NUNEATON AND NORTH WARWICKSHIRE FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY · NUNEATON AND NORTH WARWICKSHIRE FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY ... Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society ... 76 744647

NUNEATON AND NORTH WARWICKSHIRE FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY

Member of the Federation of Family History Societies http://www.nnwfhs.org.uk

JOURNAL JULY 2004

Price £1.50 (first copy free to members)

‘Pem’ (Emily) Green’s Shop, The Square, Attleborough c1900. (See page 12 for more photos from the Green Family Album)

Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 1

NNWFHS COMMITTEE

CHAIRMAN PETER LEE, P O Box 2282, Nuneaton, Warwicks CV116ZT Tel: (024) 7638 1090 email [email protected]

INDEXING PROJECTS CO-ORDINATOR CAROLYN BOSS, Nuneaton Library, Church Street, Nuneaton, & VICE CHAIR Warwickshire CV11 4DR Tel: (024) 7638 4027

SECRETARY & ALVA KING, 26 Thirlmere Avenue, Nuneaton, Warwicks. CV11 6HS BURIALS INDEXING PROJECT Tel: (024) 7638 3499 email: [email protected]

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY JOHN PARTON, 6 Windmill Rd, Atherstone, Warwickshire CV9 1HP Tel: (01827) 713938 email [email protected]

TREASURER & CELIA PARTON, 6 Windmill Rd, Atherstone, Warwickshire CV91HP NORTH WARWICKSHIRE CO-ORDINATOR Tel: (01827) 713938 email [email protected]

JOURNAL & PUBLICATIONS EDITOR PAT BOUCHER, 33 Buttermere Ave, Nuneaton,Warwicks CV11 6ET & MICROFICHE LENDING LIBRARIAN Tel: (024) 7638 3488 email [email protected]

COMMITTEE MEMBER & RAY HALL, 4 Thornhill Drive, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, CV11 6TD BURIALS INDEXING PROJECT Tel: (024) 76 744647 email [email protected]

PUBLICATIONS MANAGER ROBERT BUTLER, 16 Dovecote Close, Solihull, West Midlands B91 2EP Tel 0121 743 8526 email [email protected]

WEBSITE MANAGER BILL BOSWELL, 21 Randle Road, Stockingford, Nuneaton,Warwicks CV10 8HR Tel: (024) 7634 3596 email [email protected]

COMMITTEE ALAN F COOK

COMMITTEE VAL PICKARD, 108 Lister Road, Atherstone, Warwicks CV9 3DF Tel: (01827) 711863 email: [email protected]

NORTH AMERICAN REPRESENTATIVE HARLOW G FARMER, 7101 Bay Front Dr. #124 Annapolis, MD 21403 USA. E-mail [email protected]

CONTENTS PAGE NNWFHS Committee 1 NNWFHS Diary - A Report From The Chairman, Peter Lee. 2 Shocking Suicide - By Tom Beebe 3 20th Century Family Myths & Legends - By Jacqui Simkins 4 Nuneaton’s Inns, Pubs and Taverns - By Peter Lee 5 One Of The Most Neglected Genealogical Techniques - By Alan F Cook 11 Family Album - The Green, Brown & Townsend Families’ Holiday Photos - By Anne Paling-Lawson 12 HART - Atherstone Civic Society’s Local Heritage Initiative - By Judy Vero 13 New Books, CDs Etc 14 Get Netted 15 Noticeboard 16 New Members/ New Members’ Interests 16 Publications 17

If you have a photograph or an article which you would like to be published in the next journal please contact Pat Boucher either at the monthly meetings, telephone 024 7638 3488, email [email protected] or by post at 33 Buttermere Ave, Nuneaton, Warwicks, CV11 6ET. I am happy to accept word processed articles or scanned photographs etc on computer disk. Also, don’t forget items for help wanted, new websites, software reviews etc

Thanks, Pat Boucher - Editor. Deadline for all copy to be included in the October issue of the Journal is September 7th


As we enter the summer season family history takes a bit of a back seat. Holidays, gardening, rambling, fishing, etc. and other outdoor pursuits fill up our leisure time. Despite this some of you enjoy visiting some of those places associated with your ancestors. Visiting your roots is a summer favourite, as well as more serious studies, records offices, libraries, museums and battlefields. Light nights and better weather help this. Our family history society never shuts so if you need any help this summer season we are here for you. The Nuneaton local and family history weekend is at the Chilvers Coton Heritage Centre on Saturday, September 11th. If you can make it we are pleased to see you there especially if you are displaying your family records. This is something we welcome very much and we will be pleased to meet you. Not only that you might come face to face with some long lost cousin, or obtain additional local information, which provide new clues where to look next. Tables and display areas are available, but you need to book early to reserve them. To reserve your place at the event please call me on my mobile (07710 233539) which is switched on 24 hours a day and accompanies me everywhere, (even to the pub!). Try and combine it with a weekend in the area. If you are coming a long distance we can help with hotel, guest house and travel information. Also we might be able to put you in touch with a cousin or two who live locally. Our popular second Tuesday of the month sessions at Nuneaton Library (7.30pm-9.30pm) continue despite the hot weather, so please try and make one of those. Bring your family with you as well. Let us show them what records are here and take advantage of the local collections with all the census records 1841-1891, as well as parish records. Thinking of new ways we can maximize the benefits of family history, I was talking to an Indian friend of mine one day who told me all about his family back in the sub-continent. It occurred to me that an “Asian Family History Event” might be a useful addition to our range of services at the Library. So please let me know if you have any expertise in this area. In our multi-cultural society “family” is the same in any language, so there must be a local need here. This is planned for later in the year. Something I have learned about organizing these local events is the total coverage you need to give them. Every available publicity outlet as well as constant reminders to people so that what appeared to be a good idea three months ago is still fresh in people’s thoughts right up until the day of delivery. Forgive me, therefore, if you get the odd e.mail reminding you of what is on. You can always delete it after you have read it.

NnwFHs Diary A Report From The Chairman, Peter Lee

CRIME WATCH 1820 STYLE By Val Pickard

The Sheepy Magna Association for the Proscecution of Felons instructed Henry Radford, Solicitor of Atherstone to seek out one William Corbett, Cattle Dealer of Austrey in Warwickshire. This he did by placing an advertisement in The Times newspa-per in early 1820. 15 Guineas reward was offered. William Corbett was charged with having “feloniously stolen, taken and driven away on or about the 16th of December 1819, one beast of the cow kind, the property of Ralph Oldacres of Austrey” it was also said that “he hath fled from justice”. William Corbett, about 48 years of age, 5ft, 3 or 4 inches, fresh complexion, full and round visage, sharp look with his eyes, dark brown hair, straight in person, very stout made and active. When last seen in Northampton, on Saturday 19th February he had on a round hat, light coloured great coat and kneecaps. Don't you wish you had a description of one of your ancestors as good as that? I wonder if they ever caught him? Details taken from the archives of The Times newspaper.

NNWFHS HELPLINE

Peter Lee (024) 7638 1090

6.30 - 8.00pm Mon to Sat

Or email: [email protected]


Thomas Beebe was my great grandfather, he was the son of John Beeby and was born in Dadlington on 25th February 1860. He married Clara Meller at Dadlington on 17th June 1880 (although it is interesting to note that on the 1881 census he is at his parents’ house and listed as unmarried, whilst Clara Beeby is listed as a married kitchen girl living at the home of Mr Charles Jee at Nuneaton fields). The spelling of Beeby had changed to Beebe when my grandfather was born and they were living at Cold Comfort in Hinckley, which was the area were the Sunnyside Hospital stands on the A447 Ashby road. When or why they moved to Attleborough I do not know. I did not know about what had happened to Thomas but then, at the January meeting, I was talking to someone about Higham on the Hill when a visitor to our meeting, Mrs Celia Hornbuckle, asked me had I read the history of the Mellers of Higham. She told me that she may be able to get me a copy but it turned out that she could not. While doing some researching in Leicester she saw the article in the Daily Post, noticed the name Beebe, thought he could be on my tree, and so contacted me with the details. The rest, as they say, is now History! I now have various accounts of the incident taken from local newspapers, one of which is printed below. Thomas was buried at Dadlington. His widow, Clara, died c1940 at Market Bosworth and is buried at Higham on the Hill. The following account is taken from the Nuneaton Chronicle of Friday January 16th 1891

