Bluebells, Elkin Wood, Allesley
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Bluebells, Elkin Wood, Allesley
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Every Sunday 8.00 am Holy Communion All Saints Church
10.00 am Informal Sunday Worship
6.00 pm Evensong or Communion
Every Sunday 09.30 - 11.30 am Dogs Flyball Scout Hut
Every Sunday 12.00 - 4.00 pm Church of Jerusalem Scout Hut
Every Monday 7.30 pm Saints Amateur Dramatics Village Hall
Every Monday 09.30 - 11.00 am Slimming World Scout Hut
Every Monday 12.30 - 13.30 am Pilates Scout Hut
Every Monday 5.30 - 6.45 pm Beaver Scouts Scout Hut
7.00 - 8.30 pm Cub Scouts
3rd Monday (winter) 7.30 pm Coventry Beekeepers Church Hall
Every Tuesday 7.30 pm Melody Makers Church Hall
Every Tuesday 7.30 - 9.00 pm Bell Ringing Practice Church Bell Tower
Every Tuesday 5.15 pm Brownies Village Hall
Every Tuesday 5.00 - 5.30 pm Ltl. Dragons Kung Fu 3-6yr Scout Hut
5.30 - 6.00 pm Freestyle Kung Fu 7-10 yrs
6.00 - 6.30 pm Kick Boxing 8 years - adult
First Tuesday 11.00 am Coffee Morning Bull and Butcher
First Tuesday morning & other Cuppa with a Copper Good Honest Food
times - please check at Cafe or a Councillor Company Cafe
1st Wednesday 1.45 pm Afternoon WI Village Hall
Wednesday 10.00 - 11.30 am Allesley Country Market Village Hall
Wed. Term Time 9.30 - 11.0 am Mites and Minders Church Hall
Every Wednesday 4.30 -7.15 pm Irish Dancing 4-16 years Scout Hut
Every Wednesday 7.30 -8.30 pm Pilates Scout Hut
1st Thursday 10.30 am Allesley Friendship Group Church Hall
Every Thursday 7.30 pm Saints Amateur Dramatics Village Hall
Every Thursday 3.00 pm Allesley Reading Group Church Hall
Every Thursday 7.00 pm Allesley Flower Arrangers Jaguar Social Club
Every Thursday 7.00 - 9.00 pm Scouts Scout Hut
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Every Friday 10.30 am Bereavement Care Group Church Hall
Every Friday 5.30 - 6.30 pm 56th Rainbow Guides Scout Hut
Fridays 6.15 - 7.45 pm Girls’ Brigade 5 -14 yrs Queens Road Baptist
In Term Time 7.45 - 9.15 pm 14+ yrs Church
Every Saturday 9.00 - 1.00 pm Available for hire to clubs Scout Hut
Saturday in Term Time 9.30 am Mainly Music Church Hall
Saturday pm & Available for children’s Scout Hut
Sundays Party Hire
Various exercise classes held See Old School Fitness Old School, 103a,
throughout the week noticeboard for details Birmingham Road
is published three times a year. It is printed on part-recycled paper and over
3,800 copies of each issue are delivered free to all homes in Allesley Parish.
This and all past copies can be viewed in full colour
on www.allesley-church.org.uk
Menu - Church Life - Parish Magazine
Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editorial team.
The editors cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information submitted
for publication or the quality of the services offered by our advertisers.
With thanks to Norman Slater for his proof reading skills
Your views, comments and contributions are always welcome
Editorial Team:
Amanda Slater 024 7664 0019 pikerslanefarm@btopenworld.com
Annelie Jones 024 7669 2734 anneliejones@hotmail.com
Colour per Issue: Whole Page £90
Black & White per Issue: Whole Page £60 Half Page £30 Quarter Page £15
Contact Annelie Jones 024 7669 2734 anneliejones@hotmail.com
To all our volunteer magazine distributors
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astonished at the number and diversity
of articles that have come in for each
issue. It has been an absolute pleasure
to edit, as it has been to drop it through
the post boxes of the parish and receive,
without exception, such very lovely
comments from readers.
However, I feel now is the right time for
me to step down from my post as editor.
I would like to leave it at this point, when
each issue surpasses the previous one.
For that is the point when someone with
a fresh approach and new ideas should
take it on through the next decade. I will
continue until Christmas 2020. Are you
the one who can take it forward?
I produce the magazine on my PC,
whizz it over to the printer in Leicester
and in less than a week they are at my
door with dozens of boxes of copies. I
then count them out, box them up and
It was in early 2010 that Robin Trew, our deliver them to my dedicated and lovely
then Rector, put forward his proposal group of volunteers, who distribute them
that the Parish Magazine should around the parish.
metamorphose from a, subscribers The logistics were quite a challenge at
only, Church Newsletter to a, delivered first, as I had no idea how to tackle it.
free to all residents, Community Now it runs like a well oiled machine!
Magazine. At this point I had just retired Maybe the two aspects of the job would
from a completely different job but be best split - I must say I innocently
rather fancied the idea of editing such a took it all on rather by default!
publication. I had not a clue where to We are, therefore, looking for someone
start - however I had always enjoyed who has a vision of how the magazine
writing and taking photographs, so how could develop editorially and someone
hard could it be? who just loves counting out copies and
I purchased some cheap publisher delivering boxes! If you feel you could
software and, by trial and error, found do either please do get in touch.
out how it worked. So it was, that at I am confident there is someone out
Easter 2010 we launched Issue One - there just itching to take over. Don’t wait
the rest, as they say, is history. to be asked twice, grab your chance!
