Allesley

My father and his twin sister Ivy were sent to stay with Mr & Mrs Barton in Hollyberry End when they had contracted a childhood illness such as measles or scarlet fever. Their mother leaning on gate; their aunt; Mrs Barton r. of photo.

Thanks argon / Prof - got it from this 1936 map. Yes, nearer Meriden between Harvest Hill Lane and Watery Lane. It seems the old hall has now gone although the 'replacement' large residence/farm now seems to include its own Harrier Jump Jet!

Now I have mentioned Watery Lane, don't think this has been mentioned on here before - the detail is thanks to my friend Alan Denyer who was one of the people behind the CET and Priory Visitor Centre recent initiatives. This is interesting - old 'tin chapel' in Corley Moor (N-W Cov, close to the source of the Sherborne). We spotted the main pic (c/o Andy McGeechan) earlier this week + just popped up there - looks to be getting a makeover, so that's good news. Ps. Amazingly, it appears it was bought in the 1880s in kit form from a Harrods catalogue! (Here's the history.. c/o Amanda Slater "The Tin Mission Church, Watery Lane, Corley Moor Revisited - now considerably tidied up - nice! On the inclosure of Corley Moor in the early 19th century, the glebe land with Allesley benefice received the allotment of a field, on the corner of which the Mission Church in Watery Lane now stands. William Bree, Allesley Rector 1808-1822, then exchanged some of his own land along Staircase Lane and Church Walk for three glebe fields, including the glebe inclosure award at Corley Moor. In 1886, William's grandson, William, (Archdeacon) Bree, Allesley Rector 1863-1917, had the Mission Church built. He leased the Corley Moor land to the diocesan authorities. The lease was for a very long period which would lapse when the building ceased to be used for ecclesiastical purposes. The church was built, largely through the energies of the Rev. Robert Arrowsmith, who lived nearby and himself served the little tin chapel until he died. A framed photograph of Archdeacon Bree hung within it. It is believed that the corrugated iron church was purchased from a Harrod's Catalogue and delivered in a kit form. The iron church was built at the meeting place of three parishes, Allesley, Fillongley and Corley and was convenient for the use of worship by parishioners from all three parishes. Services of Holy Baptism, Holy Communion, Mattins and Evensong were held, as was a Sunday School. It was not licensed for marriages and there was no burial ground. It was also used for social purposes and in the 1930s a flourishing Womens' Meeting was held there. In the summer of 1952 a mutual agreement was made between the Rev. Frank Moyle, Rector of Allesley and the Rev. Charles Goslin, Rector of Corley, that Corley should take over the building. Regular services were held, an electricity supply was installed and the old harmonium was replaced by a two manual reed organ. As it was not a consecrated building it was possible to re-arrange the furnishings to use the space for social and other fund raising events. Many local people remember attending Sunday School, there. The building and field is now in private ownership.")

If anyone wishes to see the chapel, they had better be quick as it is rapidly being developed into a detached house - criminal???

Apparently it's going to be a holiday rental though the provision is to keep it externally and principally the same.

Any eagle-eyed members care to place this one - apparently it's very early Allesley Old Road about to take shape.

How about the two slip roads onto the A45 looking south with the little lane on the right still there bounding the Allesley Green Estate? Not the Allesley Old Road??

You could be right there, Harrier. I could not think where on Allesley Old Road there was such a gradient - certainly looks right.

Spot on, Harrier!

Ooh ooh! A great collection of 'Coventry and its Environs in the 19th Century' has just turned up on Flickr here!!!! I've identified a few. The resolution is amazing considering the era - you can click to zoom. Enjoy! Example - never seen this view of the toll gate at Allesley - the old eye hospital to the centre left. Post copied from topic Coventry photo collections on the Internet on 6th Jan 2021 1:40 pm

Was Paybody always an eye hospital? I have recollections of walking along the path leading to the church and seeing patients in their beds out in the open air. This must have been in the early 1960s when I was on my way to Allesley Brownies.

Thanks to the Coventry Society - Travellers in Telford's day would pass the fine mansion where the widow of the Rector, the Rev Bree lived (now The Elms). In the 1920s Tom Paybody bought the property and established an eye hospital there. The Paybody as it was known became an orthopaedic hospital until 1963. I think it was a Children's Hospital at one point.

Excellent Neil, thank you.

Hi all. I have a question regarding the bridge that goes over Coundon Wedge Drive. I saw a cyclist riding over it recently and I've been trying to work out how to access it. It doesn't appear sturdy enough for cars and may be for pedestrians and cyclists only. I enjoy walking round there but I can't seem to work out how to get onto the bridge in the first place. Has anyone on this forum ever used the it?

Hi Dreamer. Looking at maps app I think you must mean the one about half way along between the Holyhead Road and the island further along. There appears to be a footpath that is at the end of Whitelaw Crescent. It turns left by the River Sherborne and eventually turns right to go over Coundon Wedge. There appear to be several paths after that but are difficult to tell where they go. If you search online there are several sites with maps that show circular walks. Hope this helps.