Description:Joseph Barwell from whom the lease of this property was obtained for a period of 16 years from 25 December 1874, was resident at 1 Springfield Street, Harborne in the 1871 census. Barwell, 50, was born in Birmingham and was described as a 'Commercial Clerk' at this time. He was living with his wife, two daughters and a boarder by the next census in 1881. Ann his wife was a widow and living on 'income from property'; perhaps including these premises.
William Parsons made his mark on this document, and there is an indication that the lease had been 'read and understood'.
The Trade Directories report :-
1875 - William Parsons 54 Livery Street Shakespear
1900 - Thomas Annable 54 Livery Street Shakespear
1910 Edmund Newman 54 Livery Street Shakespear
Livery Street was laid out in 1745 and was at that time said to be the longest Street in Birmingham, which was deemed to have given rise to the expression 'a face as long as Livery Street'.