Coventry's Parks (other than War Memorial Park)

Was there a "murder" in Nauls Mill Park in the mid to late 1960's. It came up in a conversation in the recent past. But no details as such. A YES or NO would suffice. Thank you all.

Yes ! I know about it.

Went through Nauls Mill Park today, the pond's still full but due to lack of aeration or filtration in the hot weather it's now full of weed and algae so I couldn't sail my boat

I might be wrong but I think the only reason Nauls Mill ever fills up is because of rainfall. I don't think there is ever any deliberate attempt to keep it filled due to maintenance costs etc.

Neil, It makes me sad to see pleasant areas like that. What a waste, I remember Nauls Mill well, makes one wonder why it was developed (for the want of a better word) in the first place. Why, is there a shortage of water. ? After seeing many photos of Nauls Mill it was obviously enjoyed by many and should continue to do so, oh but of course local councils have better things to spend ratepayers money on.

This is what it usually looks like

There is a facebook page called "Friends of Nauls Mill Park" and from the pictures on there they seem to be making it nice. Someone has put some pictures on, the latest ones are October, it really looks lovely. They were also advertising a band in the summer. The google map is a bit out if date Neil, the fire station is still shown as a building site.

Yes Anne but I do go past it most days as I often drop my youngest off to Bablake in Middleborough Road so see the pool. It's full of rain water currently but could be a lovely spot again. I have said this before elsewhere but Middleborough is like a bit of hidden old-Cov.

Its fortunes seem to be a bit up and down then Neil, but I am glad some people are trying to look after it. I went a lot when I was young but used to get to it from the housing estate and under the railway arch but I don't think I could find my way there now!

I'm not sure I would feel entirely safe even if I wanted to Anne now sadly - there are some very strange characters hanging around parts of the park at times. Bablake stopped doing walks through there due to that.

It's a shame when these places become haunts for these scary people Neil. I remember when they removed the toilets on Radford Common because of the "visitors" they got there. I am afraid Naul's Mill Park became a no go area for me. At the end of the 60's my friend and I were going to the park and as we walked under the railway bridge some lads were throwing stones. One hit me on the head and cut it open. Fortunately we did not go under the bridge as they had run over to the other side but we went back the way we had come. Fortunately a nice lady saw the state of me as I had blood all down my top and she took me into her house and cleaned me up while my friend fetched my mum. It was reported to the police but I doubt if they ever caught them. It was a shame as before that we had enjoyed going in the school holidays and hiring the stilts and things but I was probably getting too old for that anyway.

From the Coventry Telegraph 1956, newspaper archive site. Had great fun on these in the 1950's. I think they cost about 1d to hire them, I am sure they had roller skates as well, the sort that fitted on your shoes and could were adjustable for size. I was never very good at it

Neil, thank you for your 'drone's eye view' of the park and your response, Anne. There might be hope for the old park yet.

From Rob's image collection