Albany Road / Butts

It's interesting that people supply a definite article if there isn't one, i.e. the name is Butts, but everyone calls it the Butts, including me, as it just doesn't sound right without the the. (Further, the main drag in Royal Leamington Spa is the Parade, but it is simply Parade on the street signs and map.) Now, there is also a Butts in Warwick, but its name on the map is The Butts. I presume that was also used for archery practice. On the walls of St Alphege's church in Solihull, you can still see lots of grooves in the stonework near the main door. We are told that in former days, everyone had to attend church on a Sunday by law, and that every able bodied man had to do archery practice. So the men would set off for church with their archery kit, leave their kit outside the main door whilst in church, then when the service ended, set off for archery practice. But before they set off, they used the wall of the church to rub, twist and thus sharpen their arrows, and this action wore the grooves in the stonework. Mods note: This post has been copied into the "Unique words and phrases" thread, and its replies moved there too, as that thread includes previous conversations along similar lines

I was christened at St Thomas's as it was my dad's local church. He was born in Hertford Place. We always referred to it as "St Thomas the Butts" When I was learning to play the organ in my teens I remember going to an organ recital not long before the church was demolished. If I remember correctly the organ was destroyed during the demolition - no attempt was made to remove it. I know I had a couple of organ pipes in the garage at home for a while but can't remember whether these came from St Thomas's or St Martin's, Finham when they replaced their church organ at about the same time.

Just going back to Janey's mention of the houses along the Butts Road - there's very few images of any of the buildings that were there leading up to Spon End/Spon Street and the bridge from before the Technical College went up (1935?). In fact the only real thing I could find was the Real Ale Rambles images of The Russell Arms which was at number 63. I always wondered what was in that gap between the BP and Spon Gate House.

Just reviving the comment about the 'Butts' name - what was/is Barker Butts and is it all linked in with Summerland Butts Lane as Dutchman informed us.

From the thread 'Road names and their origins':

Thanks Cliff - wonder why the rugby club adopted the name as well? Just I was there on Sunday watching my eldest play them.

Neil, as far as I can see Barkers Butts RFC was set up in 1947. I think it may have had connections with Barkers Butts School. The present ground was renamed in 2013 in honour of Bob Coward who was a teacher at the school, I can remember my brother mentioning him.

Anyone know what year all those flats went up - Givens House etc?

Givens House, along with the other eith storey blocks including Spon Gate were erected circa 1959 along with a few of the two storey maisonettes. Corrie House (next to Givens) was built 1959 consisting of five properties but was extended to eight in 1965 and at that time the remaining houses next to the block in Thomas Street* and pubs were still occupied. Also Vincent Street and part of Trafalgar Street still existed in between but were gradually demolished and maisonettes erected on the sites between 1966 & 1968. Hope Street, off Windsor Street was one of the first to be demolished. I still remember houses alongside, and to the back of, The Summerland Tavern including opposite which was made into a car park for the Butts Stadium. I have a photo of us mods with scooters taken in between 'Givens' and 'Corrie' which I can post sometime. *There exists somewhere on the Forum a photo of the houses in Thomas St. prior to demolition with Givens House towering above them.

Hello all, I have been reading this forum with quite a bit of interest. I have recently been researching my great grandfather Henry Nichols who lived and worked in Earlsdon before he was killed in action in March 1917 serving with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He was christened and married at St Thomas Church in Earlsdon, Coventry and spent some time playing the cornet at the local Salvation Army. I was born quite a long time after the demolition of St Thomas in 1974 and wondered if anyone had any pictures of the church or could describe the church for me and approx location. Thank you for all your help.

Hello and welcome to our friendly forum You should find some references to the church within this thread The church stood on the opposite corner of Albany Road to the Technical College

Its great to see such a vibrant forum, thanks for placing this for me I must take a visit up this way again.

Just been reviewing this thread for some research and noted Hellfires comments and Dutchmans map on post 69. Why did they never build anything on that patch of land next where the Russells Arms was? Looking at the Telegraph City Pubs review from Real Ale Rambles I'll bet not many drinkers messed with Mrs Kathleen Clowes! She looked a proper landlady Also all the courts on the map where todays Butts stadium car park is - presumably war damage led to their clearance?

Neilsyard stated : Also all the courts on the map where todays Butts stadium car park is - presumably war damage led to their clearance? Actually no. That long row of houses the length of the Carpark and the ones on the opposite side of the road (alongside the Summerland Tavern) were demolished mid to late 1960's. Similarly the houses adjacent to the Summerland on the other side, up to and including the ones on down from the corner on Windsor Street.

Anyone know what year Apollo House was built? 1970-something.