Describes the Railway journey from London to Liverpool. What makes this particularly interesting is its very early date - this was a time when to make such a journey on the train was the stuff of science fiction. Its early topographical descriptions are fascinating. Kindly loaned to the project by the Birmingham and Midland Institute.

Another early guide to the city of Birmingham, with a nice map of the town centre. Has a description of the "Situation" of Birmingham, and chapters on public buildings, religious establishments, principal showrooms and manufactories, ad also of the suburbs. Kindly loaned to the project by the Birmingham and Midland Institute.

Following a meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science in Birmingham in 1865 a local industries committee was formed to report on the wide variety of industrial activities in the Midland Hardware District, of which "Birmingham is the most important, and practically, central town". Contributions were received from many authors of note, and the whole was edited by Samuel Timmins, a well-known local historian. This is an authoritative and early history of the industries of Birmingham, and essential reading. Kindly loaned to the project by Birmingham and Midland Institute.

John Langford was for many years an editor of one of Birmingham's earliest newspapers, Aris's Gazette. The Gazette started publishing in 1741, and had kept copies of all back copies. Langford used these to build a chronicle of events for the first 100 years of the Gazette's life. What is interesting about the book is that he does this by reference to advertisements, and consequently records events in the life of many ordinary people in the city.

To find out what's in this book, I have provided a list of contents, list of illustrations and an index. Two illustrations from the book are shown at left - top is the Free Grammar School, and below is the old Manor House at the Moat.

The book is in 2 volumes on 1 CD, and contains several engravings and one map of Birmingham (Westley's map of 1731). The text is fully searchable.

This is a continuation of Langford's Century of Birmingham Life (see above), which covered the years 1741 - 1841. It is written in much the same style, drawing heavily on newspaper articles and advertisements to amplify the historical narrative. An essential companion to the earlier work, and a very useful contemporary guide to the history of the period, written by someone who participated in many events. Kindly loaned to the project by the Birmingham and Midland Institute.

A four volume set on one CD at a very special price of the authorised history of the Corporation of Birmingham. It covers the period from its inception in 1838 up to 1915, and provides valuable information for the local historian and background for the genealogist. Kindly loaned to the project by the Birmingham & Midland Institute.

Published in 1879 to celebrate the first 100 years of the Birmingham Library, from which we have copied many books and offer on this site. Started as a private initiative, it was given impetus by Joseph Priestley, and contained over 200,000 volumes at one time. Even today, it is still a magnificent collection. This book charts its first 100 years. Kindly loaned to the project by the Birmingham and Midland Institute.

Robert Dent wrote his history of Birmingham in 1880 drawing on many sources. His early history relies heavily on Hutton and Dugdale, but his later history is drawn from contemporary sources, including local newspapers and eye-witnesses. This is a copy of the first edition, which contains 200 illustrations.

If you want to see more, there is a list of contents, list of illustrations and an index on a separate page.

The book is in 3 volumes on 1 CD. It is fully searchable, and includes a full transcription

John Langford produced this handbook as a guide for both residents and visitors. It covers the history of Birmingham, and has comprehensive sections on the municipality, public buildings, places of worship, education, and charities. It also describes the suburbs around Birmingham, and the manufacturing activity in the area. Kindly loaned to the project by the Birmingham and Midland Institute.

Catalogue of the Birmingham Library, as it was in 1883. This library had been set up 100 years earlier, initially as a subscription library. Joseph Priestley gave its early development great impetus, and this was carried on through the 19th century by many well known local "men of learning", and by the early twentieth century it contained 200,000 volumes. It has declined a little since then, having passed on some books to the Medical School and sold some others to the Birmingham and Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry. A useful reference work. Kindly loaned to the project by the Birmingham & Midland Institute, which now houses the library.