After ten years the booklet we now
produce is, in my view, something of
which to be very proud. I have been
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Many thanks to David Gazey for In the book , we
sending us some notes and photos of read “The remains of the mill in
the Water Mill in Hawkes Mill Lane. Hawke’s Mill Lane is the last in a series
This has prompted further research of buildings which may go back as far
into the history of, what must have as Saxon times. The present mill,
been a very important building in which is in a very dilapidated state,
Allesley parish. was used to grind corn as recently as
According to Doreen Agutter “The the last war.
known water mills were on the Frith The River Sherbourne has its source in
Brook on the Allesley-Coundon border the nearby mill pool. About 100 yards
and at Hawkes End. A lease of 1326 away from the present mill are traces
from the Bennetts to the Brays calls of extensive brick and stone work.
this Grenes Mill. This was still working Running down to them is a dry
at the end of the nineteenth century channel which once connected the
and its precise site can still be seen on pool with what was probably the first
the River Sherbourne near its crossing mill to be built here.”
with Hawkes Mill Lane.”11 The occupants of the mill can be traced working on the mill. During this time it in the Census records. From 1861 to was inevitable that Albert met Lucy, his death in 1881 the miller was William daughter of William Bates, the miller. Bates, who lived there with his wife Ann Albert and Lucy were married at All and their family. Ann Bates was noted Saints church on August 7th 1893 and for the butter and cheese which she thereafter made Allesley their home. made whilst at the mill. She stayed on Some of our readers may remember at the Hawkes End after her husband’s Lucy Summers. She died in 1961 at the death but later moved to the village to age of 94. live with her married daughter, Lucy. Later occupants of the mill were : - She became the first known 1900 - 1909, G. H. Eden (1873 - 1929) centenarian parishioner in Allesley’s 1909 - 1929, Newman. history. She died in the December 1909 - 1937, W. Stoney, Miller. following her 100th birthday in 1925. (R. P. Stoney was born in 1913 in Tedd At some date the mill was rebuilt by Pitts cottages - demolished in 1964). Beachams, the local builders, for the 1938 - 1941 H. Hughes. sum of £700. Possibly it was in 1884, 1941 - 1945 Cyril Smith at the same time that the new wheel 1941 - 1991 M. Smith (d. 1991). was installed by Robert Summers, Henry Hughes can be found in the 1939 millwright, from Tanworth in Arden. Register at the mill, aged 88, listed as Robert was grandfather to Hubert a dairy farmer. Summers, who many older Allesley Apparently the mill could work all day readers will remember. Hubert used to without reducing the mill pond, at a cost tell how his father Albert, working with of 1/- a day. Mr Bree never went into his grandfather, Robert, walked from the building but would shout from the Tanworth to Allesley each week, whilst door!
12 Parish boundaries often follow into North Warwickshire, seems likely naturally occurring features, such as from C10th or slightly earlier. With no rivers, streams and perhaps ponds and parish boundary here in late Saxon springs. Water was significant, being times, perhaps Fastolf’s farm straddled essential for the existence of humans the brook? and animals. Several streams, whose Rising from a spring on the high names have changed over the ground on the edge of Corley Moor is centuries, mark parts of Allesley’s the river Cune, a Celtic name, also metes or bounds. To the west, where called in the Saxon tongue ‘scir burna’ Allesley joined Meriden, is a case in - ‘bright water’. These were ancient, point. This stream, starting in Millison’s possibly sacred names, for the river Wood, was for centuries called Sherbourne. It is about eight miles long Fastulfsiche - a siche meaning a ditch. and snakes across Allesley parish, We know nothing of Fastulf except that before it heads along the Holyhead his name is Nordic, indicating a Road towards Coventry. The name tenuous link with the Dane Law to the Cune, means a place where waters north of Watling Street. The history of meet and was linked to the Celtic god, this boundary is complex but some Condatis and place names like permanent, if small Danish penetration Cound(on) and even Coventry itself.
13 On the Allesley / Coundon boundary once, in 1935. It is said it foretold the was the Frith Mill. Evidence in Allesley price of grain. So presumably if the documents is sparse and it may have water level was low, caused by been controlled by the Priory of St drought, the grain was of a poorer Mary, owner of Coundon manor. quality, or with lower yields. There ‘Frith’ is a Saxon word with several were pools, some named, such as meanings but ‘woodland’, seems the Pool Meadow near Church Walk and a most appropriate. The Coventry Priory significant one at Hawkes Mill. register of 1411, translated for the Many parishes had a windmill. The Dugdale Society and published in only known site in Allesley was on the 2013, outlines the boundary of hill opposite Windmill Farm, called the Coundon, mentioning the Frith brook Great Windmill Field. It is reached by a and Allesley Mill. These records dirt track at the top of the Windmill Hill, explain many other local names opposite Cameron Close. It was attached to the Allesley / Coundon probably built by a branch of the divide, like Brouns Lane and Wall Hawes family of Solihull who bought Lane. the land there about 1550. It was first Defining the ancient boundary mentioned in a document of 1609, in between Eastern Green and the Enclosure arrangements of 1654 Stoneleigh was the Alsobrook or and still had a role in about 1700. Allesley Brook which flows towards Apart from Corley Moor this was the the Sherbourne at Guphill’s (Gopyll’s) highest spot in the parish - essential Ford on Allesley Old Road. Other for the site of a windmill. There is no streams not yet mentioned, criss- evidence when it fell out of use. crossed the parish. There was the Ash A medieval document tells us that Brook near the ancient Barney Bridge there had been an earlier windmill, (Oak Lane?), Wash Brook and North whose site is not specified, but that by Brook, remembered in the names of 1326 it had broken down and was nearby lanes. In the case of the latter, ‘worthless’. also by the North Field in Coundon. Scattered across the parish were several ancient wells. St Margaret’s, once the main, if not only, source of water for the village centre, is near the present junction of the Birmingham Road and Tollgate Island. The Lord’s Well, a spring in the fields now divided by Pickford Way, was an unfailing source of water and a Holy Well at Dadley’s Wood, was known only to fail
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The lot has fallen to few men of serving the 30-rung ladder trimming the ivy on the
Church in a single capacity for 50 years. Church tower.
