Modern Monasteries.—­The foundation-stone of St. Thomas’s Priory, at Erdington, for the accommodation of the Monks of the Order of St. Benedict, was laid on Aug. 5, 1879, by the Prior, the Rev. Hildebrand de Hemptinne.  Alter the date, and the reader might fancy himself living in Mediaeval times.

Monument.—­The high tower erected near the Reservoir has long borne the name of “The Monument,” though it has been said it was built more as a strange kind of pleasure-house, where the owner, a Mr. Perrott, could pass his leisure hours witnessing coursing in the day-time, or making astronomical observations at night.  Hence it was often called “Perrott’s Folly.”  It dates from 1758—­See also “Statues,” &c.

Moody and Sankey.—­These American Evangelists, or Revivalists, visited here in Jan. 1875, their first meeting being held in the Town Hall, on the 17th, the remainder of their services (to February 7) being given in Bingley Hall.  They came also in February, 1883. when the last-named place again accommodated them.

Moor Street.—­Rivaling Edgbaston Street in its antiquity, its name has long given rise to debate as to origin, but the most likely solution of the puzzle is this:  On the sloping land near here, in the 14th century, and perhaps earlier, there was a mill, probably the Town Mill, and by the contraction of the Latin, Molendinaria, the miller would be called John le Molendin, or John le Moul.  The phonetic style of writing by sound was in great measured practised by the scriveners, and thus we find, as time went on, the street of the mill became Moul, Moule, Mowle, Molle, Moll, More, and Moor Street.  A stream crossed the street near the Woolpack, over which was a wooden bridge, and farther on was another bridge of more substantial character, called “Carter’s Bridge.”  In flood times, Cars Lane also brought from the higher lands copious streams of water, and the keeping of Moor Street tidy often gave cause to mention these spots in old records, thus:—­

L s. d.
1637—­Paid Walter Taylor for ridding
the gutters in Moor Street 0 0 11
1665—­Zachary Gisborne 42 loads of
mudd out of Moore Street .. 0 0 7
1676—­J.  Bridgens keepinge open
passage and tourneing water
from Cars Lane that it did
not runne into More Street
for a yeare .. .. .. .. 0 4 0
1688—­Paid mending Carter’s Bridge
timber and worke .. .. .. 0 5 0
1690—­John, for mending Moore Street
Bridg .. .. .. .. .. .. 0 0 10

Moor Street, from the earliest date, was the chosen place of residence for many of the old families, the Carless, Smalbroke, Ward, Sheldon, Flavell, Stidman, and other names, continually cropping up in deeds; some of the rents paid to the Lord of the Manor, contrasting curiously with the rentals of to-day.  For three properties adjoining in More Street, and which were so paid until a comparatively modern date, the rents were:—­