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Our Grandma, Isabella Round, was born in Angelina St., B'ham, in May 1860. As far as we know, she had very little schooling and was "In Service" from around the age of 7 years. She spoke many times of "master and mistress" and of the strict conditions under which servants were required to work, and of the terrible ways in which they were often treated. Grandma related an instance whereby as a treat she was given a sandwich of bacon fat which master or mistress had cut off on their breakfast plate. What a treat!!
Grandma met her future husband John Round when she was approaching the age of 18. John used to make frequent journeys from Moor Place, Harborne, to Lucy's Mill at Ladywood to collect the flour. At some little time later in 1878, they were married at St Philips Church (now the Cathedral). She was in service in Church St, off Colmore Row, but the marriage had to be kept as a secret because "mistress" would have dismissed her for this "offence"!! The secret was kept until the first of her 7 children was on the way. Her second child Ada, was born in Liverpool. Presumably they had gone there to work, John by this time being in the brassfounding trade. They returned to B'ham after a short time to live in Sun St. and complete their family. Their home had 1 Living room, a pantry, 1 bedroom, and an attic. An opportunity arose for Grandma to acquire a fish and chip shop in their street around the early 1900's. The children, by now growing up, were each allocated a daily task i.e. peeling spuds, cleaning equipment, and with the old wicker basket chair going to the Fish-market to collect the days supplies - all before going to school. Alas, soon after having built up the business and acquiring a good reputation, disaster struck. A long stretch of pavement was dug up by the Council workmen, and left for 10 months. This spelt ruin for Grandma and her fellow shopkeepers, as the customers found it difficult to gain access to the shops. So ended a fine venture.
The family then moved to Gilbert Rd., Smethwick to a larger house. Granddad by now was working in Oozells St. Nth. as a brass caster for 52 hrs. weekly, and a wage of 24 shillings (£1 .2Op in today's terms), and Grandma was back in service at some of the large houses in the Carpenters Rd., Wheeleys Rd. area of Edgbaston / Ladywood. She walked to and from her place of work daily (some walk); on occasions returning home after 3 a.m. if her employers had hosted a Dinner Party or the like. Some consolation for her and the family was that sometimes she and the other staff would be given a share of the untouched food - left overs as a gift. On Saturday nights, the eldest girls would be sent out to Cape Hill with the huge sum of 2 shillings (10 pence) to buy food for Sunday breakfast and dinner. Perhaps a few coppers worth of streaky bacon and maybe a rabbit for sixpence or ninepence, spuds 12 lbs. for threehalfpence, halfpennyworth of mixed vegetables, a beeves heart for 1/-.
Christmas would justify a piglet (previously chosen and fattened up) purchased from a farm near the Albion Football Ground. On Christmas Eve it would be collected and taken to Goodyears Bakery. Goodyears would cook piglets, turkeys, pork etc. in their ovens for a penny or two.
At Party-time, Granddad would have arranged for a small barrel of beer to be picked up from Mitchells and Butlers Brewery on Cape Hill (he would have saved-up for this), and Grandma would have fetched out her homemade pickles, jam-tarts, ginger-beer etc. This all to be consumed at the table and from plates. This feed would be followed by "home-made" entertainment whereby everyone did their "turn", culminating with the "Turkey Trot", a dance not unlike MacNamaras Band or the Conga !!!
In 1911, Grandma lost her eldest daughter Ada in tragic circumstances. Ada's two youngest children, Louise and Charles were welcomed into Grandmas home and grew up with the existing family.
Then came the Great War in 1914. Her eldest and youngest sons, Bert and Jack joined the many young men who enlisted to serve their country, but both lost their lives in 1918.
Also in 1918, daughter Annie, who had married a Canadian soldier (he was a Smethwick man), sailed to Montreal with baby Edna to join him. By now, Grandma was living in Bishopsgate St., Ladywood, very near to her daughter Edith and her family (my Mother). As was quite common in those days, Grandma, through necessity, would make use of the local pawnshop which was situated rather conveniently at the bottom of Bishops Avenue!! Granddads best boots went "in" on Monday and "out" on Saturday!! In the 1920's, Grandma would take in washing and amongst her customers were Pattisons Cafe of Broad St., for whom she washed and starched the table linen.
For most of the 1930's and almost up until the outbreak of the 2nd World War, she ran the canteen for Balmars in Moseley St., and then retired at the age of 80.
Granddad disapproved of women drinking, but on Sunday mornings, Grandma Isabella and youngest daughter Dolly enjoyed a shared pint of ale either at the Kings Arms in Bishopsgate St. or a jug full obtained from the outdoor. Granddad was aware of this event but provided that they supped "behind his back", all would be well! Also on Sunday mornings, daughter Edith (my Mom) would send her three eldest daughters Mabel, Ethel, and Peggy, across the road to Grandmas' where they would scrub the stairs from top to bottom, the lino (where fitted), dust and polish the piano, likewise the chiffonier and its' ornaments, and all.
In the late 1930's, a couple of young men came to lodge with Grandma, one of them being Bert Kelsall from St. Helens, Lancashire. He married sister Jean during the early days of the W/W/2, and upon his demobilisation in 1946, Grandma gave up her home to them and came to live at 12 Barn Close with us. By now she was in her mid 80's, but retained a phenomenal memory and could go back to her infancy and up to present day with ease and remember events in great detail.
Shortly before each Christmas she would take her surplus money (after "paying her way"), and make it up into little gift envelopes. The usual formula would be £10 each for brother Fred and myself (because we were "the men"), and £5 each to my five sisters, and perhaps smaller amounts to grandchildren according to their age !!!
In 1947,daughter Annie, by this time a naturalised American citizen, made her first visit to England since emigrating in 1918. She came for a second time in 1951 with husband Ben, and was planning to make another trip to help celebrate her mothers 100th Birthday in 1960. At sometime towards the end of 1959, Grandma, whose health had begun to deteriorate, gave to her two remaining children, Annie and Edith, the sum of £100 each to celebrate the 100th anniversary of her birth, perhaps knowing that she would not be there herself.
And so it proved. On January 14th 1960 she slipped quietly away, just four months short of her centenary. Thus ended the life of a remarkable English Lady a Lady in the truest sense of the word. She is remembered by us all as the head of our family. Old fashioned with her starched pinafores and aprons, she generated so much happiness despite the tragedies that she had suffered in her long life. She had worked very hard to bring up her family and was loved and respected by them all, and of course by her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and indeed all who had ever known her. Because of her, we were, and still are, a very close-knit family. Indeed, our United States branch of her family have always kept in close touch and there have been many visits to each other over the years, and they too retain the same fondness for the memories of Isabella Round as we here do.
"Her loving smile and tender ways are pleasant to recall
She had a kindly word for each, and died beloved by all
Not dead to those who loved her dear,
Not lost, but gone before
She lives with us in memory
Submitted by John W. H. Russell, with much input from my wife Joyce, and sisters Mabel, Ethel, Peggy, and Doreen, and snippets from an audiotape that we had made with our Mom. Her accounts of course were first hand, and she indeed had the same superb memory as her mother, Isabella.
This resume was compiled perhaps six years ago, and slightly modified 11th Aug 2001.
In between these years, time has taken its toll and only sister Peggy and myself are left. There is so much more that can be written about the family. Perhaps another day!!
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