But this is the proud accomplishment of Mr Strange to relate, though he has been
Albert Harris, the Parish Clerk and Sexton parish clerk for so lengthy a period, Mr.
at Allesley Parish Church, who was Harris has only served under three
appointed to that position on November Rectors. The late Archdeacon Bree was
21st, 1873. His term of office has been instituted Rector of Allesley in 1863, and
marked by consistent and regular attention held the living until his death in 1917 when
to his duties, and a loyal affection for the the Rev. A. D. Perrott was appointed in his
Church wherein he has spent so many stead. Earlier this year Mr. Perrott
hours of his life. The work of a parish clerk exchanged livings with the Vicar of
does not synchronise with the length of the Uxbridge, the Rev R. F. Hanning, who is
services. He is liable to be called on at all the present Rector. There were, however,
times, besides being responsible for the many changes of curates. Mr. Harris had a
cleaning, heating and care generally of the great regard for the late Archdeacon. In
Church. Seventy three years of age Mr. those early days the Church was un-
Harris is hale and vigorous. A illuminated save for half-a-dozen candles
representative of “The Coventry Herald” for the use of the choir, and these were but
found him on Tuesday at the top of a rarely employed, as, save for the months15
of May to the end of August, Evensong man received a term of imprisonment for
was always held in the afternoon. brawling in church. On another occasion,
Mr. Harris says he made a “good start” for though this was a week day, a woman of
he was told of his new office at eight determined appearance arrived shortly
o’clock one wintry night and perforce had before a wedding and announced her
to work until midnight to prepare the fires intention of interfering with the ceremony.
for the morrow. It was a long task, the She would have carried out her threat but
grates were old fashioned and clumsy. by a mixture of blandishments and
Later a modern heating apparatus was commands Mr. Harris enticed her into the
installed, which has proved a far more vestry, where there were tremendous
convenient and much less smoky method “ructions”. Anyhow, the wedding was not
of warming the Church. But the numerous solemnised at Allesley, but the couple, not
oil lamps require much attention. Gas from to be frustrated in their amiable intention,
Coventry reaches the village, and though went straight off to a registry office where
a well-known resident of Allesley offered to they were soon made husband and wife.
pay for its substitution for oil, Archdeacon Four times in two years the Church was
Bree preferred the old style of lighting. burgled; a small grave stone being
In these days of motors it is difficult to uprooted once and used to smash in the
realise the time when as many as 20 safe. The would-be thieves expended their
horses and traps were put up outside the energy to no purpose, the safe contained
Church whilst their owners attended divine nothing but musty old books. To aid them
worship. Before the parish of Eastern in their enterprise they fetched the candles
Green was carved out of the ecclesiastical out of the pulpit to illuminate the vestry, but
parish of Allesley, and before a Church they were considerate enough to blow
was built at Corley Moor, a great distance them out before abandoning their
had to be covered to get to Church, and nefarious scheme.
horses and traps were the means of There is nothing ethereal about Mr.
locomotion employed. Harris’s appearance, but he has been
mistaken for a ghost. Working all day he
Mr. Harris remembers one disturbing frequently dug graves at night by candle-
incident on a Christmas morning of the last light. One November night at ten o’clock
century. Archdeacon Bree had just given he was thus employed when four men who
out his text and the large congregation had evidently been spending the evening
was settling down to listen to his sermon, in jovial style came upon the scene. Their
when a man stood on a pew at the back of laughter and jests petrified upon their lips.
the Church and started to preach himself. “It’s a ghost”, shouted one, terror stricken.
He was, it afterwards transpired, a member “No, a white grave stone”, whispered a
of some fanatical sect whose tenets were second, though not very convincingly. Just
opposed to the Church of England. His at that moment Mr. Harris moved across
loquacity was abruptly interrupted. the grave, and the four revellers turned and
Members of the congregation hauled him fled, tumbling the one over the other in
down, and Mr. Harris relates that he their haste to to escape the spectre.
caught hold of him by the collar and This photograph was taken by Mr. A. Kirby,
banged him against a tree in the and shows the old sexton standing in the
churchyard. The Archdeacon, however, porch of the Church holding the key to the
did not continue his discourse. Later the main door.16
Walking with my brother Rob along a helped on a local farm by rounding up
footpath from Allesley to Meriden in the herd of Jersey cows for milking. The
January we spotted several route through the farmyard to the
Yellowhammers perched along a milking parlour was thick with cowpats
hedge-top. This led to a fireside and there was an open midden piled
discussion at the Bull’s Head about high with manure. In spring and
how much the countryside has summer this attracted swarms of flying
changed over the sixty years since our insects, food for the scores of Swallows
childhoods. We recalled the small and House Martins that nested around
farms we had worked on in the 1950s the farm buildings. The cows didn’t
and early ‘60s, together with the birds really need much direction from us.
and other wildlife that were common at They were ready to be milked and
that time. We agreed to jot down our quietly strolled into their own bays
memories, which we combined into this where a molasses soaked snack was
short article. waiting for them.
We spent our first few years living in a We progressed to operating the milking
noisy industrial smoke-blackened town. machines in the shippen and then
Our parents had arranged to rent pouring the milk into the corrugated
somewhere to live after they were coolers. As well as the rhythmical
married, however the owners returned sound of the milking machines there
unexpectedly from Canada and the was the munching of the cows eating
deal fell through. Intense German their cattle cake and the constant
bombing had resulted in a national tweeting of House Sparrows that made
housing shortage, so like many other their untidy nests up in the roof space.
newly-weds Mum and Dad lived with Great numbers of Lapwings nested in
their extended family. the rough grassland of this local farm
After five years on the waiting list we every spring. They made swooping
moved to a new housing estate set in displays, showing their black and white
the middle of the Cheshire countryside. wing patterns and making distinctive
If you ran from our back gate you could pee-wit calls. There were so many
be in the South Meadow in less than a nests that we had to be careful not to
minute. From there the fields went on tread on the eggs!
for miles and miles. All the local Small fields were divided by dense
children played out in the street and as hedgerows. In springtime these hedges
we got a bit older we started to explore were filled with all sorts of birds’ nests.
