Did You Know #2

Old limestone workings underlie the pool at Walsall Arboretum and the deep water claimed two lives in 1845; more details can be found in the book 'Tales From Two Towns'

Racecourse Crime

The racecourses at Walsall and Wolverhampton were a magnet for petty criminals in the 1800's... find out more in Tales From Four Towns.

What's Under Morrisons?

Until the 1860's there was a pool on Camp Street, Wednesbury that provided water for the old condensing beam engine at George and William Lees Adams works.

Read about the serious health hazard this body of water presented and how it was finally dealt with in court in the book 'Tales From Four Towns'.

Poison

Valued for it's pain-killing property, Laudanum was used extensively during the 19th century. Being a concoction of nine tenths alcohol and one tenth opium it was also abused in great measure. Furthermore, being extremely potent, it was a convenient and easy to obtain poison for those seeking a yet darker use for this substance.


One report in Tales From Four Towns tells how a West Bromwich surgeon accidentally poisoned himself by taking a swig of Laudanum when he thought he was drinking brandy!

Bicycle Makers In Wolverhampton

'Tales From Four Towns' carries a report concerning Edward Lisle (spelled Lyall in the newspaper reports), founder of the Star bicycle company in Wolverhampton, who brought a case against one of his employees in 1889.

Details of Lisle's career can be found on this page: http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/Museum/Transport/bicycles/Star.htm 

Did You Know?

In common law there was originally little distinction between children and adults when it came to crime - the age of criminal responsibility was just seven years! Although matters improved during the nineteenth century, the treatment and punishment handed out to children in civil and criminal cases would still be unthinkable today.

Punishment for theft, caging wild birds and begging are just a few of the stories relating to children that can be found in 'Tales From Four Towns'. and, for a truly fascinating look at crime and punishment in the Victorian era, take a look at Victorian Crime & Punishment.

Balloon Accidents

A number of accidents involving balloon aeronauts and parachutists are mentioned in Tales From Four Towns. Wolverhampton seems to have had more than its fair share of these balloon blunders but others are covered at West Bromwich. One might not expect women to have been involved in this pursuit but there were a few; one of those concerned, 'Kitty King' suffered a minor accident at Dial Lane, West Bromwich but was not seriously injured. More details about Kitty can be found on this page of the 'Ballooning History' website.

Image from Wonderful Balloon Ascents, by Fulgence Marion

Atlas & Vulcana

A story in our latest book, 'Tales from Four Towns', deals with an episode of rivalry between two late-Victorian strongmen, 'Atlas' and 'Gatwick', when performing at Walsall in the late 1890's. Nothing unusual in professional competition you might think, but the story behind the tale is even more interesting once you start looking into it.

'Atlas' performed alongside his 'sister', stage name 'Vulcana', for many years but things weren't how they appeared. The pair were, in effect, man and wife and had six children together. In fact Atlas, real name William Hedley Roberts, left his first wife and family for Kate Williams (Vulcana), when she was just fifteen.

A fascinating glimpse into their remarkable story can be found on the following web pages:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulcana
http://www.oocities.org/vulcanahome/


'Tales From Four Towns - Death, Destruction, Crime and Notable News From 19th Century Walsall, Wednesbury, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton' is available at the above link or direct from the publisher at penk.publishing@gmail.com