Bedworth and Nuneaton

Possibly the Engine which was very close to Bedworth railway station in Bulkington Road. Don't remember the Guinness advert but they were all over the place. A bit of history on the pub, if of interest to anyone. From research we know that a Charles Lilly, left land in his will of 1833 to Thomas Ball and Henry Lea. In 1834 John Rayson paid £107 7s to Thomas Ball for this piece of land off Bulkington Road. 1851 saw the opening of the Coventry to Nuneaton railway line and Bedworth Station. A new public house, The Engine and Tender was built on this land around 1853. In 1854 Thomas Banbury paid John Rayson £220 for the new business A ribbon weaver, Richard Ward was recorded as running the pub in 1861, with his 49 year old wife. In 1865 the pub, by now called the Engine, was sold to Thomas Orton and Edward Dewis for £225 It was bought at an auction held at the Shoulder of Mutton in 1874 by Mrs Alice Waddams. Alice Waddams was still the licensee in 1881, aged 62, with daughters Naomi 20, and Ellen age 17, as assistants. Her husband, Joseph Waddams, died in 1889 and Alice herself died in February 1895. Their son, John Waddams, sold the pub to John Grant in 1896 for £780. He sold it later the same year to Flowers Brewery for £1,030. Census of 1891 shows John Farndon in charge of the pub. Thomas Jacques was there about 1940. The 1960's saw Charlie Farquarson as the landlord, who entertained the regulars on his fiddle. It was later named the 'Casey Jones', but was closed in 1989 following a severe fire.

Thanks for that, heritage. The memories are a bit rusty now, and I always thought the bridge took the railway OVER the road, which looks very unlikely from the current layout.

Just got back from the painting of Bedworth's gold post box. I have never seen so many people outside the Civic Hall in High Street. As well as many locals Nick Skelton's dad turned up as did two young ladies on horse back. I was given one of the large versions of the postage stamp with Nick and his team mates on it for displaying at the Bedworth Heritage Centre as part of the current exhibition.

Hi all Thank you Heritage. A good result, a nice article & a lovely picture.

Hi all, A few pics of my trip to Nuneaton today, via Bedworth. I think that the locations will be obvious.

I'm sure there were two pubs down there. The other was the Kings Head, when I asked my relative born and bred there she agreed

Here's a strange fact JW, if you'd lived in a pub or club you wouldn't have been able to smell it but you would have been able to smell everyone else's pubs and clubs! I used to think Flowers' pubs got their name because their beer smelt like flowers! Is this the poster you mean?

Hi Dutchman I love that poster. Bril!

That old guy looks like he could do with a pint.

Hi to you both, Hi all Travelling by bus to Nuneaton this morning, I passed a former off-licence shop in Ash Green, which still has a sign similar to this hanging.

It is indeed the poster - or something very much like it. The logo used to be "Guinness is Good for You", but sadly, as a little kid, they never let me find out!

The Kings Head was at the top of King Street, close to where the Coventry Building Soc, is today. A famous sporting extablishment with a gym at the back where Randy Turpin sometimes trained in the late 1940s.

If anyone fancies a bit of rambling in Nuneaton and Bedworth for Heritage Open Days next weekend there is a leaflet detailing buildings that will be open. These can be obtained from Bedworth Heritage Centre, libraries or online at http://www.visitnorthernwarwickshire.com/event&EventID=1393 One event starts this weekend. A heritage photographic exhibition of Exhall opens this Sunday, 2nd September at St. Giles Church, Exhall and will run until 7th October. If of interest I will post the opening times. Highly recommended is a tour of Toye, Kenning and Spencer next Thursday 6th September at 10.30am. The tour brings Bedworth's ribbon weaving history to life with a chance to see their large Jacquard looms in action.

Just getting ready to go into Bedworth for Heritage Open Day. Exhibition about the old Central Schools in Almshouses is looking good, new exhibition about the history of tea opens in the Bedworth Heritage Centre whilst there will be a display of classic cars in All Saints Square outside the almshouses. Regardless of where you go today and tomorrow try and support HODs, a lot of work will have gone into preparing for them. The tour of Toye, Kenning and Spencer was fully booked and very successful.

Good day in Bedworth. We lost count at 199 in the almshouses, nearly 100 at the heritage centre and the cars from the Heart of England were wonderful. Coventry engineering at its best. Exhibition in Governor's Hall.