the nearby fields, woods, and streams. The fields were less tidy than they are
With our pocket money we bought nowadays, providing far more food and
Ladybird books with titles like ‘British shelter for wildlife. Cereal stubble was
Birds and their Eggs’ and ‘What to Look left well into the winter. Flocks of
for in Summer’. In the afternoon after Finches and Buntings fed on the weed
getting home from primary school we seeds in these open fields. Ploughing in17 early spring uncovered lots of buried striped Perch and red finned Rudd in seeds and invertebrates just at the right these little ponds. We collected Goose time for birds to feed their hungry feathers to make our own fishing floats. nestlings. We had names for the local woods: the We remember the farmer’s wife talking Pig Wood, the Ghost Wood, the Secret about a ghostly white Barn Owl that Wood. We always had a den hunted at dusk for rodents around the somewhere in those woods, usually hay rick. We were always hoping to see constructed from branches and this owl but never did. Mum allowed us bracken. We built a tree den at the out during the daytime, but we had to same height as the railway be in long before it was dark. embankment so that we could watch Most fields had a small pond where the the steam trains roaring by. We made cattle would drink. These ponds, or pits bows and arrows and catapults, carved as we called them, were a haven for from sticks. The flights on the arrows wildlife. Blue and green Dragonflies were made from cardboard and the whizzed across the surface then rested sharp arrow heads were hardened in on the oval leaves of Water Hawthorn. the campfire. Campfires were kept Moorhens and their black fuzzy chicks burning whenever you were at the den paddled about pond edges. Reed and extinguished before leaving. From Buntings (known as Pit Sparrows) home we took a flour and water paste nested in bank-side vegetation. Our and Oxo cubes. The paste was rolled Grandad taught us how to fish for into a long worm shape, twisted along
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a hazel stick and toasted over the camp heaven. The only sounds were the
fire. The Oxo cubes were boiled up with ripple of the river, birdsong, the lowing
water as a hot drink. of cattle, and the distant chimes from a
Our favourite area on the farm was an church tower. We could sit on the front
abandoned anti-aircraft gun site, step with our fishing rods to catch little
consisting of a group of concrete gudgeon and the occasional brown
buildings and water filled underground trout in the pebbly shallows. On hot
shelters. This was the ideal place to run summer days our Nan, who had been a
around playing war games. Boys’ competitive swimmer, would swim with
comics were full of war stories and us in a clear deep pool where the river
everyone’s Dad had been in the war curved around the orchard. Elvers
which was still a recent event. The (baby eels) in their thousands migrated
flooded air raid shelters were home to upstream past us. We could scoop
our favourite amphibians, the orange them up in our hands.
bellied Great Crested Newts. We Nan showed us how to grow spring
caught them with nets and kept them in onions, radish and lettuce. She gave us
buckets before letting them go after an interest in gardening that lasted a
deciding who had caught the most. lifetime. There was no television out
As we got a bit older we realised you there, so we read in the evening. Nan
could earn money working on farms. always had a crime novel and Grandad
Potato picking in the school summer studied local history. We browsed
holidays paid 10 shillings a day. We did through Abu fishing catalogues,
this for a while but it was dreadfully imagining trips to Nordic waters.
monotonous. We preferred less money In addition to Friesian dairy cattle, the
for more exciting jobs, like standing farm over the bridge kept pigs, hens
high on a combine harvester changing and geese. At that time food remnants
over the sacks. were collected from every school and
When winter came we were constantly factory canteen and then delivered to
hoping for snow. Our Dad was a fitter farms as pig swill. We would take
and made us sledges from tubular buckets of this slop and pour it into a
steel. These were small and light big trough in the pig pen. The assorted
enough to carry on our backs like poultry roamed around the farm during
rucksacks. During the Big Freeze of daytime, protected from foxes by
1963 we explored for miles with those several mongrel farm dogs.
sledges to find the steepest hills. The old orchard was next to the
Our Nan and Grandad rented a farmhouse with a long washing line
riverside summerhouse next to a farm strung between a couple of gnarled
on a tributary of the Welsh Dee. It was a trees. The apple, pear and plum trees
4 mile walk from the village bus stop were not on modern dwarfing
along traffic free country tracks to get rootstocks, so grew to a height that
there. To us this seemed to be the needed long ladders to pick the fruit.
middle of nowhere and it felt like rural Large white geese were kept in that19 orchard. They were very noisy and There was a family that lived in a would give a nasty nip if they caught wooden shack further upriver. My you. Damsons were grown as a Grandad had known them for many windbreak hedge. We were allowed to years and explained that the father and pick as many as we wanted and our his teenage son, Jed, did all sorts of Nan made pies and jam with them. seasonal country work to scrape a Haymaking was a big communal event living. When we were pike fishing in the with help arriving from neighbouring depths of winter, Grandad took us farms. The farmer’s wife kept us fed across a frosty field to meet Jed and his with large bowls of chunky potato chips Dad who were slashing back a hedge fried in pork dripping washed down and clearing a ditch. They wore Army with stewed tea from a small churn. leather jerkins and gauntlets. Putting When we finally got all the hay stacked, aside their billhooks, they attended to a a slab of Cheshire cheese and crates of big black kettle set on top of a blazing pale ale were brought out from the farm fire. They offered us enamel mugs full kitchen. When we were handed a bottle of sweet tea. Grandad shared biscuits of beer to share we felt so grown up. from the tin he kept in his fishing The only source of fertiliser was manure basket. We stood in the warmth of the from the farm’s own livestock. I drove a fire listening to Jed’s account of how he Ferguson tractor, spreading the foul caught eels on night lines. But it was smelling muck across the fields. This their rough coated lurcher that intrigued rich mixture and the worms in it us. We had to have a dog! attracted large numbers of rooks and gulls.
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Happy New Year to you all. You will be age and contact details as soon as
pleased to know that we are busy possible. They will be entered into the
making plans for the 45th Allesley draw which will take place at our
Festival. Of course, we know that you Committee meeting in early June. It
are busy too thinking of ideas for this will be drawn by a random patron of
year’s Scarecrows and Floats on the the Jaguar Club. It is a truly
. This year’s memorable week for them and one not
Festival dates are to be missed - please encourage your
. We are looking children to take part.
forward to a great year, following last Whilst I am on the subject of the
year’s successes and leaning on the Carnival, this year we have decided to
huge community spirit which seems to honour our longest serving committee
have continued. We are most member, Mavis Jeffery, who was part
appreciative of the great enthusiasm of the original team who set up our
and support which we are receiving in wonderful Allesley Festival in 1975. We
Allesley. hope you agree that she is a well
Our main focus this year continues to deserving choice for the honour of our
be on our Carnival, which we hope “Allesley Hero” for 2020 having served
you agree is the highlight of the all 45 years on the committee - an
Festival calendar. It is all inclusive, admirable achievement. Thank you,
whatever your age with participants Mavis.
and spectators ranging from 2 years to On the first weekend, we are hoping to
92! We wish to encourage you to take see Allesley awash with Scarecrows
up the challenge of joining us in the and Painted Rocks. Please try to get
Carnival. We are happy to welcome your entry pre-planned on this year’s
lorries, cars, scooters, bikes, walkers ‘Disney’ theme as we are adding a
or even a pushchair parade - ponies new prize, being awarded by our
are also welcome! Get your thinking generous sponsor Yeoman and Owen.
caps on and contact me as soon as Our very successful Art Exhibition, will
you have decided what to enter. We once again fill the Church Hall with the
may have a few more rosettes to give talent of local artists and the Church
out this year and one or two new will display work from Allesley Primary
categories. School.