SHOCKING SUICIDE ON THE RAILWAY NEAR NUNEATON

A horrible discovery was made on Monday morning on the London and North-Western Railway Company's line between Hinckley and Nuneaton, a few yards on the Warwickshire side of the Watling Street, the body of a man, terribly mutilated, being found upon the metals. The head was completely severed, and one arm and one foot had also been cut off. Information on the

discovery was first telephoned to Hinckley railway station, and the station master, accompanied by a policeman, immediately went to the scene, the body being at once removed, and placed on a platelayer's trolley. It being found that the accident happened in Warwickshire, the remains were brought to Nuneaton station. The exact district in which the occurrence took place was Hydes Pastures, which is situated in the Longford police division. The circumstances surrounding the case clearly point to it being one of suicide. A letter, written in pencil, was found upon the body, which, after being deciphered with difficulty, was found to read as follows:- "My dear Clara,- I felt so bad I could not help it. You have been a good wife to me. Don't you fret. I have always been afraid we should come to want. Do not fret my dear; I could not help it. Tell my Father not to fret. I could not help it. Take care of my children. God bless them. I wish I could be cheerful, but I could not. Good bye my dear." There was no signature to the letter, and for some time the man, whose body was brought to the Crown Inn, in Bond Street, remained unidentified. A description of the appearance, clothing, etc, was issued, and late the same evening the body was identified by his wife as that of Thomas Beebe, labourer, of Attleborough. It should be mentioned that a pair of reins were found lying near the scene of the accident, and the theory is that the man at first contemplated ending his life by hanging but that it occurred to him to find a more speedy method of ending his existence. An inquest on the body of Beebe was held at the Crown on Wednesday at noon by Dr. C. W. Iliffe, the district coroner, and a jury of whom Mr. C. Rowton was chosen foreman. Inspector Cliffe attended on behalf of the London and North-Western Railway Company, and produced a plan of the scene of the accident, which he explained to the Coroner. Dr. R. B. Nason, surgeon to the London & North Western Railway Company, said his son Dr. W. S. Nason was at the station when the

remains of the deceased were brought in on a trolley. Witness attended s u b s e q u e n t l y a n d m a d e a n examinat ion . The body was decapitated, one arm and one leg had been amputated, and the body was otherwise greatly mutilated. Witness did not previously know the deceased. Death was the result of mutilation and decapitation of the body. Clara Beebe, wife of the deceased, said her husband was 31 years of age. He was by trade a collier, working on the pit bank. He was ill five weeks ago but had not previously been ill, nor yet since. She could not say anything as to the condition of his mind. He lost his mother some weeks ago, and had been troubled by this event. During Saturday night he seemed rather queer, but appeared to get all right. Since the frost had been about, he had been troubled about the fear of coming to want, and this seemed to prey on his mind. On Sunday morning he went from home to the colliery, to unload a truck of clod. He kissed her as usual before leaving the house, and bade her "Good-bye," telling her he should return in two and a half hours. He did not return, however, until half-past five o'clock. She asked him where he had been, and he said he did not know. He seemed rather quiet, and she asked him what was the matter. He replied, "Nothing particular". He had a good tea, and also some of the dinner, which witness had kept hot. After tea he stayed for some time, going out shortly before eight o'clock. She did not see him alive again. He had never told her he was tired of life. When he came in on the Sunday evening she thought he had had some beer, as he looked rather down, and she said, "Aren't you well, Tom?" He said, "I'm all right." He had always thought, ever since they had been married that poverty would come upon him, and that they would come to want. His wages averaged about 16s or 18s per week. She had no idea that he contemplated suicide. He said when he went out that he felt funny. As they sat by the fire she asked him if he would read a chapter from the Bible, as he usually did, and he said he would. He

(Continued on page 4)

Shocking Suicide By Tom Beebe


did not do so, however, but got up shortly afterwards and taking his hat, went out, saying he should be back in a few minutes. C h a r l e s C u r r i n , m i n e r , o f Attleborough, said he knew the deceased. He last saw him alive at a quarter to six on Sunday night, when he was having his supper. Witness had seen him from time to time during the past year or so. His wife was joking him about having been away so long, and witness left the house, as he did not think it was any business of his to stay when the husband and wife were talking about their own affairs. He did not think that any domestic quarrel had occurred which would be likely to influence the deceased to act as he had done, In reply to the Coroner, P. C. Smith said he had made every enquiry as to the reins found near the body, but could not discover the owner. Mrs Beebe, recalled, said her husband did not possess any reins. The deceased had no reins when he left the house, and she had never seen him

with any. By a juror: The note produced was in the deceased's handwriting. She did not see him write it. Thomas Allen, engine driver in the employ of the London and North-Western Railway Company, said he was driving the 8.25 train from Leicester to Nuneaton on Monday morning. When between Hinckley and Nuneaton, he saw something on the line, but could not tell what it was. It was near the bridge which crosses the Watling Street Road, on the down line, and on the bank side of the railway. He called the stoker's attention to the matter, and went on to the Midland junction, where he told the signal-man that there was something like a bag, lying on the side of the railway. Some platelayer's were sent back, who found the body of the deceased. They were travelling forty miles an hour at the time, and it was a foggy morning. Witness knew that it was not his engine that had caused the accident. P. C. Smith produced the reins found near the body, the letter referred to

above, and also a chain, the sum of 1 s 9d, and a red pocket handkerchief, which were found upon the deceased. The Coroner asked the police to hand the money found on the body over to the widow. In summing up, he pointed out that the case was an easy one for the jury to determine as to what was the condition of the man's mind. The deceased had evidently contemplated self destruction by taking about with him a pair of reins and a chain, either of which he might have used with which to hang himself, and it was probable that it afterwards occurred to him that the safest and quickest method of destruction would be by means of walking down the line and placing himself upon the rails in front of a passing train. There could be no question as to the condition of mind, because any man who acted like this must without any doubt be out of his mind. The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst in a state of temporary insanity." Sergeant Lines had charge of the case.

Great grandmother Jane had married three times. I had not found her death (or that of her third husband) in Cheshire where they lived and farmed, and half gave up thinking she had married a fourth time so I was looking for the wrong name (I still haven’t positively found her birth!). I had searched and re-searched the GRO for her death in Cheshire and had spent many an hour reading gravestones in the villages around Delamere all to no avail. Jane Dulson was reputedly born 1852 at Whixall, Shropshire “daughter of Thomas” – the only near match I have is daughter of Mary Dulson. In Cheshire in 1877 she married my widowed great-grandfather Joseph Challoner (b. 1836) as Jane Eardley a widow aged 26. Joseph and two of his children by Jane were to die in an epidemic in 1885 when near neighbour John Rigby also lost his wife. My grandfather and his brother survived along with their mother Jane and John Rigby who then got hitched in the local Methodist Chapel, and more children were born. By 1901 Jane’s

offspring bearing three surnames were living together on the farm at Onston: Eardley, Challoner and Rigby – a genealogist’s dream (or nightmare!). Within the family it was said that grandfather, Fred Challoner, had come south to Warwickshire where farms were cheaper and readily available, accompanied by his half-brother Tom Rigby: they looked remarkably similar. My mother had never known who her grandmother Challoner was and this fuelled the assumption that Fred and Tom were the only family who moved south. It therefore almost passed unnoticed when someone mentioned that a John Rigby had once farmed at Little Packington (between Meriden and Coleshill). Unsure if this was John senior, John half-brother of Fred, or some unrelated Rigby, I took a visit to trawl the churchyard. I walked along the short drive of what is now signposted “private residence” to the church (now a house) and hoped nobody was home to challenge me. I found the gravestone with ease – I had at long last located the final resting

place of great-grandmother Jane along with her third husband John Rigby. Jane had died in 1924 at the age of 71 years – nearly a hundred miles from where I had been searching for her. Whilst uneasy that her grave appears to now be in private hands, it was a relief to know where she was (I have taken the matter of access up with the local vicar and diocesan office – watch this space!). Further research is needed to discover why so many Cheshire families came to Warwickshire during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Were agents sent to Cheshire to seek tenants for the farms? I have been told that rents were very low to attract dairy farmers, as there was a need to produce milk for the burgeoning town populat ions (Cheshire farmers were noted for their milk production): or is that another myth? However, I do know now that Fred Challoner, Tom Rigby, William Challoner and John Rigby Jnr (half-brothers) all came to Warwickshire - though what happened to the latter two is to be discovered.

20th Century Family Myths & Legends By Jacqui Simkins


“There is no private house in which people can enjoy themselves so well as at a capital tavern. You are sure you are welcome, and the more good things you call for, the welcomer you are. There is nothing which has yet been contrived by man by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern or inn.” Dr Johnson 1776 (from “Boswell’s Life”) The following is based on a list originally published in the Midlands Evening Tribune October 21st.1899 with many additional notes on pubs which have come and gone since then, and those still with us today. Nuneaton had a wide selection of old licensed premises. Pubs are important in social history because they were, and still are, the working man’s front parlour. Here they can meet with their friends with an endless supply of liquid refreshment. A whole chapter of people’s lives were acted out in the bar. A resort of comfort in times of relaxation, in distress and marital infidelity. Political headquarters, sporting clubs, friendly societies, pub entertainments from darts and dominoes to skittles met there. Chasing the opposite sex, posing in your best attire, getting rid of the stresses and strains of your working lives, a place of retreat from a nagging wife or a plethora of kids. Where you could indulge in lotteries, betting, and other gaming pursuits. Not to mention the warmth and cleaner facilities than sometimes one would have at home. But like actors once their part at the bar was played out, the soap opera of their lives was forgotten. Public houses also played a key part in the commercial life of our town. The Inns and Hotels provided bed, board and dinner for visitors and commercial travellers. Fed and watered their horses. Provided a stopping place for stage coaches. Business was contracted in the bar in the days before offices were used. Even today some of the best business deals are done over a “pie and a pint”. Taverns and public houses provided entertainment for the genera l population and often were used as a place of business and a stopping place for carters and traders. Beer houses were found throughout the district, and were informally set up in people’s front rooms where a chance of

