Birmingham Back to Back Housing.

Sitting in comfort in Bidford, 90 members of the Society thronged the last Back to Back Courtyard 15 on Inge Street Birmingham, built around 1880 and preserved by the National Trust .

Our speaker Clive Katz, from the National Trust, described life in Courtyard 15 over a period of 120 years. The houses were two up two down with attic. When a Herbert Oldfield lived in one of the properties he shared it with his wife, 10 children and two lodgers. Occupants were self employed, using the attic room to manufacture small components for specialised industries.

Initially illumination was by candles and then in 1870 by gas. In the 1930s the houses received electric lighting. Disease had always been a problem in this tightly packed area: initially water was collected from a communal well with night soil toilets in the courtyard but later Joseph Chamberlain as Mayor of Birmingham brought drainage and clean piped water to each property.

Our next meeting is on 20 April, 7.30pm at Crawford Hall Salford Rd Bidford B50 4EZ with Gay Hill speaking about West Midlands Struggle for the Vote.

CHRIS SMITH