8.5 Bullring Birmingham 1901

[TBriggs]

I have located my gr.gr.gr.grandfather (David Ball born 1844) listed as a lodger at number 8 + half Bullring Birmingham in the 1901 census. There are 100 others listed at the same premises with assorted occupations. Does anyone know what this building was? or how I can find out? I've looked at the enumerators description but it doesn' give any detail of the building, I've also tried 'google'.

Thanks for any help.
 

[jim1]

The Bullring at that time would have been a block of commercial premises typically of 3 storeys.The 1/2 address would refer to an upstairs apartment with the business being on the ground floor at street level.At various times the upstairs might be the domicile of the shopkeeper,another business or sublet as lodgings.

jim

Edit:
Found this from Peck's directory 1896-7.Although this is no.5/6
next door can just be seen as 3 storeys,but it gives you an idea of what it looked like.

[devonblue]

It might also be 8 'back of' 5. Lots of the buildings round there had 'entries' or passageways which lead to a court of houses at the back.
See here for a description of the same sort of thing:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham_Back_to_Backs

[TBriggs]

Thanks for this..  I hadn't considered that it might be a commercial property. I had thought that it might have been some sort of institution as  there were so many individuals listed against the same address.

One other thing that I have just noticed is that everyone listed against 8.5 Bullring is male - which is a little strange!

The 1901 census was taken on Sunday 31st March - i'm wondering whether 8.5 Bullring may have been some sort of bar/pub...

[deryckjohn]

Doesn't look like a pub as no name is mentioned or a publican head of household. It looks to me like some sort of cheap lodging house.

Deryck

[jim1]

Agree with Deryck,those enumerated on the census had to be sleeping there that night so not a pub,as Deryck said probably a cheap lodging house.A typical back house would have a different no.eg.4ct.2h,all the 1/2 addresses I've seen have always been above commercial premises.B'ham Central Library has a good collection of directories,they will tell you exactly what it was at the time.

jim