Wyken Slough

A few days ago and I was watching 'Pointless' on the tv, and someone mentioned Laurel and Hardy and the 'Piano' and it hit me. My uncle used to show silent films, slides and the magic lantern, 1931 time. The back of the trees shows some sort of telegraph post, that's what I had missed, somewhere in my mind there was a connection between the posts and the films. I have no idea what connection and I have no recollection of them having a phone I believe I saw the piano film at the old 'Rivoli'. I think the posts disappeared before the war, but not certain.

Regarding the Slough. I used to live in Potters green and all through my childhood we used to walk to the Slough, stop at the fish and chip shop near there and walk the dog as well around the pond. Used to feed the swans and ducks there too. Great memories.

I'm trying hard to figure the layout inside those huts. No I don't recall the posts going any farther up the lane, I was there everyday, the only buildings at the top was the farm on the left and five houses by the basin, the disused railway in between the basin and the houses. The whole place is now a jungle. The picture above, on the left of the lane just out of shot, someone keeps horses in a small field, there there was a pit, about 20 yards above the lone tree, covered with 'flags', bullrushes etc and the area was covered in primroses. Back to the slough 5-6 years after that picture was taken the hut on the right I believe was moved under those trees and the trees were more than twice the height, the lane side you can just see the washroom behind the huts. The Army used this lane during the war, the pom-pom gun was a little more than the distance you can see in the above picture, beyond this picture and over on the left The far end of the slough used to be a little old rustic bridge, now replaced. Happy new year to everyone.

Kaga. My aunt May Mitten once kept horses in that field. It was rare to see May riding but when she did it was a sight to behold. Long black cape flapping behind. I think she terrorised some local people as most thought her to be a witch. The truth was just the opposite as she really was a warm hearted woman.

Norman Q, I was going to send you best wishes for the new year but my e-mail has gone 'kaput' so I send it here (God, another year to get through) Yes, May had a field half-way down Jackers Road, spread over to the mill stream (Sowe). It had a large wooden shed with corrugated roof as her stable, as I travelled down that road four times a day to school I saw a lot of her. Sometimes she walked with the horse and sometimes she rode, from the slough to the stable, what was amusing she would be riding in those clothes and wellies, and smoking with one of those 1920s cigarette holders, was odd, but her clothes went well with the horses. Now a few houses past Co-op Street your side was another eccentric guy, his land also backed to the slough, he kept poultry. One spring time my 'boss' offered him money for a cock-turkey, he refused, few days later offered him more money, refused. Week later, went to offer him even more money but when we got there his turkey had died two days ago.

Hello, I am new to the forum and have been reading this thread on the Slough with avid interest, such wonderful memories which really takes you back in time, thank you. I was just wondering if maybe you could help me, going back through the posts you mentioned the Cotton's off licence in Bell Green. Do you know when it first opened and when it finally closed it's doors. I have been looking on the internet but with no luck so far. Thanking you in advance for any assistance you can give me.

Hello & welcome to our forum Elaine62, Hope that you have a happy time with us.

I remember Cottons from before WW2 as I was born just across the road in 1932. I recall the counter being staffed by one or two elderly ladies who lived over the shop. Both appeared to have a dislike for little boys and as I fell in that category I avoided going into the dark interior as much as possible. There is still an off licence at Bell Green a little nearer to Hall Green Rd than the old one was and I think it is still owned by the Cotton family. The old off licence is now a pharmacy, or it was last time I was that way about five years ago.

Thank you Philip for your kind welcome, I am looking forward to reading through the different posts, they look great.

Thank you Norman for your reply to my question, and yes you are quite correct, there is a pharmacy standing there now. If I may ask another question, do you know the date when Cotton's off licence closed down, or roughly when abouts? Many thanks for your help.

Elaine. Sorry I don't know when Cottons closed as I left Bell Green in 1960. Perhaps someone with a business directory may help.

My brother in his home made Hovercraft, which he used to try out on the 'Slough'

Had a walk around Wyken Slough today. What a sad sight it is considering how nice it could be.

Would this "May Mitton" be the same person? Birmingham Mail - Monday 1 January 1940 BOY AND GIRL IN POOL Dennis Lapworth (aged 16), of Lenton's Lane, fell into about four feet of water at Wyken Pool, Coventry, yesterday. A girl, May Mitton (aged 18), of Alderman's Green Road, went to his assistance but fell into about five feet of water. Lapworth managed to get out with assistance, but it was about half an hour before the girl could be rescued. Enquiries show that neither is suffering from ill effects. A fuller report Coventry Evening Telegraph - Monday 1 January 1940 WOMAN'S ORDEAL WHEN MAKING RESCUE BID WHEN making a plucky bid to rescue a boy who fell into Wyken Slough, Bell Green, yesterday afternoon, a young Coventry woman was herself flung into the water, and, owing to her difficult position, it was an hour before rescuers could bring her to safety. Ropes had to be used to bring the woman, Miss May H. Mitton, of 154, Alderman's Green Road, safely to the bank. She then hurried home, and later appeared none the worse for her ordeal. The youth to whose aid she had gone was Dennis Lapworth (16), of 40, Lenton's Lane. When she got into difficulties she remained composed whilst attempts were made to reach her. Meanwhile Dennis Lapworth. who was in the water about half-an-hour, was able to struggle out and scramble to the bank. Several police officers arrived from Foleshill Station to assist in the rescue of Miss Mitton. FELT NO ILL EFFECTS Miss Mitton told a Midland Daily Telegraph representative this morning that apart from a sore throat and aching limbs she felt no ill effects from the adventure. "It was mercilessly cold in that water," she said. "As I waited there I shouted to the boy to tell him how to get to safety. But the water was too deep where I was for me to get out without help". "I should like to thank the young man who showed great pluck in coming to my aid". This man, it is believed, is George Vaughan (23). 57, Regent Street, Bedworth.

Midland Red. It's almost certain it was her, although I thought she was older, the accident would have been almost at the bottom of her garden, the dense reeds would have caused the difficulty. Dennis went to the same school as me although a little older but I knew his brother Bill better, the same age as myself, there were several Lapworth families in the area. I am not sure, but I believe Dennis was a casualty of the war. As the early morning sun climbed steadily up to a steeper angle, the slanting rays struck the surface of the water, and shattered into a thousand splinters of light that went dancing down into the shimmering depths of the 'Slough' like shoals of tiny, mercurial fishes. Of other signs of fish in the 'Slough' there was none and we sat there with our lines dropping to the bottom of the 'Slough' where the tempting hooks dangled with no effect. From where we lay on the small bank, the gentle hill of the five acre field sloped northward toward the 'Basin'. The air was motionless and quiet, the calm water stretched into the distance where the colours of the water and sky blended so completely that it was quite impossible to image where one ended and the other began.