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This is the preface to "Memorials of the Old Square", which was written to commemorate the passing of a much loved suare in what had been the heart of Birmingham up to 1896. It was surrounded by fine Georgian and Queen Anne houses, but was demolished as part of the development of Corporation Street. The book contains a history of the square, and records its inhabitants over that period from the earliest days up to 1896.

"WHEN, in July, 1896, the last surviving houses of the Old Square were taken down, it seemed desirable to perpetuate the memory of this once famous locality by recalling a few of its most important features, and placing on record such incidents of its history, and facts concerning its most notable residents, as were recoverable.

Upon the completion of our first draft, however, it became manifest that as a memorial it was inadequate and unsatisfactory, that to be worthy of its subject it must deal, not with a selection from, but with the whole of the houses in the Square, and comprise the whole of its residents during the one hundred and eighty years of its existence. This became still more obvious as our investigations progressed, and new sources of information were discovered.

In the record we now issue defects will doubtless be found ; the enquiry and research covers so wide a field that this is inevitable. As a local record we have dealt with it in a local spirit, not disregarding the seemingly small matters, nor sparing pains to treat the more important in a comprehensive manner.

Although we have had to do with genealogical facts, this is not a genealogical work. Inferences, rather than strict proof, have often had to be relied upon; but when the importance seemed to demand it, we have endeavoured to make our enquiry exhaustive and complete.

In the allusions to more modern occupants we have purposely been brief. That we have not ventured upon more than references to living persons need not be stated. Our aim has been to place before the reader a history of the Square in its entirety, and we venture to hope that in great part this history may be new to those who peruse its pages.

In the preparation of this memorial our thanks are especially due to C. D. Sturge, Esq., and Mr. W. B. Bickley, not only for valuable informa-tion supplied, but for the encouraging and kindly help afforded ; also to the Very Rev. Canon Greaney, Mr. J. C. Gell, Samuel Lloyd, Esq., T. A. C. Attwood, Esq., the Rev. Geo. Astbury, and others ; to the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, the Clerk and officials of the Guardians for courteous permission to examine the valuable records in their charge, and to R. B. Prosser, Esq., of H. M. Patent Office, we are indebted for information derived from his valuable contributions to the Local Notes and Queries, and his Birmingham Inventors and Inventions.

September, 1897"