Canley (inc. Sir Henry Parkes School)

Canley - click on 4th photo

The description under that photo mentions that Germans built the steel houses, they also built Sir Henry Parkes School!

Hi to all, regarding Henry Parkes School I attended from 1952 to 1963. Great times, I was born in Wendiburgh Street no 38, remember all info u guys r talking about, we won school shield football first time in schools history, have photo somewhere, must dig it out. Played with Kenny Ball as mentioned in history, he passed away many years ago. The Dolphin run by the Benns, Brian was a best friend of mine. Remember teachers Mr Bayliss, Miss Penn, Mr Maddison, etc, starred in Christmas panto on school stage, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Have a class photo 1959/60, will also try to find countless stories from Canley. More to follow. Alan

I'm an old Canley kid from 1944 on. I attended the original Canley school which comprised of a few wooden huts well before Henry Parkes was built. I lived in Gerard Ave for 15 yrs. My association with Sir Henry was that I delivered newspapers to his birthplace and all around Canley, from Clews the newsagents which was the last shop. I now live in Australia, and was once fined for speeding thru the town of Parkes in NSW, named after Sir Henry of course. My appeal for leniency was based on my earlier association but to no avail. I copped the full fine! D'audney Rd once had a wooden scouts hall where the church now stands, and the original Dolphin pub was also a wooden hut. Those nice playing fields off Prior Deram Walk was once the council rubbish tip! German POW's built the concrete roadway of Freeburn Causeway, and they also made & sold excellent wooden toys. The bus used to terminate at Canley shops and there used to be a police box and an air raid shelter opposite where the church now stands. We had an excellent youth club in Queen Margarets Rd run by Mr.Weaver. I am now 80yrs old and always visit Canley when I travel to UK. Sadly it doesn't look good now.

The Germans did not build SHP's school nor the steel houses, only road works around Freeburn Cswy.

Hi Tony, the very tall lad you recall is me, most kids knew me as Andy. I don't remember you at Henry Parkes but I do when we were in the same year group at Woodlands in Gibson House. We used to live in one of the police houses in Wediburgh St (no 2). Being tall with a mop of red hair and the son of copper with a German mother made for interesting times on the streets of Canley. Red hair has long gone. We moved to 79 Freeburn Causeway in about 1963 when my dad was invalided out of the police force.

Hello Francis A Welcome to our forum. Thank you for your post & we do hope that you will enjoy your time with us.

Hi Tony, I was following up what might be happening with the old school site and it appears that our original fears for the merger of the 2 local schools was really a land grab. My last email to your new address bounced. Please recontact. Regards Ian

Hi Ian, It's really good to hear from you - I have sent you an email

Hi Ian Until Lord Leigh sold the land to Coventry in 1926 all the surrounding land came under Stoneleigh. From the 1840s, after the building of the church at Westwood, Canley, Tile Hill, Fletchamstead, Whoberley, Westwood, and Burton Green (as far as Red Lane) all were recognised as Westwood Parish, Stoneleigh. In the census people's birthplace was always regarded as Stoneleigh.

Tony, Here is a picture of your football shirt in the Parkes NSW Museum. Henry was born at Moat House Cottage and baptised at St Mary's Stoneleigh. Regards Ian

What a great photo Ian, thank you for posting

I see the first show homes are now open on the old Sir Henry Parkes School site. The development by Taylor Wimpey is called White Willows Park.

... which I mentioned earlier in this topic! (along with some photos)

Not just show homes,several have had people living in them for a few weeks.