History of Birmingham
Reveals the origins of the 18 streets that made up the town of Birmingham nearly five centuries ago
THE redevelopment of Birmingham continues apace – and it was ever thus. We know Birmingham has existed in some form for more than 1,400 years. In fact, it is believed to have been established by Beorma’s people – the Beormingas, a Saxon tribe who chose to settle in the area.
Expansion over the centuries has created the city of a million people we know today, with more than 8,500 streets.
But, in the hustle and bustle of modern life, it is easy to forget that the road names around the Bull Ring that made up the burgeoning town centuries ago must have had their origins somewhere.
In fact, a study of land ownership records from nearly 500 years ago reveals a time when there were just 18 streets centred on the St Martin’s Church area.
Of course, Birmingham was not a city back then, it was merely the third largest town in Warwickshire, with a population of just 1,000 people. A document called the Survey of the Borough of Birmingham from August 20, 1553, reveals those early streets... Bordesley, or more correctly High Street Bordesley, was worn down by heavy traffic into what’s called a holloway – a road or track lower than the land either side.
Bord was a man’s name in Saxon times and Bordesley means Bord’s ley, with ley a field used as grazing pasture for animals. It was here that Bord created a clearing in the forest to keep his livestock. This is the thoroughfare leading from Coleshill Street to Chapel Row and takes its name from the former Roman Catholic Chapel and Convent in Masshouse Lane.
The chapel was replaced in the 18th century by St Batholomew’s Church, which closed in 1937 and was knocked down in 1943, a year after it was damaged by an air raid. This continuation route to Coleshill.
It takes its name from a dale (valley) just beyond, and was also a holloway – about two metres deep – until 1756, when it was filled in. In 1547, there was a Dale Hall here, the residence of John Elyst. of High Street was the Barr is an old word for a wooded hill so it seems likely this was a road running through higher ground on either or both sides of the “dale”. The only street mentioned by name by poet and historian John Leland when he visited Birmingham in 1538. Back then he referred to it by the name Dirtey, though that was a variation in spelling rather than implying it was filthy.
Some say the street’s name comes from “der-yet-end”, meaning the end of the town near the deer gate.