E C and W Osborne - Book and print sellers
-
-
Curiously, these premises are listed on the trade card as "30 Bennett's Hill". The grade II listed building still exists today but is now numbered 33 Bennetts Hill. One explanation for this anomaly is that the number range 26-33 Bennetts Hill was allocated to the Midland Bank Building on the corner of Bennetts Hill and Waterloo Street. There is no explanation how Osborne's premises fell within this number range. Presumably it was rented or leased from the bank.
The architects of the bank were Thomas Rickman and Henry Hutchinson and the first stone of the building was laid on 15 February 1831. By 1838 there is evidence of Osborne being located at 30 Bennetts Hill as this is recorded as his address in the influential "Osborne's Guide To the Grand Junction, or Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester Railway..." published in that year.
Edward Corn Osborne began trading as a printer in 1831 round the corner from Bennetts Hill at 84 New Street. He was active in politics serving as a Justice of the Peace and an Alderman from 1862 - 1882. In this role he was influential in the provision of free library services. He died in 1886 at home in Edgbaston.
Although the company has changed names and passed through several hands, Osbornes Office Stationers is still thriving locally with branches throughout the suburbs of Birmingham and the surrounding area, but ironically there is currently no branch in the city centre.
Location: Birmingham Trade Card Collection: Box 11 No. 765