a bit of additional income could be obtained. In a town of courts and yards like Nuneaton the owner of the plot of land with his good front house fronting the main street, who had filled up his back yard with court tenements could turn his parlour into a beer house thus scraping a few more coppers out of his hapless tenants. In October 1830 a new act of parliament removed 2s. 8d. beer duty from a barrel of beer and removed the need to be licensed as long as you only sold beer. New beer houses sprung up all over the district. Many only lasted as long as the proprietor could be bothered to carry on the business. Some old beer houses established back in 1830 are still going today as fully fledged pubs. Now having obtained licenses to sell wines, spirits and tobacco. The former Wellington (now re-named The Pig & Whistle) traces its ancestral history back to the Old Ram, Market Place, where A.Jephcoat’s shop stood. A very very old pub believed to date back to the time of Nuneaton Abbey. It is recorded in a survey of Nuneaton dated 1543/4 when at “Le Ramme” was Richard Jely, tenant of John Broke, of London. Daniel Green and Thomas Bills were publicans there in the first half of the 19th century. In Dan Green’s time it was a resort for cock-fighting. When the pub closed in the 1860’s its place was taken by the New Ram in Abbey Street (later re-named the Wellington) William Clarke was the publican at the New Ram in 1863. The Wharf Inn. In Coventry Road was built as a canal pub with warehouses for boat traffic. It was originally owned by the Arbury Estate and then was taken over by Salt’s Brewery of Burton on Trent which was absorbed into the Bass empire. Demolished The Virgins Inn stood here on the corner of College Street at Hill Top. It is said there was a shrine to the Virgin Mary on the corner of Coventry Road and College Street. (Although it was not called College Street when the shrine was there up until about the middle of the 19th century.) That is how the pub got its name. It was located at this ancient road junction which was known as “Virgin’s End”

Tuttle Hill The White Horse, Tuttle Hill, a former canal inn is today a Chinese restaurant (2003). F. Wale was the landlord in 1938/9 The Punch Bowl, At the bottom of

Tuttle Hill next to the Coventry Canal bridge. Closed in 1950 to remove an awkward bottleneck when the canal bridge was widened. A Bass House. The license was transferred to a new pub by that name further up Tuttle Hill. Licensees included Francis Harrison (1806) John Cotton (1828) Samuel Warren (1841). In 1877 Alfred Scrivener the former and founding editor of the Nuneaton Observer wrote: “While the Market place was excited by the dashing glories of the mail coach, curious groups woul;d gather at times on the Punch Bowl bridge to watch the passage of the packet or the flyboats. A.Harris was the landlord 1938/9 The White Gate Inn, a cottage near the Windmill on Tuttle Hill, kept by Thomas Lees. It bore the inscription: “This Gate hangs well upon the trees, call and drink at Thomas Lees”. The Windmill Inn, Tuttle Hill (house occupied in 1899 by Thomas J Chinn.) formerly kept by William Croshaw (1815 - ), cordwainer, who was the grandfather of one of Nuneaton’s mayors Walter Croshaw (1879- ). Mayor from 1937-1939

Abbey Street/ Abbey Green The Plough and Ball, Abbey Green. Derived is name from the Old Plough in the Market Place which closed and was demolished in 1845 and the site later became Iliffe’s the Chemist on the corner of the Market Place and Bye Corner (Newdigate Square). The license was then combined with the equally ancient Golden Ball an old pub on Abbey Green. The original Golden Ball was said to date back to the 18th century but looked from contemporary photos a lot older. Also that is was favourite retreat in the olden days for cock fighters and bull baiters when there was a bull ring on Abbey Green. Kept by William Cox in 1850 and Tom Willoughby c. 1900. The pub was being altered in 1904 when it suddenly collapsed. Ceilings were being lifted because they were only 5’10” or 6’0” high. However the building was so fragile that the act of raising the ceiling brought the whole lot crashing down. Two workmen were injured but got away with a miraculous escape including one Nuneaton rugby footballer Mr.A.Lee who was due to play for the club against Handsworth the next day. Needless to say he could not play. The pub was then entirely rebuilt and is now the Town Talk. Fred Carris was the landlord in 1938/9. The Old Plough incidentally was the site of


Nuneaton’s Inns, Pubs and Taverns By Peter Lee

Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 6 (Continued from page 5) a row of butchers shambles. Wooden stalls were arranged around its walls and live animals were killed on the spot and their still warm meat supplied to local shoppers on market days. The Wheatsheaf Inn, Abbey Street dated back before November 1825 when it belonged to a Mr. Lingard and was occupied by a landlord called Marler and other tenants. It was sold for £600. Later landlords were John Randle 1828 and 1841, William Craner (1850) The Wheatsheaf was rebuilt about 1900 and was demolished during July and August 1963. A new modern pub has taken its place. The Bush. Licensed victuallers returns for 1806 give the name of this pub in Nuneaton and the victualler. William Taylor was the proprietor, but its location, thought to be in Abbey Street, is not known for certain. The Black Horse, Midland Road, (not to be confused with other Black Horse pub, next to Mrs. Brownsons in 1899; John Simons was the owner.) The Constitution. Abbey Street. An 1830 beer house. The Black Horse, Abbey Green next to Lusty’s factory in 1899(house standing then but since demolished) the noted badger baiters house. An 1830 beer shop. The Coach and Horses. Abbey Street. In the 1806 – 1850 kept by the Hastelow family. The Abbey, Abbey Green. James Adie. Stood on the site of Frederick Bostock’s butchers shop 7 Abbey Green. Building still stands in 2003 but much altered externally. The Horse Shoes, Abbey Green, near the Entrance to the Burgage Walk. (This Horse shoes not to be confused with the Horse Shoes at Chilvers Coton with which it was contemporary). J.Wilson The Three Tuns, Abbey Green. Licensees Richard Hawkins (1806) In January 1827 the Nuneaton Diary records “The Three Tuns, public house in Abbey Street with three tenements adjoining put up by auction and bo’t in about £1250. John Vernon was listed there in 1828 and 1841. In 1850 Joshua Siddall was tenant but it was owned by William Vernon. It was put on the market again in August 1851 in four lots. Gauze Hall, now Baptist Chapel, Abbey Street. Landlords were James Thorne in 1851 and John Haynes. Built in the heady days of the gauze ribbon trade at the beginning of the 19th century as ware rooms for wholesale ribbon dealers and traders. The gauze ribbon fashion died out and the large premises were put to other uses including a pub. By 1900 it had become the factory premises of Pool Lorimer and Tabberer. A subsidiary of their

Leicester factory. It burnt down in 1928. The Bell, Meadow Street. Joseph Bacon. Opened 1830 as a beer house. Still extant in 1841 when the address was given as The Bell Inn, Abbey Meadow. The Bowling Green, later the Midland Railway Inn, on the corner of Midland Road and Manor Court Road. A very old pub which was there in the 1840’s. It was bombed by the Luftwaffe in 1941 and its license transferred to a former private house in Princes Street – The Harcourt. The landlord in 1938/39 was H.J.Knight. Rose and Crown, Abbey Street, house now occupied by Mr. W.Green, builder. Benjamin Rayner was landlord at least between 1806-1841. In November 1877 Alfred Scrivener, Editor of the Nuneaton Observer wrote: “The Rose and Crown in Abbey Street, though probably old at least as the times of Good Queen Bess, is changed into a plain and comfortable private house. It is a remarkable well preserved example of the old half timbered English dwelling…The Rose and Crown in more modern days is chiefly remarkable because its landlord, Mr. Banjamin Raynor, who cracked his last old fashioned joke more than twenty years ago, for thirty years united his general duties as mine host the office of English Master at the Grammar School.” The Exhibition, Abbey Street where Mr. T.Tullett’s shop stood in 1899. George Wood was the proprietor. Opened in 1851 to celebrate the Great Exhibition. The Royal Oak. Abbey Street. Alfred Scrivener wrote in 1877 ”Higher upAbbey Street on the same side (as the Rose & Crown) was the sign of an inn probably more ancient than its name. It is a low mean dark building, but the quaint corridors and intricate passages at its rear might be contemporous with that memorable tavern the Tabbard at Southwark, whence Chaucers merry company started on their immortal pilgrimage.I please my wayward and credulous fancy by supposing that this tavern close to the Abbey Gates, was frequented of old by pilgrims and jolly friars, by chapmen and devotees, whom business or devotion brought to the venerable pile.” Unfortunately this word picture is all we have of the Royal Oak because in the 19th century it was entirely rebuilt and its replacement was itself demolished in September 1960. C.B.Scattergood was the landlord in 1938/9. Shepherd & Shepherdess, Abbey Street, where Dr. Vaughan lived in 1899. James Biddle was the proprietor. Paul Pry, An 1830 beer house.Abbey Street, named after a popular American song which came out in 1820 and must

