Bundle of deeds and associated papers relating to the descent of property in the...

The original holding of 65 acres known as Rough Waste Farm comprised in 1772 the following fields:- The Great, Over, Barn, Far, Lower, Middle and Boggy Rough Wastes, the Saddlers Croft, Great Mill Meadow and Little Mill Meadow. In 1812 the last two are omitted from the list of names and Swagers Meadow, Little Long Meadow and Finger Post Piece are included. From 1813 only the Rough Waste fields are mentioned with the exception of the Great Rough Waste. In 1815 the property included six lately erected houses. By 1887 the northern part of the property had been sold off for the erection of the town's Gas Works. The three remaining pieces of land, described as 'turf land' in the leases 847/25-6 are possibly Boggy, Barn and Over Rough Waste. From 1895/6 these three pieces of land were laid out and developed as the continuation of Prince Street from Pleck Road to Wednesbury Road and the ground rents sold in 1899.

The successive owners of the freehold detailed in the collection are Jonas Slaney of Bescot Hall, Edward Elwell of West Bromwich, iron founder, Elizabeth and Nelly Elwell, his daughters, William Stokes, Stokes' trustees, Joseph Ford, Frederick Smith and William Pearman Smith, Frederick Lindner of Solihull.