Our Carnival Royalty had a wonderful Our ever-popular Garden Walks will
experience last year and all of them return to the ‘The Village’ this year,
have memories that will last a lifetime. taking place on Sunday 4th July
So if your child is in KS2, lives in between 2.00 pm and 5.00 pm. Tea
Allesley and they would like to be will be served at Allesley Village Hall.
considered for this year’s roles, please We will have entertainment provided in
get in touch with me giving their name, the Hall by ‘The Rock Choir’ whilst you21 enjoy your tea. Please contact me as We are busy finalising our events over soon as possible if you are busy the next few weeks,all of which will be planting away in the Spring sunshine featured in the Allesley Festival in readiness of opening your garden. Magazine, which will drop through Thursday 9th July sees our traditional your door around the end of May. If Ladies’ Evening, starting from 7.00 pm you are a business and would like to at the Jaguar Social Club with our have an advert, we have a few spaces fashion show and many new stalls. remaining in the magazine, please Also on the first weekend, many of you contact me on the details below. will join us at the Church Service which Lastly, we will be repeating our very was last year enjoyed by all who successful Facebook Auction. If you attended. In addition, this year All are a business and are able to donate Saints’ Church will very generously a ‘lot’ please get in touch. We need host a complimentary pig roast everyone to keep an eye on our following the service for all who attend, Facebook page when the bidding together with invited guests from the starts during June. Community. Our Allesley Festival Thank you so much in advance to our Royalty will be crowned during this Festival Committee and to all of you service. who plan to take part, volunteer and Whilst we are on the subject of special support our events. We hope to see events for 2020, I have two more to more of you than ever taking part in share with you. We thought as a our Carnival this year as it is our 45th Committee, with our ‘Disney’ theme Anniversary. We want to do our that it might be nice to offer an event beautiful village proud as we celebrate to our younger audience, with a Allesley’s Community past, present ‘Disney’ themed tea party. We look and future. Please contact me, on the forward to seeing all the children in details below if you would like to enter their favourite Disney character outfits! our Carnival, advertise, open your Please look out for details of tickets in garden or be considered for our the Allesley Festival Magazine. Royalty. For our second and most exciting Follow us on Facebook #allesleyfestival special event for 2020, Allesley Flower and watch our regular updates on our Arrangers have very kindly offered to website www.allesleyfestival.co.uk present a Flower Festival in our Warm wishes for an enjoyable Festival beautiful church, which will run - fingers crossed that the weather has alongside the Art Exhibition and improved by then! Garden Walks over the weekend of 4th and 5th July. We very much look forward to this colourful display to start our Festival week.
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You may read about that in Issue 4 of
this magazine ( ). By a
strange serendipity, when we moved
to Exhall, we found ourselves even
closer neighbours to the juvenile river
Sowe. So last summer, after some
time of meaning to get round to it, I
decided to do a similar photo walk
along Coventry’s other river.
The Sowe, at twelve miles, is longer
than the Sherbourne and it rejoices in
a very well maintained footpath almost
every yard of its course. It makes its
entrance into the world at our local,
best-kept secret - Bedworth Slough.
The pool, a reminder of the darker
days of the town’s mining history, is
home to a variety of water fowl, a
resident family of swans and an
abundance of wild flowers and
insects. The stream meanders
through Exhall, near to Junction three
Just for a nano-second I wondered if it
was a wise idea to fight my way, alone,
along a footpath totally submerged in
golden oil seed rape. However the
unusual feeling of exhilaration at being
completely drowned in fragrant yellow
flowers dispelled all thoughts about
being sensible. I was getting used to
the very many unexpected pleasures I
was encountering when following our
local river.
When we lived in Allesley we were, for
many years, very close neighbours to
the fledgling River Sherbourne. We
got to know it in all its moods and I
once did a photo-expedition along its
entire length, from Corley Moor to its
junction with the Sowe near Baginton.23
brandy bottle water lilies. All the way
the scene was accompanied by the
heady bouquet of meadowsweet.
Throughout its length, the banks are
outlined with ancient willows, that
stand as silent witnesses to historic
events of centuries past.
I watched egrets hunting the marshy
ground behind the UHCW and was
dazzled by the iridescent blue flash of
dozens of banded demoiselles. At one
point the stream did a nose dive
of the M6 motorway - where I beneath the Coventry canal, at
encountered the field of rape - another the river made stately
through the northern and then eastern progress under Robert Stevenson’s
suburbs of Coventry, to Baginton and magnificent and ornate, 1838 railway
thence to Stoneleigh, where it joins the viaduct. In two pedestrian tunnels
Avon. I guarantee that at no point under Allard Way the local community
along that route would you believe you has even paid their tribute to the Sowe
are in the midst of some of the more with lively and colourful murals and
deprived areas of Coventry or in fact everywhere along my way I
near any city at all. I saw more wild encountered friendly greetings from
flowers, birds and insects than I have footpath users, dog walkers and bike
in a very long time. The path is well riders alike. Highly Recommended!
signposted with wide swathes of
carefully tended nature reserve along https://tinyurl.com/r8rbwqb
its banks.