have become popular in Nuneaton ten years later. Paul Pry was an inquisitive character. Located just above the former chemist shop of Ranby’s which stood on the corner of High Street and Abbey Street. David Smith was the proprietor. Seven Stars, Abbey Street, on the site of the Tribune Buildings. (next to the Bull’s Head – now the Courtyard). An 1830 beer house. T.Johnson kept it at one time but precise dates are not available. New Seven Stars, Abbey Street. (possibly on a different site to the previous beer house. Elizabeth Staine. Whether this replaced the Seven Stars on the same site is not known. Cross Keys, Abbey Street next to the Half Moon. Mr. John Smith purchased a newly erected premises at the back of the Half Moon for £350 in August 1817 which may have been later opened as the Cross Keys beer house.Occupied by a Mr. J.Smith in 1899. The Fox, Abbey Street. John Bell. Mr. Bell was driver of the mail coach to Birmingham. He also rented a field in the Abbey Meadow off Meadow Street. The Shipwrecked Sailor, Abbey Street. An 1830 beer shop. The Britannia, Abbey Street, where Messrs Wilkinson’s premises were. Former publicans were John Dance (1828), Thomas Winter (1841), Joseph Haddon. The Odd-Fellows Arms. Or the “oddies” as it is popularly known is the last traditional pub in Abbey Street. Still with its original name. J.H.Lucas was the landlord in 1938/9. The Bulls Head, Abbey Street. In the 1806-41 period was kept by the Robottom family (Samuel, James and Samuel) In 1863 by Sarah Ball. As it backed onto the Nuneaton gas works it may have been owned by them. When it was sold by the Gas. Co. in September 1893 former occupiers were listed as George Randall, Thomas Buckler and William Ratcliffe. On 5th February 1986 it was sold to Bass Holdings Ltd. A former landlord reportedly has seen a ghost of an old lady in Victorian dress who was seen late in the bar one night as he was locking up. She walked out through a solid wall! The King’s Arms Upper Abbey Street. Most of the Kings Arms customers were colliers or workers at the Hall and Phillips factory at the rear to which there was a direct connecting footpath. This path was closed one day a year to establish Hall & Phillips private right of way. Former landlords include William Congreave (1806) John Grave (1850) Kept by Pat Molloy, a policeman in the 1920’s. There was a swimming pool at the rear of the pub. The origins of this is obscure some


Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 7 (Continued from page 6) saying it originally belonged to Hall & Phillips others that it was something to do with the pub. Boxers used to train there in the 1920’s and 30’s. E.Hutt was the landlord in 1938/39. The Weavers Arms. No mention of Abbey Street pubs would be complete without reference to the Weavers Arms. It took its name from the principal trade of the town – silk weaving. Tenants were Thomas Griffin (1828); William Green (1841); James Wheway (1850). C.Mann was the landlord in 1938/9. The Pheasant Inn. 5 Abbey Street. Sarah Varden was the licensee in 1841 and 1850. Later occupiers were Roland Till, Horace Warmington brother of Louis Warmington the fruiterer in Queens Road. The last licensee was H.J.Fallows when the pub closed on 6th September 1934. The license was transferred to the Weddington Grove former private house. Abbey Gate Refreshment Rooms, Abbey Gate, (licensed to sell beer) where the American Meat Shop is. Mr. Argyle. Mr. John Argyle was one of Nuneaton’s pioneering photographers.

Newdigate Square (formerly Bye Corner)

The Black Bull, later became the Newdigate Arms Inn in 1816. A commercial and Posting House. Later the Midland Railway’s commercial premises. Pulled down in 1914 to build the new Newdigate Arms Hotel which was demolished in 1963. The redevelopment of the old Newdigate Arms site for road widening cost £8250. Former tenants were Thomas Winfield (1828, 1845) Thomas Bills (1863). Joseph Bostock was the landlord in 1901. In the middle of the 19th century a magistrates meeting was held every Saturday at the Newdigate Arms Inn. The magistrates who

originally sat were The Rev. Samuel Bracebridge Heming, chairman. Sir John Newdigate Ludford Chetwode, Bart., and the Rev. James Corrall Roberts. Mr. Henry Power was the clerk of the court and the Chief Constables of the parish were Joseph Haddon and Abel Brown. Not a very satisfactory arrangement as you could often find the magistrates, the constables and the defendant, as well as the local labouring classes all drinking at the same bar! After 1914 it became the town’s smartest hotel owned by Trust House’s. The Fox, Newdigate Square. John Bell

Newdigate Street (New Bridge Street)

In Newdigate Street there was a beer house at one time: Dog and Partridge, Newdigate Street, now Mr.Swann’s clothiers. Elizabeth Wray was the proprietor.

Bond Gate, Bond Street (formerly Bond End)

The Crown Inn, Bond Gate. In 1955 the former editor of the Midlands Counties Tribune wrote: “I was born in

the Crown Yard, Bond Street, now happily demolished and I still marvel, when crossing the river bridge at this point, however, 10 houses, a workshop and a bowling alley could have been on the site but it was so. I have referred to the bowling alley, the last open air alley in Nuneaton, I believe. Here there used to be trundled great bowls at great skittles, the only break being copious swigs of ale from the gallon jugs in use in those days. The ale was 3d. per pint, and it was ale!! I remember the custodian of the Crown. Mr. Rowbottom and his two goliath sons – Titus and Fred. Good kindly chaps. I often wonder what has become of them?” Former landlords include

Joseph Kirby (1806) John Baraclough (1828) John Lowe (1841).Now the Crown is called Lloyds in the new premises built in the early part of the 19th century. At one time mine host was 20stone giant – Ted Hutt. (probably the same Ted Hutt who kept the Kings Arms 1938/9 – the boxers pub). S.W.Badger was the landlord in 1938/9. The Crown (now Lloyds) is reputed to be haunted but the ghost detected in recent years has not yet been identified. The Mount Pleasant. Bond End. An 1830 beer house. The Horse & Groom. Bond End. An 1830 beer house Prince’s Feathers, Bond Street, premises occupied by Mr. J.Clay in 1899. The Lamp Tavern, Bond Street. On the site of Mr. W.Grubb’s shop in 1899. William King L & N W R Refreshment Rooms. Last house on left before entering the gates to the Station yard. Kept by Arthur and Eliza Chinn at 23 Bond Street. The Bell and Fleur de Lys, Bond Street. In 1806 owned by Daniel Wagstaff, and by 1863 Thomas Wagstaff. The Hollybush, in Bond Gate next to the Leicester Road Bridge. This old established pub was rebuilt in the early 1930’s. The new pub was built at the back of the old one which was closed in October 1934. It ceased to be a pub in April 1986. It has now become an office building known as Hollybush House. John Archer kept it in 1808.Thomas Large (1850), Joseph Mills (1874) Thomas Fortescue (1876). Then Mr. T.J. “Tuddy” Lilley before he went to the Newdigate Arms. The pub was always associated with the Angling fraternity in the town. For many years it had a function room which became a source of tittle tattle for all sorts of lurid goings on which cannot be repeated in these pages, but in later years this was later a venue for discotheques and dances. Bricklayers Arms. Blind Lane. Blind Lane was an alley way which ran from Back Street to Bond Street. It was demolished by the 1920’s. Dick Sidwell The Railway Tavern. Certainly opened at the time the Trent Valley Railway was completed in 1847. The premises had been formerly occupied by a wheelwright Dennis Marklew who had been there since 1837. His daughter Sarah (1841- ) was the landlady in 1871. The tenancy later passed to Joseph Henry Pipe. The Ancient Order of Buffaloes friendly society used to meet there. Mr. Pipe’s oldest daughter – Annie Pipe married John Bostock from the old established Nuneaton butchery family.


The old Newdegate Arms, demolished 1914

Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 8 (Continued from page 7)

Regent Street Dun Cow, Regent Street. Richard Beet. Nuneaton’s most haunted pub. It is shown on the 1841 census and Regent Street did not exist before 1840 There is an interesting story related to the haunting which centred on the pub up until it was demolished, but that is another story!

Queens Road (formerly Queen Street, Gas Street and Wash Lane)

The George & Dragon. Wash Lane. Purchased by Joseph Scrivener. Mr. Scrivener was a ropemaker and he laid out an extensive ropewalk. At the rear of his premises he built ten tenement cottages and afterwards this was known as Scrivener’s Yard. In the late 1930’s these cottages were left disused and were taken over by the council after the night of the large blitz on Nuneaton in May 1941 as a temporary mortuary. Over one hundred bodies and body parts had to be brought here to be identified and prepared for burial. A council employee who served in the First World War and had witnessed the carnage on the battle fields of France had this harrowing job to do. W.B.Whitmore was the landlord in 1938/9. When the George & Dragon was demolished in August 1965 beneath the roof tiles was a complete thatched roof which made the demolition very dangerous. The Cock & Bear. Wash Lane now Queens Road. John Mallabone kept it in 1841. Later tenanted by George Moreton a well known local horse and cattle doctor. C.H.Marston was landlord in 1938/9 The Dukes Head, was licensed to John Mallabone in 1806. Its location is not recorded. The Volunteer. Wash Lane. An 1830 beer house Cross Keys, Arbury Road. Z. Drakeley Stag and Pheasant, Wash Lane. W. Congreve White House, just over Wash Lane (the Cock & Bear) bridge. Croft Road. Arthur Payne The Red Lion, Wash Lane.Kept by William Buckler in 1801. Henry Green in 1806, Hepzibah Hastelow in 1828, John Boswell in 1841. Later rebuilt with a new pub on the same site.

Princes Street The Harcourt. Named after an old resident in the new licensed premises. Harcourt Taylor. One of the victualling Taylors. Had formerly been a private house known as “Harcourt House” Last lived in by Henry Barrett MRCVS. Thought to have had the license transferred from the Midland Railway Inn which was bombed and destroyed in a German air raid in 1941.

