Exhall

Hi, thanks for that. I too have seen Moat House on the map but there is also a house called Moat House on the opposite side of the M6 with a moat near School Lane, so I think a lot of people may get the two mixed up. Like I say I've been on the internet but cannot find anything about it. Surely a big Manor House in the middle of Bedworth in the 1800s with all that wealth must not have gone unnoticed with all that poverty around?? Surely not, lol.

Moat House Amongst the landowners of Exhall were William and Edward Wilson and their family home of Moat House. Whilst it is no longer a through road most local people still know Wilsons Lane which was named after the family. The property was rebuilt in 1898 and the initials CWH stand for Charles Wilson Hill William Wilson was born in 1786 and was listed as both a farmer and being of independent means so was obviously a wealthy man owning land at Woodshires Green, Newlands and Over Whitacre. He also had a share in Wyken Colliery. He died sometime in the 1850s Edward Wilson was born in 1830 is probably better known for his ownership of Exhall Colliery which he formed as a limited company in 1857. The colliery was situated off Little Sydnal Lane (now Bayton Road) and ran parallel with the Coventry Road towards Black Bank. His address is usually given as Moat House, Exhall although the various census returns never show him in residence. Edward married his wife Mary A. Hall from Stoke in August 1880, she died in 1902, seven years after the death of Edward. Edward died in November 1895. The probate for his estate was given to his executors Charles Wilson-Hill (Gentleman) and Arthur Lole, (Colliery manager) his effects being valued at £39,940-13-1d gross, (net value £29,684. 13s. 8d). Both these were left £100 each in the will. He left his wife Mary £100, a life annuity of £250, and the use and enjoyment of the Moat House and its furniture during her life. To his niece Annie Elizabeth Wilson he left £500, Exhall Grange and certain land to John Eagleton Hill during his life. Certain land at Bedworth went into trusts for his niece, Florence Brickwell, and the remainder of his real estate, including the Moat House (subject to Mrs. Wilson's life interest) was left in trust for Charles Wilson Hill during his life. He was buried at St. Giles Exhall on 25th November 1895, the service being conducted by the Revd. Charles Hill (father of Charles Wilson-Hill), Vicar of Culworth in Northamptonshire. As Edward had no children he left his colliery properties and the residue of his estate in trust, two-eighteenths, for his nephew, Charles Wilson Hill, and the remaining sixteen-eighteenths for 12 nephews and nieces. One of these nieces, Elizabeth Brickwell married Captain C.D. Millar who became the Manager of Exhall Colliery in 1906 until May 1939. I have more information about the house which I will post over the weekend. Not a lot of spare time as usual as we are rebuilding the Northern Warwickshire Tourism website which is due to be launched on 1st November.

Thank you so much for all the information Heritage. And thanks for the photos. Once again I knew someone here could have the information, and very good luck with the rebuilding the Northern Warwickshire Tourism website. Don't forget the web link to here...

Researching all three Exhall Moat Houses has been difficult and not totally successful. The one in Wilson's Lane was definitely rebuilt in 1898 so we have no idea what it actually looked like. Research work was carried out in the 1990s by Birmingham University and below are two extracts from the report.

Hoping that there may be some forum members with memories of or information about the Danks family of Exhall, who were involved with the Bull & Anchor, and also a coal merchants in Burbages Lane

It seems a shame that this handsome old building is likely to be demolished. We don't really treasure our Victorian buildings as we should.

I am amazed. They can't knock it down surely.

It's nothing special. There are hundreds of similar styled buildings around and this looks like it's been added to over the years and looks a bit odd. We can't save everything just because it's old. Buildings sometimes outlive their usefulness and the land is needed for something else.

I didn't realise it was over the border, profuse apologies. My grandparents lived just around the corner in Longford so I believed it was in Cov. The land is needed for a scaffolding company apparently. I'd prefer to look at the old building myself. Each to their own taste.

The out of character flat roofed part was added by the brewery (likely M&B). It was also badly and cheaply constructed according to one of the previous tenants. Used to be a great place, but was never quite the same once Les and Alan gave it up.

bohica, if you mean Alan Gordon and Leslie, Alan was my wife's cousin, in her younger days she practically grew up in Alan's household.

Spot on Kaga. I believe Alan passed away a few years back? He was a well known cricketer locally I believe?

bohica, Alan played for the county, and I know he toured South Africa with them, but that's as far as I can remember. For a short spell I worked with his father at the Dunlop, I knew his mother's parents and family the whole of my life.

I don't think Alan ever told me he'd toured SA, I heard that from somewhere else. IIRC, didn't he and Les run a newsagents at one time?

I for one am confused as to why you think an apology is needed. The area around Blackhorse Road has been discussed a number of times in the Coventry section of this forum by a number of people without comment, it being an area of wider interest. I was genuinely shocked to read your post about the imminent demolition of the Black Horse, but grateful that you highlighted it. This was a lovely old pub I used to frequent when I lived in Exhall and a building I always look out for when I come home to visit. When I read more widely about the issue I was further shocked at the general apparent indifference to the plight of this building and the impression of a shrugging acceptance that it will go, an attitude seemingly echoed to an extent on this forum. To me, even if the Black Horse is to be demolished it is only right to remember and respect it properly as a pub important to the local area for many years and part of its history. It is very possible in my view that parts of the building are Georgian rather than Victorian. There is an inscription on the front of the "extended" part with a date of 1898 and the initials CTH. However I believe that this is the date of the extension, not the whole building which is recorded as being in business as a pub in 1874, and I feel a lot longer than that. Its position may well be significant in explaining why it was built and when. The Bedworth to Coventry Road on which it lies was "turnpiked" in the early years of the 19th century, previously being an "old coal pit causeway" This major improvement in the road resulted in a significant increase in the flow of traffic to and from Coventry. To pay a turnpike toll it is said that originally a pikestaff was laid across such a road to block the vehicle and turned round once the toll had been paid so that it could pass. It is very possible that the original Black Horse pub building could have been built in connection with the construction and operation of this turnpike, perhaps in collecting tolls or providing refreshment, or both. It may well also be significant that the pub was built on the corner of the Turnpike and Blackhorse Road - then called Green Lane, which was and is an ancient medieval roadway crossing over to what is now Wilson's Lane and down to Rowleys Green and the area of the ancient Exhall manor house and farms. In the other direction Green Lane connected with the Coventry canal, and later the L&NW railway at Hawkesbury station, which would have generated even more goods and passenger traffic passing along in to the new Turnpike road in front of the Black Horse. So as sad as the Black Horse pub building is now, it has a proud history of providing a service and helping the development of the local area - including Coventry.