I started in early May, overwhelmed by
the scent of hawthorn blossom and
hedge parsley in Longford Park. As
the year progressed the colour palette
changed, from the whites of blossom
and Queen Anne’s Lace to the gold of
buttercups and wild flags. Meadows of
swaying grasses, punctuated by the
dazzling ruby salad burnet and vibrant
blues of meadow cranesbill, gave way
to pinks and purples of the wild dog
rose, knapweed and thistle - later
transposing to willow herb, Himalayan
balsam and the cheerful yellow,24
1. Over the centuries, how many Cathedrals has Coventry had?
2. In what year did St Michael’s Parish Church become Coventry Cathedral?
3. Why was St Michael’s parish church chosen to be a cathedral?
4. On what date was St Michael’s reduced to ruins?
5. What was the codename for the raid?
6. After the end of WWII, in the competition for the design of a new Coventry
Cathedral the rules required the retention of certain features of the Ruins:
what were they?
7. What was the name of the architect who won the competition?
8. When was the ‘modern’ cathedral consecrated?
9. Why did the architect describe the building he had designed as
?
10. What (apart from the admission of light) is the purpose of the large
screen of unstained glass opposite the altar?
11. Why did the architect specify a tapestry behind the altar?
12. On what Bible text is the tapestry based?
13. Name the artist who designed the tapestry.
14. What sculptor created the ‘St Michael Conquering the Devil’ which looks
down over Priory Street?
15. What was the relationship between that sculptor and the man whose
head is depicted as the head of St Michael?
16. What two other works of that sculptor are to be seen on a visit to the
ruined and the modern cathedrals?
17. What is the formal name for the large window to the right as you enter the
modern Cathedral?
18. By what name was that window known by the artist who designed it?
19. From where did the font, the boulder at the foot of that window come?
20. What is the significance of the chapel opposite that window?
21. Why is there a maple leaf on the floor below the glass screen?
22. What inspired the design of the canopy?
23. What is the significance of the small cross contained at the heart of the
altar cross?
24. What was the only feature of the ‘modern’ cathedral criticised for being
old-fashioned?
25. What major work of 20th Century music was given its first performance in
the ‘modern’ cathedral?25
We have just started a coffee morning wanting to invite others that they knew
at the Bull and Butcher at Corley Moor, would be interested to come along.
with the aim of providing somewhere I knew that the Bull and Butcher at
for people of all ages and Corley Moor were very welcoming and
backgrounds to come together to chat always had a real community feel, so I
over a free coffee, tea and biscuits. asked the landlady, Ann, if we could
When talking with neighbours, family use her facilities. Ann immediately
and friends, it was really apparent that, wanted to do this and agreed to host
whilst we do live within a community, our gatherings. In January, at our first
many people were feeling quite coffee morning, the staff made sure
isolated. There were people who had everyone was welcome, made teas
lost loved ones and some, who and coffees and looked after us really
despite having friends and maybe well. Ann said a number of people
work colleagues did not have enough locally had shown an interest and we
opportunities to connect socially with are hoping that they will come and join
others. There was no specific age us at our next event.
range either. We meet on the first Tuesday of every
Initially I did a coffee morning at my month at 11 am.
own home but realised we would need
somewhere bigger, as people were
Mites and Minders is a group for babies, pre-school
children and their parents / guardians /carers.
We start each session with free play, including a new baby
area, kitchen role play, craft activity and a time for the adults
to catch up, make new friends and enjoy coffee and
biscuits. This is followed by a snack time for the children
before we finish with an interactive song session.
Whether you are a regular, you come along occasionally or you have never been
before, you will receive a warm welcome.
Wednesdays 9.30 am - 11.00 am. [term time]
All Saints, Allesley, Church Hall
£2 for one adult and one child and then 50p for each additional child or adult
first session free
For more information email
allesleychurch@gmail.com
allesleychildrenswork@outlook.com
Facebook: All Saints Mites and Minders26
Allesley Park Community Centre, 199 Winsford Ave, Allesley Park
Coventry CV5 9NG - Tel: 024 76715432 or 76715150
Coundon Care at Allesley Park offers affordable Day Care in the local
Community for the older person
Our service is also inclusive of those clients with Dementia (Subject to assessment)
All our staff are qualified and experienced and the environment
is safe and homely
Our service reflects our clients’ needs, interests and hobbies
Afternoon entertainment is included
Monday-Wednesday and Friday
Includes a 2 course lunch and all refreshments
Transport available within a certain radius
For further details please contact Kay on 76715150 or Nina on 7671543227
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Janice Woolnough
(known to many here
in Allesley) who
owned the property
before us. Since
then, we have built
on her good work,
creating spaces for
quiet rest and
contemplation in the
house and garden.
We have turned it into
a place where
anyone can come to
be still, to take a
break from the frantic
We live in a frantic world. Whether we pace of life, to appreciate the beauty of
like it or not, our lives carry on at a nature and discover a sense of
frantic pace: the school run; the refreshment and peace.
morning commute; our 9-5 (and Over the past year, we have carried
frequently much longer) jobs; emails; out some improvements to the
phones; messages; endless to-do property, including a loft conversion
lists; cooking; shopping; social with an ‘upper room’ for visitors to use
media… Sometimes it feels as though as a quiet space, a new access ramp
there is no way to escape the which means we can now be open to
incessant demands of our culture. those with limited mobility. We are
Do you ever find yourself longing for extremely grateful to All Saints’
just a little space to breathe? To pause Church, Allesley Festival and many
and be still? To be able to set aside all individuals for the generous donations
those daily anxieties? that have enabled us to complete this
Tucked away off the Birmingham work.
Road, Breathing Space Coventry aims Breathing Space Coventry is a
to be such a place. Recognising that registered charity (Charity Number
so many of us feel driven and trapped 1175896) and a member of the Quiet
and in need of a place to escape, we Gardens Movement and the Retreat
set up Breathing Space as a quiet Centre Association. We are open to
garden, two years ago. We were individuals and small groups to visit
blessed in this by inheriting a and spend a quiet day or few hours
wonderful, established garden from here. As well as the garden and upper29
room, we have three rooms We will be open during the Allesley
downstairs for quiet space, including Festival this year and encourage you
an arts and crafts room, a comfortable to come and see us then. But you
lounge and a small prayer room. The don’t need to wait till then – if you
garden has different spaces for sitting would like to visit and find your own
or wandering and the new addition of breathing space, just get in touch with
a small labyrinth. As well as offering us at
individual space, we run occasional breathingspacecoventry@gmail.com
‘led’ quiet days, a regular ‘Taizé’ or
service and Christian spiritual 024 7671 3381
direction. We want Breathing Space to
be open to anyone, regardless of faith
or background, so we do not charge
people to visit but rely instead on
voluntary contributions. www.breathingspacecoventry.org
‘… connecting with families of young been before, just bring your family
children within local communities.’ along and you will receive a warm
Fun, interactive music welcome.