Church Street The Marquis of Granby later the Granby’s Head, on the corner of Church Street and Bridge Street. The Marquis of Granby was in real life: John Manners, Marquis of Granby, the third son of the Duke of Rutland (1721-1770). He was a popular soldier in his time, having made a heroic name for himself at the Battle of Minden at the head of his regiment the Leicester Blues and some of his regiment on retirement opened pubs in his name. He was a hero of the Seven Years War (1756-1763). The first pub named after him was at Hounslow. We can only assume that the Nuneaton pub got its name in the same way. The pub was associated with the Trickle family for 30 years 1792-1828 but by 1841 was called the “Old Granby’s Head” and kept by Joseph Orton. Kings Head, Church Street. When demolition started in June 1960 it was stated to have been 400 years old. A 30’0” deep well was discovered lined with blocks of sandstone without the aid of mortar. The well was tested and the water found perfect for drinking purposes although the leaden pipe used to pump the water through was hardly conducive to healthy drinking by todays standards. Queens Head, Church Street, later the Pen & Wig. Certainly there in 1792 when it was kept by Elizabeth Watts. William Johnson in 1806, Charles Randle in 1828, William Thurman in 1841, William Bond in 1863. Double Plough, Church Street. On the site of the Close. (Alderman Melly’s house) Former landlords included Mary Mitchell in 1806 Richard Stirley (1828-1841). Arthur Jebbett wrote in 1955: “Just one other reference to inns. One of the name of “The Double Plough” an old chartist house existed opposite the parish church. An informant states that he has good cause to remember this particular licensed house, for on his wedding day nearly 60 years ago the parson was not quite ready to perform the ceremony, so the wedding party adjoined to “the Double Plough” for a livener.” Dr. E.N.Nason who took a keen interest in local history wrote in 1936: “Just beyond’ the Close’ [Ald. E.F.Melly’s house latterly] the last house on the right there was an inn called the “Plough” [in fact” the Double Plough” ]. This was an old thatched roof, whitewashed walled building, above the door of which was a small scale model of a plough as its sign. It was here that the bell ringers from the parish church, when they had finished their “chime” and let the bells down on Sunday morning and while the “five minute” bell was still ringing and members of the congregation were hastening to avoid being late for the

10.45 service, repaired to quench their thirst in home- brewed ale.” Rising Sun, Church Street. Charles Sands The Old Bull, later the Bull Inn, the Bull Hotel, and now the George Eliot Hotel, although it has ceased to be a residential hotel. Two principal railway companies served the Nuneaton. Each company gave a dispensation to a local hotel to provide accommodation for travellers using their station and “stopping over” en-route. The Bull served the London & North Western Railway station on the Trent Valley route. As well as providing an omnibus service from the station the railway company collected parcels from there to be distributed by the railway company. Local people would take their parcels to the hotel for onward transmission. {the Newdigate Arms did the same thing for the rival Midland Railway} The Bull was the original for the Red Lion in George Eliot’s “Scenes of Clerical Life”. It was originally a coaching inn and the town’s post office.

Weddington Lane The Graziers Arms, Weddington Lane Midland Tavern, opposite the Graziers Arms in Weddington Lane. Benjamin Kelsey. Gardeners Arms, Weddington Lane. John Biggs. (later at the Graziers). Horse & Jockey, Weddington Lane. W.Wallis

The Market Place The Castle Hotel in the Market Place was a commercial inn and hotel. Its advertising in the 1870’s stated “Superior accommodation with moderate charges………..The new tea and coffee rooms added to the above hotel are conducted on a low tariff adapted in modern coffee houses” In 1845 hept by James Wagstaff (listed as a commercial and excise office. by 1863 was kept by Thomas William Benfield (and brewer). The Market House Inn. When the Market House property (forerunner of Nuneaton town hall) was built in 1820 the former pub on this site, the Britannia was demolished and its license taken over by the Market House Inn. “The Market House Inn is let to Wm. Ratliff, of the Brewery, Coventry at £70 per year in June 1862.”) The brewer, William Ratliff wrote subsequently, “Dear Sir, it is not a customary thing with me to request any alteration in a bargain once made, but these fearfully bad times render it absolutely necessary that I should obtain some reduction of rent off the Market House Inn after Xmas. The custome of the house has naturally lessened by the present extraordinary


Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 9 (Continued from page 8) depression of trade, and the loss maintained by the non-letting of stalls is also very great, from the same cause. I must ask as a favour that the proprietor of the property will reduce the present rent to £60 per annum from December 21st until the revival of trade enables my tenant once again to return to the rent. I think this request is most reasonable and I trust will be acceded to. Yours faithfully, William Ratliff” The trustees wrote back stating that they could not reduce the rent, but owing to the depression in trade would make some allowance. They eventually had the “tea room” repaired and rep[ainted at their own cost in lieu of an allowance of rent In 1863 the tenant was Joseph Batchelor. The pub and the Market House was demolished in 1900 and the site sold. The Hare and Squirrel, The Market Place; formerly the “Old Crown Inn” was later refronted and modernised then renamed the “Crystal Palace”. In 1543/4 there is reference to the Crowne Inn, leaseholder Richard Ratclyff. This may be the same premises. The name was changed from the Hare & Squirrel to the Crystal Palace by Ebenezer Brown (1828-1905) when he purchased it for £290 before 1863. Eb. Brown turned it into Nuneaton’s main place of entertainment in the last quarter of the 19th century. The Crystal Palace at Attleborough is its lineal descendent. Former tenants in the 18th century had been Thomas Williams and a Mr. Smart followed by John Burton. John Beamish kept it in 1801-6. Later tenants were Mary Beamish (1828), James Ball (1841) (who had married a Sarah Beamish in 1837) Ebenezer Brown (by1863). Ebenezer Brown was a local entrepreneur who provided a large concert hall and made the “Crystal” into Nuneaton’s principal place of entertainment. He was later a member of the syndicate that built the Prince of Wales Theatre (later the Hippodrome) at a cost of £20,000. Later landlords included George Taylor ,Annie Wrighton (1898) In November 1899 the Crystal Palace was under the new management of Mr. H.B.Jennings (late of the “Prince of Wales” Moseley and the “Waggon & H o r s e s ” E d g b a s t o n S t r e e t , Birmingham. At that time it was said to have had the “Finest Smoke Room in town”. With resident pianists – Mr. R.A.Hughes and Mr. George Wynne. On 7th June 1900 the pub was seriously damaged by fire with £1000 worth of damage. George Luckman was the last landlord when it closed on October 5th 1909 for road widening and the license transferred to the new “Crystal Palace” in Gadsby Street, Attleborough which cost £2000 to build. The Crystal Palace gave its name to a new public hall and

leisure gardens on the corner of the newly laid Victoria Street and Queens Road – the Palace Gardens which was later used as a site for the Palace Cinema in 1926. This had formerly been a large house in its own grounds and old fashioned gardens. The White Swan. Market Place. Kept by John Buswell 1806. An Ansells house latterly. Closed Sunday 30th December 1962. The premises were purchased by Lesters the Chemist. The last landlords George & Winnie Handley had been there since 1953. A colourful landlady was Harriett Platt, the widow of Peter Platt who died in a flu epidemic in January 1922. Born in 1883 Peter Platt had been a very good footballer playing for Blackburn

Rovers and Luton Town and latterly Nuneaton Town. He married Harriett Bradbury a widow whose husband had kept the White Swan previously. The Peacock. public house put on sale by auction March 1828. The highest bidder was £870. Former tenants include Thomas Thurman (1806) and Edward Thurman (1828). Edward Beamish (1841-1863) (formerly at the Hare & Squirrel). The Old Cock, Market Place. Was pulled down in 1818 to build the Market House and conveyed to the trustees of that establishment for a sum of £800 raised by public subscription. The Plough, Market Place. Joseph Walton (1806) Sarah Robinson (1828) Samuel Warren (1841). See notes on the Plough and Ball for more information on this pub which was demolished in 1845. The Bear, Market Place. Recorded in a survey of 1543/4 (Constable Survey) William Smyth (the Beire) tenant of Richard Herynge of Coventry. The Clock, Market Place. Replaced the

Market House Inn. W.Limm was the landlord in 1938/9. White Hart, Market Place. The name was very popular in this part of the Forest of Arden with its deer hunting traditions.Where the Star Tea Cos. Shop was. In 1806 landlord was Thomas Cox, William Wagstaff 1828, 1841 Taylor & Estlin, 1863 David Bosworth. The Grapes, Market Place. Mr. Barlow’s Liquor shop was formerly two licensed houses, the Grapes and the Board Inn back to back with a whispering gallery..The former was abandoned. The old sign of the Board collapsed in 1899. The Board was kept in 1806 by Thomas Thompson and Mary Taylor by 1841.

