Description:This Plan of Birmingham, was drawn by James Sherriff and engraved by Tolley around 1800. At a scale of 2.75 inches to the mile the detail is pared to a minimum. Although few streets are named the extent of housing is indicated by shading and features are labelled with lettering and numbering with a reference key at the foot of the map. This plan appeared in 1800 in James Bisset's A Poetic Survey round Birmingham.
Plan of Birmingham James Sherriff c.1800 MAP/72835
The Plan of Birmingham Drawn by J[ame]s Sherriff, of Oldswinford, late of the Crescent, Birmingham, Tolley engraver Birmingham, appeared in 1800 as a folded sheet in James Bisset's A Poetic Survey round Birmingham and was used in 1805 in the third edition of William Hutton's A Brief History of Birmingham.
James Sherriff was not only a land surveyor but a gifted illustrator producing views of towns and country houses. In 1791 Sherriff had premises in New Street but by 1797 he had moved to the Crescent as both a surveyor and by 1808 a surveyor and wine merchant. In 1815 various directories describe him as having; premises in the Crescent, an ‘Academy’ in Little Cannon Street and working as an embosser in King Edward’s Place. In 1823 he is described as a Land agent and Landscape Gardener. Despite various other roles he was prolific as a surveyor and illustrator, both in the Midlands and as far afield as Liverpool, from 1776 through until his death in 1823.
This map has 20 North of West at the top and the borders enclose an area of 2.54km x 3.90km centred on the north-west side of Corporation Street between Bull Street and Priory Queensway.
The town shown on this map is little different from Pye’s 1795 Plan except for the omission of the new development between Aston Road and New Town Row, and the addition of new streets between Broad Street and the canals. Few streets are named and of the many buildings shown, few are labelled. Some streets however are numbered and some buildings identified with letters. These refer to ‘Reference’ tables at the foot of the map. Despite the small scale the area covered by housing is shown by shading. Many non-Anglican places of worship are highlighted for the first time. Some of the streets on the periphery of the town are sketched in heading in the wrong direction.
In the High Town St Philip’s parsonage is identified for the first time despite the fact that it was built shortly after the church. The Wesleyan Methodist chapel in Crooked Lane, though built in 1782, is highlighted for the first time as is the Society of Friends (Quakers) meeting house on Bull Street opened in 1703 and the Baptist meeting house in Cannon Street first built in 1738.
The Worcester canal basin is shown as a misshapen blob and the route of the canal is incorrectly shown crossing Bath Row by Holloway Head rather than its true position next to Bishopgate Street. Fordrough Street which is incorrectly shown extending across Gough and Severn Street to join Ellis Street should end at Severn Street.
St Peter’s Roman Catholic church, built in 1786 just next to Broad Street and the canal, is highlighted for the first time. Crescent Street (not labelled) is shown crossing the Birmingham canal at Farmer’s bridge with wharves in the angle between the two terminal arms of the canal. The Five Ways road junction is misrepresented with Ladywood Lane (not labelled, Hagley Row and Harborne Lane (not labelled) rotated clockwise by some 30o relative to Islington (Broad Street) and Islington Row.
Newhall Hill is incorrectly shown meeting George Street opposite Holland Street instead of the correct position between the junction of George Street and Parade.
The Union Mill, built in 1796-7, on Holte Street is incorrectly positioned between Lister Street and Heneage Street whereas it stood between Heneage Street and Prospect Row.
The Wesleyan Methodist chapel on Belmont Row, which opened in 1789, is highlighted for the first time.