in 1853.

~Soho Hill.~--The top is 177ft. higher than at Hockley Bridge, the foot
of the hill.

~Soho Pool~ was formed by the make of an embankment (1756-60) impounding
the waters of Hockley brook, and for some years after the demolition of
the Soho Works it was a favourite place for boating, &c.. The pool was
drained in 1866, and, having been filled up, its site will ere long be
covered with streets of houses.

~Solihull.~--This very pleasant village, but a few miles distant, could
boast of a Free School for its children at a very early date, for we
read of the buildings being repaired in 1573. In 1882 the School was
rebuilt, at a cost of about L5,700, and its endowments, some of which
were given in the reign of Richard II., are yearly becoming of greater
value as building progresses. The present population is nearly 6,000,
the rateable value of property being L45,202, from an area of 12,000
acres. The parishes in the Union comprise Baddesley, Balsall, Barston,
Bushwood, Elmdon, Knowle, Lapworth, Nuthurst, Packwood, Solihull,
Tanworth, and Yardley, including an area of 46,302 acres, a population
of 21,000, with a rateable value amounting to L157,000.

~Spanish Armada.~--The nobility and gentry of this and adjoining
counties, at the time of the threatened invasion by the Spaniards,
contributed sums of money sufficient to hire and equip no less than 43
ships of war. Among the names we note the following local subscribers of
L25 each:--William Kinge and William Collmer (Colmore), of Burmingham;
Richard Middlemore, Edgbaston; Mrs. Margarett Knowlys, Nuneton; Gabriell
Powltney, Knowle; Richard Corbett, Meryden, &c.

~Speaking Stile Walk.~--In a footpath leading from Holloway Head to
Edgbaston Church, there was a stile at a spot from which an exceedingly
clear echo, could be raised, and the footpath being partly thrown into a
lane the latter became "Speaking Stile Lane." The short street or road
at present existing preserves the name, but that is all, the echo, the
stile, and the footpath having vanished long, long ago.

~Spelling Bee.~--The first "Spelling Bee" held in Birmingham took place
January 17th, 1876. Like many other Yankee notions, it did not thrive
here, and the humming of those bees soon ceased.

~Springs.~--In Hutton's time there was, "a short distance from
Birmingham, in the manor of Duddeston, and joining the turnpike road to
Coleshill," a chalybeate spring of which he speaks very highly, though
even