Vicarage Street and Wheat Lane The Black Horse, an Ind Coope and Allsops house, on the corner of Vicarage Street and Wheat Street demolished in 1959.Mrs. A.Grant was the landlord in 1938/39. Its license was transferred to the Pheasant Inn on the Camp Hill estate which opened on December 4th. 1958. The Heart in Hand. Built in 1850. On the opposite corner to the Black Horse in Wheat Street. Demolished at the same time. 1958. Frequented by railway footplate crews both before going onto duty and off duty. H.Mellor was the landlord in 1938/9. When it closed and its license was transferred to the newly built Donnithorne Arms in Donnithorne Avenue the last landlord Mr. M.Blewett said – “Noted for its friendly atmosphere and old fashioned interior. It is more like a village pub and I for one shall regret leaving.” Jolly Fishermen, Wheat Street. John Payne.


Market Place in the early 1900’s with the Board Inn on the left.

Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 10 (Continued from page 9)

Bridge Street Robin Hood, Bridge Street. Nuneaton had its own brewery from 1878 to 1886 which could produce 23,000 gallons of ale a week. Nom mean undertaking. Later was the site of the London Millinery Cos. J.C.Smiths and later Debenhams premises, Bridge Street, Nuneaton. The pub had as its sign a painting of Robin Hood in his red and green Sherwood foresters dress and under it the legend “Robin Hood is dead and gone, call and drink with Little John”. Little John was John Knowles who originally owned the brewery but the license was later taken by Joseph Merry. .The Woolpack, Newdigate Square. Now Mr. H.Lester’s house. The Nags Head. The original pub was in Coventry Street. Previous tenants were John Williamson (1806) Thomas Taylor (1827-1841) Mr. Taylor bought it for £800 in 1827. It was associated for many years with carters taking silk ribbons made in Nuneaton to sale on the London market via Coventry middle-men. It was also noted for its association with cock-fighting in the first half of the nineteenth century. The current pub in Queens Road was built in 1929 by George Hodges & Sons, builders of Burton on Trent. It was a Bass Ratcliffe & Gretton house. It was re-opened on the new site on 8th March 1929. The former premises in Coventry Street were pulled down for road widening. The brewery that owned it then was Salt & Co. of Burton on Trent. They had been built about 1897 to replace a much older and antiquated “cottage like” premises that had been there since time immemorial.

Attleborough The Bull, Attleborough. Believed to have been the Rainbow in George Eliot’s Silas Marner. The building we see today dates back to the 18th century. It has been said that the stone, which is that anonymous lump of rock set in the grass verge along the Lutterworth Road called the Whitestone was originally part of a preaching cross which stood outside the Bull Inn. The Fox, The Square, Attleborough. Believed to pre-date 1819 as a beer house. W.J.Hardy (1938/9) When Alan and Josie Frisby took the pub over in 1991 they spent £200,000 refurbishing it. The new fit out was very tastefully done as it retained the atmosphere of a village pub. In 1997 they sold the pub to the Mansfield Brewery and are now owners of the Attleborough Arms which they have also refurbished at enormous cost. The Royal Oak, Garrett Street, Attleborough. An 1830 beer house. The Crystal Palace, Gadsby Street.

Opened in 1909 to replace the Crystal Palace in the Market Place. The Blue Bell Inn, a beer house which stood where Park Street enters Attleborough Road. (also known as the Seven Stars). The Prince of Wales, next door to the Royal Oak. A beer house. The Steam Mill Inn, on the site of the elastic web works on Attleborough Green. This was quite an extensive beer house, with parlour, tap room, club room and skittle alley. It was offered for sale in 1871 and may have ceased to function as a pub then. The site being taken over by the elastic web weaving company. The Hit and Miss, Church Street. A beer house. The Waggoners, in Albion Street, the stretch of Attleborough Road where the Albion buildings are situated. The Miners Arms, site not known, possibly Lutterworth Road. The Three Crowns, was said to be an old fashioned thatched tavern, very old when William Gadsby (1773-1844) (an independent preacher born in Attleborough) drank there in the 19th century. In Attleborough road somewhere opposite the Albion Buildings. It was owned in the early part of the 19th century by George Greenway. The New Inn, Church Street, Attleborough moved to new premises on Attleborough Road opposite to the Albion Buildings. Then the name changed to the “Rugger Tavern” as the field at the back became the Nuneaton Rugby Football Ground The William IV, Attleborough. An 1830 beer house. The Plough, Attleborough. An 1830 beer house. The Attleborough Arms. A modern pub in Highfield Road, Attleborough. Recently modernised with a very high quality fit out. T h e W o o d m a n , H a l l E n d , Attleborough. An 1830 beer house kept by Joshua Hackett (1789-1872). When Joshua’s grandson ‘Jack’ or John Moreton Hackett died in 1930 the furniture from this house was given to various members of the family and a venerable long case clock from the Woodman, Hall End is now installed in a house in Arles in Provence in France.

Chilvers Coton The Horse Shoes, 2 Heath End Road. Now the Lancet. S.Cooper was the landlord 1938/9. The Fleur de Lys. Coventry Road. A very old fashioned pub stood on this site until rebuilt eartly in the 20th century. The publican in 1806 was Daniel Wadcock. The Rose, Coton Road. Believed to have started in the 19th c. Still in use

today. Said to be haunted by a little girl in the ladies loo! J.Bates (1938/9) The Sheepsfoot Inn. About one half of mile out of Nuneaton along the Coton Road where the road in olden times had a kink in it. Long since straightened out at a junction known as Sheeps Foot End. The King William IV. Coton Road. A beer house opened in 1830.Rebuilt in 1903 to the premises we see today. Still in use as a pub (2003). Dugdale Arms, Dugdale Street. Later rebuilt as the Merevale. Probably originally a beer house. In July 1894 the “Dugdale Arms” beer house was sold by Mr. Sands The Sportsman. Chilvers Coton an 1830 beer house. The Miners. Chilvers Coton. An 1830 beer house The Bull & Butcher. Chilvers Coton. An 1830 beer house. The Bull & Bitch. Chilvers Coton. An 1830 beer house. The Hare & Hounds. Bowed Lane, Chilvers Coton now off Heath End Road. An 1830 beer house. JohnBaker 1841,1850. (also listed as a farmer and grocer.) Mary Baker 1863. The Newdigate Arms. Griff Hollows. Not to be confused with the Newdigate Arms in Newdigate Square. It seems to have ceased to be a pub by 1850 although it is shown on Eagle’s Canal map of 1807. Its popular name was “The Bloody Hand” The Boot Inn. Bridge Street. Henry Randle 1828. A canalside pub one of the earliest pubs in Chilvers Coton. Rebuilt as a modern pub about 1930 when the canal bridge was widened. The Jolly Colliers. College Street.

Stockingford The Lamb and Flag. Church Road, Stockingford an 1830 beer house. T h e E n g i n e , C h u r c h L a n e , Stockingford. An 1830 beer house. The Cripples Inn,Bucks Hill or Snow Hill, sometimes known as Cripples Inn. Replaced by the New Inn on the same site. E.H.Sephton 1938/9 The Black Swan. Swan Lane, Stockingford. An 1830 beer house. George F.Pegg 1938/9 The Heart Goodfellows. Swan Lane. An 1830 beer house. Still extant. A Marstons Brewery house. J.H.Boulstridge 1938/9. The Cherry Tree. Swan Lane. An 1830 beer house. Moved site in the late 1930’s to Haunchwood Road. A.Rowlands 1938/9 The White Lion, Swan Lane, now Croft Road early landlords were Mary Jeffcote (1806), Thomas Johnson (1828). The Plough Inn, Plough Hill Road, Chapel End. W.Hewitt 1938/9.


Are you left-handed? (sinistral, sinistrad, sinistrorsal, laevogyrous, gauche, caggy-handed, cawk-handed, cack-handed, south-paw etc. etc.) You may wonder where that came from in your family tree. We “south-paws” have a lot to thank Dr Marian Annett for – she is probably the world’s leading authority on the subject and is based at Leicester University. She has virtually proven that “left-handedness” is inherited from the mother’s side – the actual chromosome culprit is called the Right-Hand-Shift Gene. Left-handedness has all sorts of associations and connections: e.g. trades, careers, professions, illnesses, allergies, educational achievement. The basic facts appear to be this: biological development of higher mammals would tend to produce totally ambidextrous animals. Along comes the Right-Hand-Shift Gene that produces very Right-Handed people. The rest of us become labelled as “left-handers” – when in fact we are probably ambidextrous – and therefore higher up the evolutionary ladder!!?? (if you believe in that). It is hard to date the earliest persecution or prohibition of the left-hander. Physical and Social Anthropologists suggest that most prehistoric people “groomed their posteriors”, after ablutions, with that hand - because the human anatomy made it easier to do it that way. It did not take ethical or religious protocols to focus on that. Hence the perennial and enduring ideology of right-handedness becoming associated with purity, truth, skill and rectitude. The world, and its technology evolved to create the right-handed world! Yet, in many enclaves, Left-Handers, proved to be exceptionally gifted and different. The list of the “World’s Greatest” has many left-handers! It is probably down to the way the brain integrates all its processing power. Modern humankind is so used to writing, reading, and thinking abstractly, it forgets the visuo-spatial abilities that made us different. The ability to detect thousands of subtle smells is now lost; the ability to detect

weather by our senses is also redundant. The eye-hand-ball co-ordination that produces a “John McEnroe” is truly prodigious (he is left –handed!) What is the bottom-line for the Family-Historian who is tracing the pedigree? Do not ignore handedness! The realm of DNA testing is a thing for the future. The possibility of other exotic clues like blood groups, hair and eye colour, finger and toe prints, genetic illnesses are beyond most of us. The Handedness is not!! People were very notable for their handedness. Family folklore usually records people who wrote in an ”odd fashion”! (I can write with either hand, mirror, upside-down and backwards, etc.!) At one point in school I was writing backwards, starting at the right-hand side and moving to the left-hand side of the page. It may not be easy, however. I am left-handed – or should I say mixed up (or ambidextrous) I play most musical instruments with the left-hand! Sport is a mess – tennis, badminton, bowling and kicking with left! golf and cricket bat with the right! In my family tree, however, there were cohorts – may be they were “LEFTIES in disguise”. My Mum had a good visual memory and found arithmetic difficult, yet her dad could not write, but was good at mental arithmetic. Her granddad was an alderman, mayor and a solicitor at Coventry.

