They are preserved as examples of the thousands of similar houses that were built around shared courtyards, for the rapidly increasing population of Britain's expanding industrial towns.

Back-to-backs were later deemed unsatisfactory, and the passage of the Public Health Act 1875 meant that no more were built; instead byelaw terraced houses took their place.

Most of these houses were concentrated in inner-city areas such as Ladywood, Handsworth, Aston, Small Heath and Highgate.

The Inge family, after whom Inge Street is named, owned the land on the west side of the street whilst the Gooch family owned the land to the east side, where the back to backs were built.

It was agreed that within a year, Willmore should construct two or more large houses at a total cost, including the outbuildings, of no less than £700.

It consisted of six front and eleven back houses with some workshops on the larger southern end of the building plot.

Throughout the 19th century, the court was occupied by workers who worked in such industries as button making, glasswork, woodwork, leatherwork, tailoring and were also skilled craftsmen in the jewellery and small metal trades.

In 1851, Joseph Barnett, a travelling jeweller, lived at number 35 Inge Street, with his wife Hanna, and four children, Samuel, Eli Louis, Rebecca and Henry.

Other people who lived there highlight the crowded conditions of the houses, which were usually occupied by single families.

In 1851, for example Sophia Hudson, a widow who worked as a pearl button driller, probably from home, lived at No.

In 1861, Herbert Oldfield, a glass eye maker, occupied the same address with his wife and their eight children.

Services offered from the buildings were a cycle maker, a hairdresser, a ticket writer, a fruiterer and a furniture dealer.

59 Hurst Street, the cycle maker's and the ticket writer's properties respectively, were converted into workshops as opposed to residential.

When you go down to the counter area of the shop, a recording of George’s voice plays, detailing his life story within Birmingham and the importance of these houses.

In 1988, the court received Grade II listed status from the Department of National Heritage.

The houses were lit by windows on the Hurst Street side and heated by shared chimney stacks.

All the houses in the terrace have late 20th century shop fronts, replacing earlier ones which were installed about 1900.

The brick paved yard contains an open drain running in front of the three back houses.

In the 1930s, the two washhouses and water closets (outdoor flush toilets) were constructed on the site of the workshops and outbuildings in the courtyard.