Baginton (inc. Bagot's Castle, Lunt Fort)

Great news from David Hewer and his band of volunteers in this article in today's Coventry Telegraph, with the official opening of a visitor centre on the site on 12 April 2013 Well done, David & co.

An interesting article, Midland Red. It's great that somebody was willing to put their savings and time into something so important to them

The visitor centre is being officially opened today "Visit the castle"

I visited the Bagot's Castle site last week - would recommend it to anyone who loves medieval history and/or nature, a real hidden gem (just be aware that there's quite a bit of walking to see the whole site). [Bagot's Castle Website] ^ The castle ruins ^ The WW2 tank testing area

Telegraph article regarding The Lunt Fort

I went round the Lunt in the late 60s with Annie Osborn School. Unusually for a school trip, it was a Sunday afternoon. Excavations were still going on, and I don't think there was over much there by way of reconstruction. The guy that took us round was one of the most inspiring people I have ever met. I remember being totally fascinated as he brought this wasteland of rubble to life. The teacher even commented to my mum that it was the first time she'd ever seen me so animated. The second part of that trip was into the hangars at the airport. The teacher missed my enthusiasm there, as I later went on to train in the aerospace industry.

As most know I've been coming down to Coventry since 1960 and the place where the Lunt Fort is was just a big field in those days that we had to walk across to get to my sister-in-law's very old cottage in the middle of the field - no roads in those days. I've asked before from you who know a lot of history in and around Coventry about there ever being a big, big country house of some sort there at one time - in fact there was two and still is. The time I'm talking about, they had never been touched or renovated in any way, they were almost falling down. They looked for all the world like they were just wings of some type of mansion that was left standing. Inside was just one big room covered with oak panelling all round. To this day it's just what I still think, they were moved out and given a council house. When they found the fort later the cottages were done up as you see them today. Also the brother-in-law had his ashes scattered under the big tree that you see in the field.

Is this what you were looking for Dougie Baginton Hall

Thanks for your reply, pixrobin. As you may know I'm from out of town so I wouldn't know about Baginton Hall. Just asking, was it on the field by the Roman fort by any chance as I've been round to Lunt Fort to have a look at the old place on one of my trips to Coventry, but looking at the building I wouldn't think the cottages that are there today could have been part of that hall, looking at the brickwork at the front.

After reading pixrobin and Dougie's posts mentioning Baginton Hall, I found this article about it, with a history that I did not know.

To help a little more here's a link to the relative 1906 map Castle, Hall, and Lunt map

Thanks again, pixrobin, you're a top man coming up with this I knew there was more to the sister-in-law's cottage than all the family did way back in 1960 and I would like to think you've put my mind at rest with your last link. Here I've uploaded this clip, if I'm wrong about these two cottages will someone let me know (I've looked at your photo, they are good).

That's the derelict Baginton Hall.

Yes (thanks to the Our Warwickshire site). It's taken from the Coventry Road, now in the middle of the village looking west towards the ruins, by the PO - a view not possible anymore anyway thanks to development.

Has any one any photos of the building of the Lunt Roman fort in Baginton? I know a lot of work was done by the army on the granary building, but the posts it stands on were put in place by labourers, my husband being one. I had a photo from The Telegraph of it some years ago but have mislaid it.