I have been unable to trace any recorded “left-handers” anywhere in my family tree. Jo-Anne, my wife, (very right-handed) has several “lefties” in her whole family tree (mum, brother, sister, uncles, aunts) – yet none of our sons show any “leaning to the left”. (None of them seem to obey Mendelian inheritance rules anyway!) No one in our families, for generations, has blue eyes, yet Richard and Matthew have blue eyes!!!!! The right-hand world does not seem to realise that we have to do visuo-spatial conversions in our mind. Whenever a “right-hander” demonstrates anything, I have to transform it (by some weird cerebral mirror!) Yet I am not alone – in the Universe there are many wonderful molecules and viruses that are left-handed! There are statistical predictions that by 2050 the “Western-world” will have about 50% “left-handers” in it. References 1. Marian Annett: Left, Right Hand

Brain: The Right Shift Theory. Lawrence Erlbaum. 1985 - (very scholarly).

2. Michael Barsley: The Left-Handed Book. Souvenir Press. 1966 - (popular).

3. Diane Paul: Living Left-handed. Bloomsbury. 1990 - (real life experiences).

One of the most neglected genealogical techniques By Alan F Cook

NNWFHS New PUBLICATION

Surname Index Of Burials 1813-1837 For The Parish Churches Of:

St Nicholas, Curdworth; St John the Baptist, Lea Marston;

St John the Baptist, Middleton; St Giles, Nether Whitacre; St Leonard, Over Whitacre;

St Cuthbert, Shustoke; St Chad, Wishaw

Price £3 (Plus P&P) See full list of publications on page 17 for more details


B (right) My grandmother, Maggie Green, said that this photo was taken at Elwy Hall, Rhyl, which, apparently, her grandma, Sarah Townsend, took for the summer c1890. The family in the carriage are the BROWN family from Nuneaton; I think one daughter was called Amy but am not sure. C (below) This photo was taken on the Isle of Man. The gentleman leaning over the side of the carriage, second from right, is my gt. grandfather, Alfred GREEN (1848-1920), of The Square, Attleborough. Alfred was a grocer, draper, law clerk and asst. overseer of the poor. I don't know who anyone else in the carriage is and am not at all sure of the date.

A (left) Taken at Rhyl c 1900. From front left - Molly MAYO, Margaret GREEN 1876-1967, Annie (?) BROWN, Thomas Percy PALING 1878-1949, Rosa BROWN and in centre Emily (Pem) GREEN 1874-1950. Molly, Maggie and Pem were cousins, grandchildren of Sarah TOWNSEND. Thomas Percy Paling married Maggie Green in 1903; he was a son of Thomas Paling, Station Master at Abbey Street. I think the Brown girls may have been neighbours of the Greens and Mayos in Attleborough. Not sure which Mayo sister Molly was - all 6 had nicknames and I can't find my 1960s newspaper cutting which tells me which is which!!

WANTED DEAD (OR ALIVE)

FOR THE NEXT NNWFHS JOURNAL

Articles about your ancestors, family photos, items for our notice board and help wanted/ offered section etc.

Start writing NOW!!!

Family Album Anne Paling-Lawson has sent in these wonderful old holiday photos.


Within the next two years the History of Atherstone Research Team hopes to be able to offer family historians a new resource. Over the last year HART has been tran-scribing the Manor Court Rolls for Atherstone, held at the Warwick Re-cord Office. These extend from 1589 to 1608 and from 1640 until the 1893. They record all transactions involving copyhold property. Until this property was enfranchised, in the 1920s, each time an owner died, or sold, mort-gaged, or leased his building, he or she had to attend the manor court, where the property was surrendered ‘by the rod’ into the hands of the lord’s stew-ard. The new owner was then admitted on payment of a fine which ranged from 2 shillings and 6 pence for a quar-ter burgage to 10 shillings for a whole burgage. Roughly two-thirds of Atherstone’s property was copyhold, as opposed to freehold, and the town is fortunate in having probably the best run of manor court rolls in Warwickshire. Until now, they have hardly seen the light of day. A grant of £25,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £5000 from Nation-wide, through the Countryside Agency, has enabled HART volunteers to un-dertake the massive task of transcribing the whole archive. With the help of Dr Nat Alcock, the house historian, they have already completed the majority of the work and hope to put it on CD so that it will be available in libraries, re-cord offices and possibly also for sale. At the same time volunteers are prepar-ing a massive database of all the names and properties mentioned in Ather-stone’s rich archive, mostly held at the Warwick and Lichfield Record Offices. Many stories have emerged about Ath-erstone in times gone by, and all stir the imagination. In 1659 Charles Wells, a young longbow-string maker, living in London, borrowed £30 from John Simons his neighbour in Butcher Row, Atherstone, on the security of three ‘messuages or tenements’ he had inherited from his grandmother, Hester Wells. Charles went to the manor court and surrendered the property to the lord of the manor’s steward. Then John Simons came into the court and was admitted tenant, paying the necessary fine and swearing his fealty to the lord. Simons was to hold the property until the loan was repaid, at the ‘Sign of the Black Bull in Cheapside.’ Did Charles ever repay the loan? We do not know, for by the next entry in 1722 the house has passed to William Eyre.

All transactions give the abuttals of the property concerned, and this has en-abled HART volunteers to piece to-gether the ownership of every property in Atherstone. It is now possible to see who lived in each building and what trade was carried on there over a period of almost 300 years. Another strand of the project is the buildings survey, which is being carried out under the supervision of historic buildings surveyor, Bob Meeson. The information gleaned from the manor court rolls helps the survey team to un-derstand each building and how it has been adapted for new owners and new functions. Some of the town’s buildings have been discovered to date back to the 1400s. Many of the wills and inventories were transcribed by Marion Alexander and the Local History Research Group some 20 years ago. The most exciting part of the project is going to be fitting these into the house histories with other records, such as the Hearth Tax. We can now say definitively that the ‘Chamber next the Lane’ recorded in Henry Rowditch’s inventory of 1676, refers to a building which stands today on the site of Dillon’s newsagents in Long Street. Over the 18 months that it has been running, HART has attracted some 60 volunteers and will continue until Octo-ber 2005, when a book will be pub-lished. This is undoubtedly one of the most important research projects ever to have been undertaken on Atherstone. It is particularly liberat-ing not to have to worry about money. The gener-ous funding has allowed HART to have the very best expert advice, all the photocopies and plans they need, help with translation of Latin and palaeography, travelling expenses, and computer courses to help those working on the database. Any community group that wants to follow Ath-erstone’s example and set up their own Local Her i tage Ini t ia t ive should contact their re-gional branch of the Countryside Agency.

Fidler’s Laws

These may be new to you. The editor of the FHS of Cheshire Journal, Graham Fidler, regularly writes up a new law based on a “painfully learned” experience in computing. His latest bears repetition on a day when my virus software has picked up a number of unwanted, virus-laden emails. I do hope Graham will not mind it being shared with members in NNWFHS. Law 11: Never open a file you were not expecting – it’s bound to contain a virus! Let’s look at this in more detail. There are 5 sub-rules: 1. NEVER open an attachment! 2. NEVER NEVER open an attachment! 3. If you have not updated your virus

checker’s database on virus signatures within the last week, then it will probably be useless. New viruses come out daily.

4. If you must open an attachment, make sure that you know who it came from and even more importantly, do not open it unless you were expecting that sender to enclose an attachment

5. To be safe, don’t open the attachment. Email the sender to ask if they did send an attachment, and if so, what it contains.

Graham went on to explain about file association and how, to be doubly safe, you should not use Word but change your folder options to open attachments that are *.doc with Wordpad. However, the basic advice is NEVER open any attachment - even if from somebody you think you know - until you are sure they really have sent you a file that you want and that will not give you something you definitely do NOT want!

