Barber of Birmingham, The.—­The knights of the pole (or poll) have always been noted for getting into mischief, and it is not therefore so very surprising to find that in March, 1327, a royal pardon had to be granted to “Roger, the barber of Birmingham,” for the part he had taken in the political disturbances of that time.  Was he a Con., or a Lib., Tory or Rad.?

Baron of Birmingham.—­One of the titles of Lord Ward.

Barracks.—­Built in 1793, at a cost of L13,000, as a consequence of the riots of 1791.

Barring Out—­On the 26th of Nov. 1667, the scholars of the Grammar School “barred out” the Master, and then left the school for a time.  When they returned they found the worthy pedagogue had obtained admission and intended to keep his young rebels outside.  Whereupon, says an old chronicler, they, being reinforced by certain of the townsmen “in vizards, and with pistolls and other armes,” sought to re-enter by assault, threatening to kill the Master, and showering stones and bricks through the windows.  When the fun was over the Governors passed a law that any boy taking part in future “barrings-out” should be expelled from the School, but the amusement seems to have been rather popular, as an entry in the School records some ten years later show that a certain Widow Spooner was paid one shilling “for cleansinge ye Schoole at penninge out.”

Baskerville (John).—­This celebrated local worthy was a native of Wolverley, near Kidderminster, having been born in the year 1706.  He came to this town in early life, as we find that he kept a writing school in 1726.  In 1745 he built himself a residence at Easy-hill, and carried on the business of japanner afterwards adding to it that of printer and typefounder.  His achievements in this line have made his name famous for ever, though it is said that he spent L600 before he could produce one letter to his own satisfaction, and some thousands before he obtained any profits from his printing trade.  He was somewhat eccentric in personal matters of dress and taste, his carriage (drawn by cream-coloured horses) being a wonderful specimen of the art of japanning in the way of pictured panels, etc., while he delighted to adorn his person in the richest style of dress.  The terms of his peculiar will, and his apparent renunciation of Christianity, were almost as curious as his choice of a place of sepulture.  He was buried in his own grounds under a solid cone of masonry, where his remains lay until 1821, at which time the canal wharf, now at Easy Row, was being made.  His body was found in a good state of preservation, and for some short period was almost made a show of, until by the kindness of Mr. Knott the bookseller, it was taken to Us present resting-place in one of the vaults under Christ Church.  Mr. Baskerville died January 8, 1775, his widow living till March 21, 1787, to the age of 80 years.