Corley

There used to be a notice on Corley Parish Church door that stated that this is the height of Coventry Cathedral spire. I saw it about ten years ago. This is Corley Parish Church, 2002. I had arrived early to practise on the organ for a wedding later in the day. The church yard was beautiful.

Here are a couple of nostalgia pics for you!! Corley Women's Institute Flower Show of 1963:

And here's an anecdote about Corley, from about 1980. My wife and I went for a drink on quite a few Sunday evenings at the pub on the green at Corley (the Red Lion? ..forgotten) The publican kept birds of prey in a wire-fenced compound at the rear. To get to the loos, you had to go through the back door, along past the compound for a little way, and the loos were on the right. Two ladies went out there this one Sunday evening, and two or three minutes later came hurtling back in all a-fluster, followed by a large bundle of pale fawn fluff, woth great big orange eyes - a baby eagle owl. It was almost two feet tall. The barman came over, picked it up in his arms, and went outside then returned. He said "It's only Gert. Won't hurt you. She's just able to jump up and get over the fence occasionally." Well, it seems, one of the ladies went in to the loo, into a cubicle, only to find two large orange eyes looking up at her, yelled out and fled!! 'Gert' was about 6 weeks old. Two or three weeks later, the bird was stolen. She was lost for a while, and then turned up not far from the pub, in a tree. The owner called, and she came back. A happy ending, at least for that.

Thank you Philip I've always wanted to get out and take photos inside the churchyard but no one would take me, it's beautiful and love the Rhododendrons also that large Rhododendron/Azalea, if I do get someone in the future to take me I shall look for that plaque for you and let you know via here.

And the Corley WI were really nice ladies too!! They had wanted a spoof recording to mime to, and I spent ages cutting and splicing recording tape to do it. The spoof recording was to replace the normal WI 'anthem'; I think the spoof was 'Kids' or something like that. A very enjoyable time. The Red Lion used to be very popular. Is it still?

This was the Bull & Butcher. I grew up on Watery Lane opposite the pub

The note is still there, I was in the graveyard & church the week before Christmas visiting departed family & ended up in the church with the vicar reminiscing about old times in the village.

My ancestor, Joseph Whitehead snr. tenant farmer in Cannocks Lane area Canley died 1869. I saw front page of a Warwicks newspaper re Sale of his effects at Corley Moor, where he retired. IF anyone could look this up kindly as I was not able to copy the page in the Newspaper 1870? for some reason on- line. "Arrived 1830-35 from Baxterley to Canley.1841 Census - Tenant Farmer at Georgian Farmhouse, Cannocks Lane, Canley, Coventry, still standing 2009. Tenant of William Congreve Russell, gentleman farmer, Leamington Spa. Moved to Corley by 1861. where daughter Eliza(beth] Smith kept house for the family. House next to Smithy in Corley Moor, unoccupied in 1871. Wife Mary died in 1847 buried Stoneleigh. James Josiah had died in 1862, William and Mary Ann had moved and Eliza Smith. Robert had moved his butchery business to Well St. Joseph's Will. Joseph died of Pneumonia Bronchitis at Corley. Newspaper front page gives record of the SALE at Corley of his effects, 1869-70? I'm not a Coventry Kid alas as my grandad Bill Whitehead was born in Weston St, in the 'new town' of Hillfields, and his father Wm.Whitehead b.1854 Keresley' .though I think it would have been Brownshill Green Farm, Allesley where they continued to live when his widow married William Henry Beacham, the farm shepherd. My descent is from Joseph Whitehead jnr who died aged 32 in 1859".

Is this the one Prof?

Anne thank you so much, and quick off the draw! Exactly what I had read before. Do appreciate it very much.