HART – Atherstone Civic Society’s Local Heritage Initiative By Judy Vero, Honorary Secretary of Atherstone Civic Society

CENSUS TIP Is anyone researching Mercer in Atherstone? During research for a family in the States on a Bindley fam-ily (one of the ones who put the 'Chapel' into Chapel End) I found that a Bindley daughter had married a Mercer and lived in Atherstone. The earlier censuses stated that she was 'born in the county' but on the 1881 census she was a widow liv-ing on her own and her place of birth was listed Pitts-burgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Obviously, previously her husband had answered the enumerator’s ques-tions but this time she had answered the questions herself. So, remember, if a birthplace looks dodgy, or doesn't fit family myth, ask yourself the question - did this person answer the enumerator’s questions or did someone else answer for them? Val Pickard.


place of birth, and the full Public Record Office/National Archives reference (e.g. RG12/240 Folio 19 Page 8) making the standard product an ideal companion to using Census microfilm or microfiche or the Census image CDs that customers may already have in their collection! The first releases, in stock, are:- CD3906 deluxe Channel Islands and Isle of Man £29.95 CD3907 standard Channel Islands and Isle of Man £16.95 CD3914 deluxe Cambridgeshire, Essex and Suffolk £29.95 CD3915 standard Cambridgeshire, Essex and Suffolk £16.95 CD3916 deluxe Cheshire and Derbyshire £29.95 CD3915 standard Cheshire and Derbyshire £16.95 CD3928 deluxe 3CDs Lancashire £49.95 CD3929 standard 3CDs Lancashire £29.95 CD3934 deluxe 3CDs London £49.95 CD3935 standard 3CDs London £29.95 Due for release on 20th May 2004 are CD3920 deluxe Durham and Northumberland £29.95 CD3921 standard Durham and Northumberland £16.95 CD3924 deluxe Kent and Sussex £29.95 CD3925 standard Kent and Sussex £16.95 CD3940 deluxe Staffordshire and Shropshire £29.95 CD3941 standard Staffordshire and Shropshire £16.95 The remainder of England and Wales will be released later this year, probably sooner rather than later. The inclusion of large areas/more than one county in each pack makes these products extremely cost effective compare with normal unindexed census image CDs. We, TWR Computing, are the sole UK and Irish wholesalers/distributors/retailers of this series of Census CDs for the publishers MyFamily.com/Ancestry.com. As ever, you will find full details on our website/online shop www.twrcomputing.co.uk All prices include delivery to anywhere in the world. ************************************************

Scotland Death Index: 1855-1875 McKirdy Index Limited have published another index in their Scotland Death series, County of Lanark: 1857. The index, available on microfiche, microfiche is available from:- New Zealand Society of Genealogists Inc P O Box 8795, Symonds Street, Auckland 1035, New Zealand www.genealogy.org.nz/sales/fiche-new.html Aberdeen & NE Scotland FHS 164 King St. , Aberdeen, , Scotland, AB24 5BD www.anesfhs.org.uk

Sutton Publishing have published the second edition of probably the best book for family historians, Ancestral Trails. One of the major strengths of the book is the very detailed yet clear and readable way in which the author i l l u s t r a t e s t h e multifarious types of information that exist, and how they can be found, interpreted and r e l a t e d t o o t he r information. He does this, in the main, using records relating to his

own ancestors. As a result there are a large number of examples relating to London, Devon and Bedfordshire - a nice bonus for readers who have interests in these areas - though other areas of England and Wales are by no means neglected. (There is also one very good chapter on other parts of the British Isles). Available from all good bookstore, and genealogical suppliers. ************************************************

New From Archive CD Books The Huguenots - Their Settlements, Churches and Industries In England and Ireland - Samuel Smiles. 1876 This excellent book gives an account of the causes which led to these great migrations into England, and describes the effects upon English and Irish industry as well as history. Archive CD Books- http://www.archivecdbooks.com ************************************************

A Press release from TWR Computing: The 1891 Census Index CDs for England and Wales We have in stock the first releases of a major new series of Census CDs for England and Wales from the world's largest, most progressive, family history company MyFamily.com/Ancestry.com. The standard product provides complete coverage, searchable, name indexed, browsable transcriptions! In addition the deluxe product includes unlimited access to very high quality online images of the original census linked from the transcriptions on the CDs (no subscription required)! The transcriptions may be searched on any or all of the following criteria:- First name; Last name (with option for exact/soundex); Age (exact/within 2 years/within 5 years/within 10 years); Father; Mother; Spouse; Birthplace; Ecclesiastical parish; Civil parish; Gender (either/male/female); Wildcards including * ? or and Search results display the whole household including names, relationships to the head of the household, ages, gender,

New Books, CDs Etc


published practitioners' qualifications from 1859. A registration system for dentists was established in 1878 and subsequently a register recording the names, addresses and qualifications of those registered was published. Anglican clergy are listed in the Clerical Guide from 1817 and in the Clergy List from 1841. Cockford's Clerical Directory from 1858 records the clergy of the Church of England, Ireland , Wales and the Episcopal Church of Scotland, entries include details of education and training. In addition to those mentioned, there are 19th century directories and registers for many professions. Currently available are: Dental Surgeons Directory , The Clergy List 1896 4) Phillimore's How to Write the History of a Family (book) This book is free to view and comes in two books (a main book plus a supplement book in its entirety) W. P. W. Phillimore was the great authority on family history, and author and publisher of the Phillimore's Parish Registers series. Although it goes back a while it still contains a lot of relevant information. For example, there is a guide on how to interpret old handwriting. It provides an account of how to undertake your family history research, types of records and where they can be found. It covers many of the more unusual sources, which can still be found at county record offices and The National Archives. 5) British Colonies - The National Archivist's archive of Colonial India records contains digitised images of original publications and documents that relate to the pre-independence period of present day India , Pakistan , Bangladesh and Burma . In this section you can view any material we hold about The East India Company servants, civil servants, Indian Army personnel and European residents prior to 1947. Currently available: Bengal Civil Service Graduation List http://www.search.digitalhandsworth.org.uk/engine/custom/gallery.asp?lstExhibitionType=3 Part of the Digital Handsworth project this is a gallery of images from the 1870’s and 1880’s baptisms in St Mary’s Church. The site is a little complicated, and takes a bit of time to get used to, but once you do you are presented with scanned images from the baptism register itself. The images are not the easiest to read, and you will need exceptionally good eyesight to study them. However they are there, and it will no doubt prove useful to some people. Have a good look around the rest of the website for a collection of images from Handsworth past and present. But as with many collections of images, be prepared for a slow load. http://freecen.rootsweb.com This project aims to provide a "free-to-view" online searchable database of the 19th century UK census returns. It is part of FreeUKGEN, an initiative aimed at helping make high quality primary (or near-primary) records of relevance to UK genealogy conveniently and freely available online, in a coherent, easy to access and search, information retrieval system. To find what is already on line click on 'Database Coverage' in the left hand column where you will be presented with a list of Counties,.click on 'Details' against the County of interest and there will be a listing of Parishes with those that are already on line indicated. http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/nof/emigrants/ More on migration and migrants, this is an excellent site about migration from Liverpool. It is based around an exhibition in Liverpool and takes the format of a fictitious diary about leaving Liverpool for Australia in 1858. A fascinating and well researched website this one will give you a great insight into the nineteenth century world, emigration, and why people left for the new world. Fascinating and easy to follow with some great pictures

www.hometown.aol.co.uk/pitexplosion Celia Parton’s website about the Baddesley Pit explosion is now up and running. Even if you do not have ancestors that were involved, the site is very interesting, please make time to take a look. http://www.picturesofcoventry.co.uk/index.php Coventry Libraries have produced a new website with archive photos of Coventry but there are 47 pictures of Nuneaton too. http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/WAR/images/ More images of Warwickshire, mainly churches, in Birmingham, Coventry and south Warwickshire The following website reviews were printed in Genuki News and are included herein with the kind permission of Rob Thompson. www.nationalarchivist.com The National Archivist is an independent company, set up in 2003 to provide digitised images of original records reproduced under license from The National Archives (formerly The Public Record Office), and other organisations. It was founded 3 years ago by Vanessa Williams who was in the course of researching her own family tree. Addressing the needs of the estimated 180 million people worldwide involved in genealogy and family history, National Archivist provides people with digitised images of original source information, as opposed to transcriptions. Users may access, search and purchase electronic versions of documents previously only accessible by visiting a public or local record office. Registration to the site is free. To view the original documents, users must set up an account and pre-pay to obtain a certain number of credits. Accounts may be set up for as little as £6 using most credit cards and can be topped up at any time. Discounts are available when credits are bulk purchased. Once located, records are viewed using Lizardtech's document sharing software 'DjVu'. Users' accounts are debited the appropriate number of credits, and the new balance displayed. New records now available on The National Archivist, including previously inaccessible military records:- 1) Estate Duty Office Indexes to Death Duty Records - an additional ten years of wills has been uploaded. Visitors can now view indexes of English and Welsh Wills and Administration from 1796 to 1857. 2) Military Records - of particular note are the Harts/ Army Lists as this is the first time these records have been put online. Results can be searched and sorted. There are free-to-view archives for most titles but also some archives that are completely free such as The Grenadier Guards. Harts Army List 1840 and 1888; Official Army List 1798; Peninsular Medal Roll 1793-1814; Waterloo Roll Call 1815; Grenadier Guards 1656-1874 3) Directories and Professionals/ Member Lists - The National Archivist's archive of Member Lists contains digitised images of specialist lists and registers of members of the legal, medical and clerical professions, commercial and trade directories and handbooks to the titled, landed and official classes and other professions in the United Kingdom. Member lists are an invaluable aid to research especially when looking for members of a particular profession. The introduction of regulated practise for many professions in the 19th Century brought about the necessity for official registration and recognition. The Medical Directory was first published in 1845 noting the names and addresses of medical practitioners and the Medical Register

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