Allesley

Used to live in Allesley Old Road and walk to church across the fields. Didn't Paybody use to put the patients' beds out in the open air? And was Donald Campbell's Bluebird once exhibited in the church?

I used to live in the area and my local pub was the 'Maudslay' at the time, the landlord was Allan Clarke, played rugby for England, I had great times in there with all the old locals and fond memories.

I remember Allan Clarke, a huge and friendly man. When I played for Pinley RFC (long time ago in the 1960s) we used to use his function room for club events before moving to the Bulls Head on the Binley Road. Probably eventually outstayed our welcome. The hospital did put the beds outside when my grandparents looked after the hospital and grounds. During the Blitz my grandmother used to sit under the beds with the young patients.

Oh I am glad you remembered Allan Clarke, from what my husband tells me, he should be remembered. I do recite my husband's memories a lot on here for him cos he isn't that good on the keyboard, but for 30 odd years he has always anecdoted about Allan and the Maudslay and his daughter Carol who kept the Stag and Pheasant on Lockhurst Lane. Allan told my husband that when he was in full training in his rugby years, he lived in a tent for thirteen years and he was in the team that beat the All Blacks which doesn't happen often, he was physically fit at 19 stone and a lovely chap as you say. I don't know much about rugby myself, they keep falling over My husband was a supporter of Broad Street Rugby Club and a contemporary of Allan Clark was Ray Brooks who was a founder-member of Broad Street, another wonderful character.

Gee, I remember seeing the row of beds wheeled out into the sunshine on one of our many walks and that was eons ago. More memories come flooding back, thanks

I've just lost my last active family connection with the village which has lasted well over 100 years. My late father's only surviving brother has moved at the age of 95 to be near his daughter in Bournemouth. Having lived as a child in the cottages up the jetty opposite the Rainbow, prior to the family moving in 1929 to the cottage at the Paybody he did not really want to leave his home in the village but it should be for the best. It's odd but I feel at the moment that my link with Allesley has been totally severed, which of course it has, but you can't destroy 100 years of family history.

This is my first post so I will keep it short. The shop in the village opposite the Allesley Hotel was owned by Mrs Lloyd. She sold bits of groceries and sweets. It was also a pickup point for London Laundry. Over the road was Summers the paper shop. This changed later to a wool shop run by Mrs Summers when the new shops were built up the road. These shops consisted of the paper shop, hardware, chemist, Perks groceries, Dewhurst the butchers and the greengrocers.

Hello and Welcome Bill Beckett. I hope the topics on this site bring back memories and thanks for sharing yours. If you have any more, then please share them with us.

This is a photograph of Flynt Ave Coronation street party. Not one car, just a motorbike and sidecar. That belonged to Mr Green and they used to take the 4 kids to Cornwall in that. I think it was a Norton and Watsonian side car.

The Hollies was up a driveway on the right as you go up towards the Post House Hotel. It was owned by Jaguar Cars. A bit further up on the same side there was another driveway up to a large house where Halifax Close is. That was owned by the Bausor family who were butchers. Opposite there where the Post House is there was another big mansion type house. The factory just past the Sportmans Arms was Patterson Engineering. They sold it to Standard Triumph and it was their service department. The TR7 cars were made at the factory at Canley.

I remember the TR's outside the factory, and I knew it had something to do with Triumph. Thanks for the info.

This building actually had its own thread here!

A request for help if possible. I didn't know where to put this so feel free to move it. Working on Exhall research for our current exhibition at Bedworth I was searching for information on Edward Wilson who established Exhall Colliery back in 1857. Trawling through the census returns he appears to be one of the elusive characters who turn up on a regular basis. Born in Exhall in 1830 to one of Exhall's big land owners, William Wilson (Wilsons Lane was named after the family) he turns up in 1841 being educated in Allesley. First thought was the Boy's School at Allesley Hall, but I think it was too early. The school teacher was Edward Gibson who was the stipendiary curate of Allesley. Obviously the pupils were boarders to be listed on the census. Doing a check on the 1851 census (Wilson is now at Cambridge studying law) the school is listed as being at Allesley Rectory with Gibson still in charge. There were several schools in Allesley in the 19th century but it seems odd that there was a boarding school at the Rectory. Any help or guidance appreciated.

Does anyone know when the Allesley Carnival takes place this year. I have great memories of it in years gone by. The floats used to start from the White Lion carpark but now start at the Jag club I think. They had a stop in St. Helens Way before heading up Windmill Hill, into the village and finishing at the school. The bunting lined the main Birmingham Road, with most of the population of Allesley standing to watch it go by. And it was such a Carnival atmosphere. People opened up their gardens for you to walk around and put on tea (or some stronger home made drink). The school playing fields were full of things to see and do. Punch and Judy, coconut shy, and whack the rat (poor thing). The marching band would play all along the carnival route and be the first thing you would hear as it came closer to the school. Ho what good old days.