Walsgrave

We don't appear to have a dedicated Walsgrave thread so starting here as this great picture of what was Walsgrave Hall has appeared on FB - You can see it here on this

Growing up in Sewall Highway, Wyken, not far from the Devon pub. Obviously, the Walsgrave Road and the Ansty Road were not far away. In fact, walked along every day to go to Caludon Castle school. As a youngster, was never really sure where Walsgrave was.

I was recently passed a collection of paperwork on the Walsgrave area - this interesting photo popped up of the Hall Gardens -

A few more photographs came out of that Walsgrave collection - first one can be seen a St Marys Banner but the others require move detective work. I'm assuming they are still Walsgrave as came out of the same box but adding here for interest!

I personally have an interest in Walsgrave. I grew up in 169 Woodway Lane and still remember the unused field opposite my home and the frog pond behind the Working Mens Club. Walking down past the chippy onto the newsagents on the corner (Ansty - Hinckley Rd) there was the rubble and an open area from an old demoed building (on the left) and an abandoned very old farmhouse (on the right) which has now gone - it's a small row of houses now. How much has changed.

I was in Walsgrave 1951 to 1959. Attended Walsgrave CofE in School House Lane. Mrs Clarke was my first teacher, then Mr Wills, Miss Brookes, Mr Cooke and Mr Patrick. I passed 11 plus but chose to go to Caludon Castle in 1955. We lived on the site of the defunct Craven Colliery in Henley Road, now an industrial estate opposite Luscombe Road. At first in a caravan for three years and then in one of the old mine manager's houses. Gumnut, if you were there at that time you would have known the Littlehales? David was a school mate. All the businesses on Woodway Lane have changed, mostly gone. The Chippy is still there. Mr Garret used to cut our hair and his son Mick had a barber's on the side of what was the Godiva cinema in Tile Hill Lane. The Broad's garage is still there. The old Co-op building opposite the end of Henley Road is there but not what it was. We used to go upstairs to watch movies there on Saturdays. The Ismay's farm is now an estate served by Narberth Way.

Some great info here sent to me by our forum member Bob347 in relation to the photos I posted earlier: The photo showing the church ceremony is at the old pinfold which was at the corner of Woodway Lane and Hinckley Road. The building at the rear became the Joinery Workshop for Hall Bros which was acquired by the City Council when Hinckley Road was converted into a dual carriageway in 1959. The land to the rear is now The Old Yard a development of 86 flats. The photo of the football team is of the Walsgrave or Mount Pleasant Pub team. I remember the late Bob Jackson (electrician) showing me same picture years ago as he was on it. Thanks again Rob!