Life

Man Cave

He did so well that he leased eight acres in the north-east of the city and spent £6000 building a nice little mansion, which he called “Easy Hill”, located a quarter of a mile from the town. Alexander Carlyle called the house handsome and elegant and a later description from the Birmingham Daily Mail in 1883 said “the pasture was luxuriant, great elm tress shaded the park like expanse of verdure and ample fish pond stretched away westwards and a picturesque disused windmill standing upon a slight elevation was ready to be converted into the most captivating of summer houses”. The site is roughly that which is now occupied by the Hall of Memory and the the former Civic Centre now named Baskerville House but extending as far as King Alfred’s Place.

bling-covered carriage

Fancy Pants

Baskerville was not the shy retiring type and he went around in a bling-covered carriage. This equivalent of a pink porsche with gold-plated alloys had Japanned images on each side.“It was one of the wonders of Birmingham, one section richly gilt and painted with little naked cupids and flowers drawn by two cream coloured horses with net hanging almost to the ground”. He dressed in a striking way as well, often in a green suit of clothes edged with narrow gold lace. Over this he wore a scarlet waistcoat with wide gold lace and a small round hat with more lace to finish it all off.  He was said to have attended at least one funeral in this suit, no doubt to the shock of the other mourners.

In 1750 a married woman with children called Mrs Eaves moved in to the mansion.  Her husband had been involved in a fraud while looking after a relative’s will and he had fled from the frilly-cuffed arm of the law. She was left behind with no money and three kids to feed. It is thought she may have come to the house originally as housekeeper. At some point she stopped just making the beds and decided to help warm them as well.

They ended up living as husband and wife even though her husband was alive. She went everywhere with him as his wife and although this adulterous liaison is noted by many of scandalised commentators “It does not appear that his social position was at all impaired by this connection”. So much so that in 1761 he become the High Bailiff of Birmingham. In 1764 he married Mrs Eaves as her husband had died. During their time together they had a child, a boy, who sadly died as a baby. Baskerville was devastated.

 

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