent in this neighbourhood by the rag-and-bone gatherers, pedlars, and little merchants, as many as 180 of the poor brutes once being counted in five hours as passing a certain spot on the Westbromwich Road. There have teen one or two "homes" for stray dogs opened, but it is best in case of a loss of this kind to give early information at the nearest police station, as the art of dog stealing has latterly been much cultivated in this town, and it should be considered a duty to one's neighbour to aid in putting a stop thereto.
Dog Shows.—The first local Dog Show was held in 1860, but it was not until the opening in Curzon Hall, December 4, 1865, that the Show took rank as one of the "yearly institutions" of the town.—See "Exhibitions."
Domesday Books.—The so-called Domesday Book, compiled by order of William the Norman Conqueror, has always been considered a wonderful work, and it must have taken some years compiling. Some extracts touching upon the holders of laud in this neighbourhood have already been given, and in a sense they are very interesting, showing as they do the then barrenness of the land, and the paucity of inhabitants. Though in Henry VIII.'s reign an inventory of all properties in the hands of Churchmen was taken, it did not include the owners of land in general, and it was not till Mr. John Bright in 1873 moved for the Returns, that a complete register of the kind was made. It would not be easy, even if space could be given to it, to give the list of individuals, companies, and corporation ​who claim to be possessors of the land we live on in Birmingham and neighbourhood; but a summary including the owners in this and adjoining counties may be worth preserving. As will be seen by the annexed figures. Warwick and Stafford rank hii,'h in the list of counties having large numbers of small owners (small as to extent of ground, though often very valuable from the erections thereon). There can be no doubt that the Freehold Land and Building Societies have had much to do with tnis, and as Birmingham was for years the headquarters of these Societies, the fact of there being nearly 47,000 persons in the county (out of a total population of 634,189) who own small plots under one acre, speaks well for the steady perseverance of the Warwickshire lads. That we are not wrong in coming to this conclusion is shown by the fact that leaving out the Metropolitan Counties. Warwick heads, in this respect, all the shires in the kingdom.
Warwickshire.
Staffordshire.
Duddeston Hall, and the Holte Family.— The first record of this family we have is towards the close of the thirteenth century when we find mention of Sir Henry Holte, whose son. Hugh del Nolte, died in 1322. In 1331 Simon del Holte, styled of Birmingham, purchased the manor of Nechells "in consideration of xl li of silver." In 1365 John atte Holte purchased for "forty marks" the manor of Duddeston, and two years later he became possessed by gift of the manor of Aston. For many generations the family residence was at Duddeston, though their burial place was at Aston, in which church are many of their monuments, the oldest being that of Wm. Holte, who died September 28, 1514. That the Holtes, though untitled, were men of mark, may be seen by the brass in the North Aisle of Aston Church to the memory of Thomas Holte, "Justice of North Wales, and Lord of this town of Aston," who died March 23, 1545. His goods and chattels at his death were valued at £270 6s. 2d.—a very large sum in those days, and from the inventory we find that the Hall contained thirteen sleeping apartments, viz., "the chambur over the buttrie, the chappel chambur, the maydes' chambur, the great chambur, the inner chambur, to the great chambur, the yatehouse chambur, the inner chambur to the same, the geston chambur, the crosse chambur, the inner chambur tothe same, the dark's chambur the yoemen's chambur, and the hyne's chambur." The other apartments were "the hawle, the piece, the storehouse, ​the galarye, the butterye, the ketchyn, the larderhowse, the dey-howse, the bakhowse, the bultinge howse, and the yeling howse,"—the "chappell" being also part of the Hall. The principal bedrooms were hung with splendid hangings, those of the great chamber being "of gaye colors, blewe and redde," the other articles in accordance therewith, the contents of this one room being valued at xiij li. xiv. s. iiijd. (£13 14s. 4d.) The household linen comprised "22 damaske and two diapur table clothes" worth 4s.; ten dozen table napkins (40s.); a dozen "fyne towells," 20s.; a dozen "course towells" 6s. 8d.; thirty pair "fyne shetes" £5; twenty-three pair "course shetes" £3; and twenty-six "pillow beres" 20/-. The kitchen contained "potts; chafornes, skymmers, skellets, cressets, gredires, frying pannys, chfying dishes, a brazon morter with a pestell, stone morters, strykinge knives, broches, racks, brandards, cobberds, pot-hangings, hocks, a rack of iron, bowles, and payles." The live stock classed among the "moveable goods, consisted of 19 oxen, 28 kyne, 17 young beste, 24 young calves, 12 gots, 4 geldings, 2 mares, 2 naggs and a colte, 229 shepe, 12 swyne, a crane, a turkey cok, and a henne with 3 chekyns"—the lot being valued at £86 0s. 8d. Sir Thomas's marriage with a daughter of the Winnington's brought much property into the family, including lands, &c., "within the townes, villages, and fields of Aston, next Byrmyngham, and Wytton, Mellton Mowlberye (in Leicestershire), Hanseworthe (which lands did late belonge to the dissolved chambur of Aston), and also the Priory, or Free Chappell of Byrmyngham, with the lands and tenements belonging thereto, within Byrmyngham aforesaid, and the lordship or manor of the same, within the lordship of Dudeston, together with the lauds and tenements, within the lordship of Nechells, Salteley, sometime belonging to the late dissolved Guild of Deryteune," as well as lands at "Horborne, Haleshowen, Norfielde and Smithewicke." His son Edward, who died in 1592, was succeeded by Sir Thomas Holte (born in 1571; died December, 1654), and the most prominent member of the family. Being one of the deputation to welcome James I to England, in 1603, he received the honour of knighthood; in 1612 he purchased an "Ulster baronetcy," at a cost of £1,095 [this brought the "red hand" into his shield]; and in 1599 he purchased the rectory of Aston for nearly £2,000. In April, 1618, he commenced the erection of Aston Hall, taking up his abode there in 1631, though it was not finished till April, 1635. In 1642 he was honoured with the presence of Charles I., who stopped at the Hall Sunday and Monday, October 16 and 17. [At the battle of Edge Hill Edward Holt, the eldest son, was wounded—he died from fever on Aug. 28, 1643, during the siege of Oxford, aged 43] The day after Christmas, 1643, the old squire was besieged by about 1,200 Parliamentarians from Birmingham (with a few soldiers), but having procured forty musketeers from Dudley Castle, he held the Hall till the third day, when, having killed sixty of his assailants and lost twelve of his own men, he surrendered. The Hall was plundered and he was imprisoned, and what with fines, confiscations, and compounding, his loyalty appears to have cost him nearly £20,000. Sir Thomas had 15 children, but outlived them all save one. He was succeeded in his title by his grandson, Sir Robert, who lived in very straightened circumstances, occasioned by the family's losses during the Civil War, but by whose marriage with the daughter of Lord Brereton the Cheshire property came to his children. He died Oct. 3, 1679, aged 54, and was followed by Sir Charles, who had twelve children and lived till June 15, 1722, his son, Sir Clobery, dying in a few years after (Oct. 24, 1729). Sir Lister Holte, the next baronet, had no ​issue, though twice married, and he was succeeded (April 8, 1770), by his brother. Sir Charles, with whom the title expired (March 12, 1782), the principal estates going with his daughter and only child, to the Bracebridge family, as well as a dowry of £20,000. In 1817, an Act of Parliament was obtained for the settlement and part disposal of the whole of the property of this time-honoured and wealthy family—the total acreage being 8,914a. 2r. 23p, and the then annual rental £16,557 0s. 9d.—the Aston estate alone extending from Prospect Row to beyond Erdington Hall, and from Nechells and Saltley to the Custard House and Hay Mill Brook. Several claims have been put forward by collateral branches, both to the title and estates, but the latter were finally disposed of in 1849, when counsel's opinion was given in favour of the settlements made by Sir Lister Holte, which enabled the property to be disposed of. The claimants to the title have not yet proved their title thereto, sundry registers and certificates of ancient baptisms and marriages being still wanting.
Duddeston Ward Hall,—The name tells what it is for. The first stone was laid Dec. 15, 1877; it was opened June 1, 1878; will seat about 300, and cost £3,500, which was found by a limited Co.
Dungeon.—This very appropriate name was given to the old gaol formerly existing in Peck Lane. A writer, in 1802, described it as a shocking place, the establishment consisting of one day room, two underground dungeons (in which sometimes half-a-dozen persons had to sleep), and six or seven night-rooms some of them constructed out of the Gaoler's stables. The prisoners were allowed 4d. per day for bread and cheese, which they had to buy from the keeper, who, having a beer license, allowed outsiders to drink with his lodgers. This, and the fact that there was but one day room for males and females alike, leaves but little to be imagined as to its horrible, filthy condition. Those who could afford to pay 2s. 6d, a week were allowed a bed in the gaoler's house, but had to put up with being chained by each wrist to the sides of the bedsteads dl night, and thus forced to lie on their backs. The poor wretches pigged it in straw on the floors of the night rooms. See also "Gaols" and "Prisons."
Dwarfs.—The first note we have of the visit here of one of these curiosities of mankind is that of Count Borulawski, in 1783: though but 39 inches high it is recorded that he had a sister who could stand under his arm. The next little one, Manetta Stocker, a native of Austria, came here in 1819, and remained with us, there being a tombstone in St. Philip's churchyard bearing this inscription:—
In Memory of Manetta Stocker.
Who quitted this life the fourth day of May, 1819, at the, age of thirty-nine years.
The smallest woman in this kingdom, and one of the most accomplished.
She was not more than thirty-three inches high.
She was a native of Austria.
General Tom Thumb (Charles Stratton) was exhibited at Dee's Royal Hotel, in September, 1844, when he was about ten years old, and several times after renewed the acquaintance. He was 31 inches high, and was married to Miss Warren, a lady of an extra inch. The couple had offspring, but the early death of the child put an end to Barnum's attempt to create a race of dwarfs. Tom Thumb died in June 1883. General Mite who was exhibited here last year, was even smaller than Tom Thumb, being but 21 inches in height. Birmingham, however, need not send abroad for specimens of this kind, "Robin Goodfellow" chronicling the death on Nov. 27, 1878, of a poor unfortunate named Thomas Field, otherwise the "Man-baby," who, though twenty-four years of age, was but 30 inches high and weighed little over 20 lbs., and who ​had never walked or talked. The curious in such matters may, on warm, sunny mornings, occasionally meet, in the neighbourhood of Bromsgrove Street, a very intelligent little man not much if any bigger than the celebrated Tom Thumb, but who has never been made a show of.
Dynamite Manufacture.—See "Notable Offences."