'Blimey' Hall

Ohhh, it's been all day and there hasn't been a forum member on to tell us about 'Blimey' on the Bedworth photo, so badly wanted to know who he was (My post 1/5)

Hi Foxccote This query might need Heritage & his contacts in Bedworth to come up with the info. Let's hope so.

I don't know of Blimey, but the likelihood he would have lived either around town or Collycroft, or Coalpit fields way looking at the garden and year, I could tell you a true story which happened when my ex-husband's grandfather also brother-in-law's grandfather Sam Harrison ex-miner was in school in those days he was dressed in a dress like your photos, he recalls a man running through the classroom with a gun where upon he shot his wife. His son Maurice Harrison worked in a high job at Coventry tech his wife Nancy Harrison is still alive I could ask her for you. At the rear of houses in Coalpit fields used to stand a few old cottages which had the old lead fires in, no toilet, that was outside, off the livingroom was a tiny cupboard-like room which was the kitchen with just a sink and shelves that was all a door in the living room was a stairway up to a bedroom which had half a wall dividing it to make two rooms no door between very small. I have a picture which was given me from the owner of one of those cottages, which I would like Bedworth to show in their heritage building if I can get it up there as the cottages were knocked down, I recall Billy Ball owning two left to him when his mother died, Austin Beers owned the one at the far end who gave me the picture which is of inside an old church with candles on an old organ with three girls holding a book and one holding a lily singing, the dresses are wonderful lattice work on bodice and their hair glows, no matter where you walk their eyes follow you. This doesn't belong to me a postcard for sale The Cross Keys is where Sam Harrison's other son's wife worked

Thanks Morgana, that was a brilliant tale and loads of details that I didn't expect to get Wonder if it's 'Blimey' on the front I reckon I know how he got his nickname. Blimey! Officer, I don't know how that salmon got here! I have just had another look at the Blimey Hall photo after your info, the location does look a poorer type dwelling and yet he looks quite well-attired and shiny boots and looks quite assertive, he doesn't appear to have the look of a poacher - more the pround angler, hope we find out.

Blimey could be his name as I've just seen a Blimey O Riley who takes photos when trying to look him up on net, yes probably more an angler. My ex husband's grandmother Sylvia Harrison, daughter of Sam Harrison miner was known as the best dressed girl in Bedworth. on the site somewhere back on the pages Foxcote there is a photo I uploaded of my granddad's family who were miners in Wales, exceptionally dressed with shoes that shiny you could probably see your face in them all. My cousins who were bought up in London they too are millionaires they both shop in the charity shops for their clothes nothing wrong with that just showing you, my dad's friend in Fillongley millionaire dad and mum went to visit him, mum went looking for him out in the garden asleep in his wheelbarrow holes galore in his jumper hehe don't let dress fool you like shops are fooled by dress.

The postcard of the Cross Keys dates back to when it was a James Eadie's pub. They were bought out in 1933 by Bass Ratcliffe and Gretton after being established in 1854. A notable landlord was Israel Marshall who kept the pub around 1940. He was the overman at Exhall Colliery when a major disaster happened at twenty past two in the morning of September 21st 1915. A stationary steam engine driver at the top of the downcast shaft had placed an oil filled lamp on a nail, so he could see to oil a pully wheel. The lamp fell and ignited the oil soaked timbers lying below. The fire quickly became out of control and flames and smoke were quickly drawn down the downcast shaft and around the workings. 375 men were working underground, William Jackson, the onsetter, managed to warn Israel Marshall, who was in one of the underground districts. William Jackson was overcome by smoke and died but his warning saved many lives. Israel Marshal put a mentally rehearsed rescue plan into action and created a barrier to the smoke by hanging a brattice cloth curtain across a roadway junction. He then directed the men through some old workings to one of the ventilation shafts at Black Bank. 361 men managed to escape up the shaft, with fourteen men dying through suffocation.

Thank you Heritage for the date and information on the Cross Keys public house also of the colliery disaster which grandad Harrison did mention it but never went into detail. May I ask you if apt for this site, do you ever display photos of the canal people as when I resided at Hayes Lane taking my father in law's children to school there was a very large family who attended the same school who lived close by, called the Granthams who came from the canal boats who are in a history book of the canals, as I can't get down the steps of the Heritage centre in Bedworth me being in a wheelchair to know if it's ever been displayed. Glad they have opened now a new extended centre which I can get into now.

Hi morgana, I think 'Blimey o' Riley' is probably a nickname - you get a lot of that on the net, just like on this forum!

Yes it most likely is a nickname Anne.

Evening Morgana, it seems I have a lot to learn, never let the polished shoes cloud your judgement Having a light-hearted moment over 'Blimey' on the forum has lead me to the awful Exhall Colliery Disaster in 1915 and that there could have been loads more fatalities. I have found lots of information from old newspaper articles and photographs but I suspect that the Bedworth families know quite enough without me stirring it all up. A vast percentage of the men that died were married and had families to support, so it caused all sorts of chaos. I am sure that if anyone can uncover the true identity of 'Blimey', it will be you

We had a big canal exhibition in Bedworth about 18 months ago. Lots of names turned up but that one doesn't ring a bell, but then lots of families were on the boats.

I've been asking questions about 'Blimey' Hall. I'm afraid the name has not rung any bells at all. Having said that, a word of caution about 'Windows on Warwickshire', good photographs but titling has been know to be rather inaccurate. Just in case anyone wants to visit Bedworth Heritage Centre we will be closed for the rest of November. This is for fitment of an improved heating system, building dates back to 1840, and a coat of paint on the floor and walls. We will reopen at the start of December with an exhibition about the Bedworth Central Schools.

Thanks for trying to find him, Heritage You are correct of course about the title-inaccuracies and we shouldn't always take it for granted. No wonder your efforts are to no avail, I suspect he's probably called something more mundane like Billy! He looked quite a character didn't he. Thanks also for updating us on the closure for a re-vamp. Just as well, I think Morgana wanted to come to see you with some material

I can still remember painting those walls, to have a youth drop in from church, in the early 70's! Somebody also did a religious mural on one of the walls.

Do you mean this one?