Description:The first evidence we have of a travelling family in Birmingham comes from a baptism register of 1705/6. Although people associate travellers with images of colourful caravans, travelling homes were often the tent-like structures shown in the photographs and painting here. By 1900 there were about 300 Romany people living on land known as the ‘Black Patch’ near Handsworth. In July 1905 they were made homeless without compensation when their homes and possessions were destroyed during an eviction.
The entry reads – Patience daughter of Charles Drikson by Elizabeth his wife was baptized January 4th 1705/6: of the parish of Eaton in Warwickshire being travelling people.