sessions for pre-school For more information contact Lesley
children and their on 079 5408 0575
parents / guardians / email: allesleychurch@gmail.com
carers to enjoy together. allesleychildrenswork@outlook.com
Young children are or
introduced to music, Facebook - All Saints Mainly Music
whilst families enjoy fellowship and
through Mainly Music’s five key We meet term time
values: Creativity, Connection, on Saturday Mornings
Generosity, Celebration and Honour (including the first Saturday of half
have an opportunity to encounter terms)
God’s love. from
The music session itself lasts for 9.30 am - 10.45 am
about 30 minutes and is followed by in
a time of free play for the children and All Saints, Allesley, Church Hall
fellowship and refreshments for the CV5 9EQ
adults. (just off Birmingham road)
Whether you are a regular, you come First session free,
along occasionally or you have never then £3 per family / session30
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33
34
35
Sadly, the first planned churchyard Join us anytime between
tidy of 2020, in February, had to be 9.00 am and 12.00 noon
cancelled. Not only was there a steady
drizzle on the day but the weeks and There are mowing, strimming,
months of rain meant the ground was weeding, pruning and sweeping jobs
waterlogged. We were in danger of in both our churchyards. Join our
tearing up the turf and also damaging friendly, hardworking team for as long
our mowing equipment. We hope and as your time allows but make sure you
pray that the weather improves and can stay for our mid morning brunch.
the following dates can take place :
Saturday
For further information contact
28th March 18th April
Michael or Annelie Jones on
16th May 13th June 024 7669 2734 or
27th June 25th July allesley@btconnect.com
15th August 5th September
3rd October 31st October36
37 On Valentine’s Day, 14th of February, I There is so much to enjoy in the went on my usual early morning walk countryside for humans but for with my dog over the Wedge. As animals, birds and insects it’s their anybody who is a regular walker over home. I hope we can find a way to the Wedge will know the conditions preserve it for everyone. under foot this winter have been different from most years. Trying to avoid sinking into the mud and not slipping on the ice as in a normal winter has been a challenge. On this morning the sky was bright red. I stood on top of the field next to Church Walk admiring it when I heard geese and as I turned I saw a skein of geese in full flight; they looked stunning with the red sky in the background.
38
1.00 pm until 4.00 pm, come and go
as you please. It will include a short
recital at 1:15 repeated at 3:15. The
remainder of the time will give the
opportunity for anyone, young or old,
All Saints will be holding an open to find out what it is like to play the
console and recital on Saturday 18th organ. Bring any music with you to
April as part of National Organ Day. play and enjoy your local organ, or
The nationwide celebration has been just see and hear what it is like.
organised by the Royal College of RCO Chief Executive, Sir Andrew
Organists (RCO) to raise the profile of Parmley said: “The organ is a
the organ, which Mozart famously wonderful musical instrument,
dubbed, “the King of all the inspiring to hear and a thrill to play.
instruments.” We want National Organ Day on 18th
The RCO is appealing to every April to be a chance for people of all
building in the UK which houses an ages and backgrounds to go along to
organ to open its doors, allowing their local venue, have a listen and
people to explore the wealth of perhaps even have a go!”
organs, large and small, to be found To find out more about National Organ
across the UK. Day, visit
The event at All Saints will be from www.Facebook.com/NationalOrganDay
In response to increases in crime the residents for the CCTV, who would
throughout the area, including theft, value this as a crime fighting tool.
burglaries and ever increasing Various options are being considered
incidents of fly tipping, Allesley Parish and we would welcome ideas too. If
Council discussed actions that could you would like to be part of the CCTV
be taken to help safeguard residents scheme or have any suggestions
of the Parish. An idea was proposed to please contact the Clerk on
install CCTV cameras on key routes in Clerk.allesleypc@outlook.com
and out of the village.
The Parish Council has set aside a Parish Council Meetings start at
limited budget for the initiative. We are 7:45pm and are held in the upstairs
asking residents who live in the parish Function Room at the Jag Sports and
to feedback their interest in being Social Club (off Browns Lane). We
included in the scheme. We are welcome attendance by members of
hopeful for significant support from the public who live in Allesley Parish.39
Dates for our next meetings are: on the Parish and surrounding
infrastructure. We regularly invite
April 6th May 18th
(inc Annual PC Meeting) members from Coventry City Council to
June 22nd July 20th come and tell us their plans and
September 7th proposed road changes. Parishioner
October 12th November 23rd support is always welcome!
Agendas for each meeting are displayed
If you have any concerns which you on our Parish Council noticeboard and
wish to raise you can contact me on our website
Clerk.allesleypc@outlook.com and I will http://www.allesleyparishcouncil.org.uk/
be able to help you.
We have a major development being
considered currently which will impact
Many of Allesley’s horticulturists will remember those sunny afternoons at Pikers
Lane, a few years ago, on Allesley Festival Garden Walks day. They will doubtless
also remember Emma’s scrummy cakes - a major feature of the event. In fact I
know that many people turned up for the cakes, rather than for the Slater
herbaceous borders! So you will all be excited to know that Emma has now opened
in Coventry, where you may again get your cake fix
and much more besides! ***** https://www.facebook.com/gloriaandlilsparkside40
41
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The Coventry Branch of the back together and I am keeping my
Warwickshire Beekeepers’ Association fingers crossed that they survive their
have enjoyed another winter of ordeal. I will probably have to wait
monthly meetings at All Saints’ Church until late March or early April before it
Hall whilst the bees were resting from is warm enough to do a proper
their labours. We have had some inspection and find out for sure if all is
excellent speakers informing us about well.
a variety of beekeeping topics and Our winter meetings at the church hall
attracted good attendance. finish on 20th April and then we begin
The dreadful weather over recent our summer apiary meetings on the
weeks has caused problems with 3rd Sunday of the month from May
some member’s apiaries; the very wet through to August starting at 3.00pm.
ground has made it very difficult to get There are exciting changes
to some hives and the strong winds happening this year as we begin our
have blown over fences and in some first season at our new Branch Apiary
cases, the hives themselves. I visited at London Road Allotments. The
my apiary the day after storm Dennis members have been hard at work
went through, only to find most of the preparing the site and transferring the
fence panels down and one of my bees and other equipment over from
hives knocked off its stand and open to the old apiary at Garden Organic in
the elements. The bees still appeared Ryton, following its sale to Coventry
to be alive inside and so I put the hive University last year. A Grand Opening
event is being planned for the
28th June and the Lord Mayor
of Coventry will be on hand to
officially open the site. I hope
the weather will be kind on the
day otherwise the Lord Mayor
may need wellies!
If you would like to know more
about beekeeping or come
and have a look in a hive at one
of our meetings please contact
me for details;
cbka.secretary@wbka.org.uk
Happy Easter44
Ask anyone from Birmingham where industry in the city led to the Coventry
their drinking water comes from and Corporation seeking a solution. By
most will proudly boast it comes all the 1938 consumption had increased to
way from Wales. This piece of seven million gallons per day so
knowledge seems to be passed on the Corporation were granted
from generation to generation and Parliamentary Powers to develop a
they are rightly proud of their ‘special’ new major source of supply for the
supply and the Victorian aqueduct city. Prior to this the city had been
which brings the water under gravity reliant on groundwater supplies and
70 miles to Birmingham. But what of supplemented by a bulk supply from
Coventry? Where does our drinking the Birmingham Corporation. The
water supply come from? The two groundwater pumping station at
rivers which flow through Coventry are Brownshill Green within Allesley Parish
mainly hidden from general view, was one such supply. Many are still in
tucked away and culverted and use today such as Mount Nod and
certainly not large enough to supply a Waveley Road however, Brownshill
city with water. Green is no longer used due to quality
In 1900 the water consumption for issues.
Coventry was less than two million In order to solve the issue of supplying
gallons per day but the exceptionally a fast expanding industrial city the
rapid growth in population and ‘River Severn Scheme for the Water45 Supply of Coventry’ was proposed. the River Severn Aqueduct brings The scheme comprised of building a water through Warwickshire into river intake on the River Severn close Meriden Service Reservoirs where it is to Upton-on-Severn in Worcestershire, blended with other sources from a water treatment works and a 40 mile around the region but Strensham pipeline to bring the water to Coventry. remains the majority supply for the city A paper presented at the time outlined which built it. that the treatment works embodied a As the challenge of climate change, number of somewhat unusual population growth and requirements features, including provision for two to ensure the highest possible water stage sedimentation and rapid gravity quality standards are maintained the filtration with completely automatic works has been upgraded to meet control of all filter washing operations these challenges. It continues to be a which would have been very key asset within Severn Trent’s advanced at the time. strategic grid and one that the people Strensham Water Treatment Works in of Coventry can be rightly proud. So Worcestershire, officially opened in next time you drive past Strensham 1953 by Sir Alfred Herbert, is still in Services on the M5 spare a thought for operation today and proudly displays the men and women working around the coat of arms of Coventry on the the clock just a few miles away to keep main building. The pipeline, known as the taps flowing in Coventry.
46
What a picture! A good friend of mine Mrs Salmons, Mrs McDonald and
visited his relations in Allesley and finally Mrs Lomas. The windows at the
returned with the Parish Magazine. front of the building, facing the road,
What a lot of memories that picture housed the Reception class (far right)
(old School Fitness advert) has then Mrs Brind, Miss Dawson in the
brought to the surface. I am centre and corridor at the left, with Mr.
wondering how many students of my Petty’s class to the rear, if I remember
generation still live in the area? Names correctly. The remaining buildings
of people I have not thought about in were down the slope, towards the field.
over sixty years have crept back. PE was done on the tarmac
Firstly the teachers, starting with the playground with no mats to land or fall
reception class - Mrs Lloyd, Mrs Brind, on. Saving 6d a week into my National
Miss Dawson, Mrs Docker, Mr Petty, Savings Account, ‘Listen with Mother’47 each day after lunch play-time and being horrified by the noise that a class full of children can make. I did not live in the village, but in the country lanes on the way to Meriden, where silence and bird song was the general rule. Long lists of spellings on the walls with Miss Dawson and the adventures of ‘B’rer Rabbit’ and the ‘Tar Baby’. Being ill at Christmas time and missing my role as the Angel cleverest at the front. That was the Gabriel. Melting jelly and custard at the scholarship class but, as I lived in the Christmas Party (hot plates). Sitting county, my choice of secondary under huge framed pictures in Mrs school was quite different from anyone Docker’s class - the ‘Laughing else’s. Cavalier’, up to my right, watching my The head teacher was Mr Startin (with every move and a Holman Hunt by her his cane). The man who did not allow raised teachers’ desk near the fire. At girls to wear shorts in the summer. He least she kept warm, unlike many of sent for my mother and told her the pupils. There was a student straight! teacher that year and she made a real Facilities at the school were very impression on me, doing musical limited in those days, (basically none) rhythmic exercises in some lessons. I but at least we were taught to swim - liked those. Then Mr Petty, who ran the firstly in the outdoor pool in Coventry, after school recorder group. - Little did ugh, so, so cold and then indoors at I realise what the future held then. the newly opened Training College I do remember running out of school pool. Ah, with Miss Pepper, Pepper by reading books and that they all had too name and pepper by nature. many pictures and not enough words A few names of students have sprung in them. We also followed the radio to mind - the twins Maureen and music programmes ‘Time and Tune’ Eileen, two boys, both Peter, with the and ‘Rhythm and Melody’. Mrs same birthday as me (Heath and Sammons, who played the piano, ran Jardine) and the boy who had to wear large groups of singing on the ‘Dunce’s Cap’ in the Top Class. Wednesday afternoons, I think. Mrs How things have changed, thank McDonald with really interesting goodness! project work and science lessons. Mrs School Dinners, ugh, horrid. Lumpy Lomas was the ‘Top Class’ teacher. mashed potatoes, liver (all gristle and We all sat in silent lines with the so overcooked) and ‘frogspawn’ for
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