Canley Hall

I've not been able to find any mention of this building anywhere on here and there is very little available elsewhere, other than it is 17th or early 18th century house. It has been empty and boarded up for at least 20 years (I go past it most days). I believe is Grade 2 listed and the garden is looked after to a degree although who knows what the inside is like. I presume it is owned by the council(?). I would have thought that with most of the rest of the area being improved and converted into expensive housing something would have been done to make the Hall usable again. Does anybody know anything about any plans for its future? Canley Hall

Here is a photo I took in 2010 - don't know if the appearance has changed at all (perhaps pixrobin can tell us)

pixrobin is getting on his scooter for a quick trip. Think the light may be good at this time. Be back a little later.

Got delayed. This was Canley Hall at around 6.20 this evening. Need to be there around 6.45 But couldn't delay because the pretty carers here were waiting for their blueberry muffins Had to get my priorities right.

Articles in the newspaper archive show it as being owned by a family called Hands until 1940 until Elizabeth Hands estate were selling it. It was being sold in 1831 so Hands probably bought it then as Hands are mentioned as living there in 1843.

Thanks Robin, I look forward to those

This takes me back. For 30 odd years, my family had a shop in Cannon Hill Road. I can remember, as a boy, being able to see one or two rear windows of Canley Hall through the gap between the houses opposite the shop. On a dull day, there would be a bare light bulb hanging, switched on, giving the place an austere appearance. I never believed in ghosts, but always thought that this old place would be ideal for them. In those days (late 50s, 60s, 70s) it was occupied - presumably flats or an HMO. It's in a sorry state these days, and has been boarded up for many years. The last time I saw it, the chimneys had been capped over, presumably to slow down further dilapidation. My understanding is that an eccentric elderly lady who lives nearby (allegedly next door) owns it, but stubbornly refuses to sell.

The interesting thing about Canley Hall is that somebody regularly goes round to cut the grass.

Slim, I've heard the same story about the elderly lady refusing to sell from some of the local kids but I don't know if it's true - not surprisingly they call it the witches house. A few years ago there were large concrete mushrooms in the front garden but they were removed and the fencing has been replaced in the last couple of years as well so a lot of work has been done on the garden and still is.

Yes, I remember those concrete mushrooms. I didn't realise they'd gone. When I have a minute, I'll revisit the place. It's strange that anyone would leave a place like that to rot. The owner will have been responsible for paying, inert alia, full council tax, rising to 150% after 2 years. There may be a discount if proved uninhabitable; I'm not sure how it works In Coventry; I'm more familiar with WDC.

These concrete mushrooms you mention are Saddle Stones, and were used originally to hold a building off the ground and their shape prevented rodents getting in. Nowadays they are much sought after for garden ornaments and can fetch prices of £200/£300 each, maybe that's the reason they are no longer there..

Thank you NormK, that could indeed explain their removal. One of the many things I really like about this website is if you mention anything like the mushrooms somebody comes up with both their name and original use. The length and breadth of knowledge of the members is truly amazing

Just a minor point Normk I think it should be staddle not saddle stones, no doubt a slip of the keyboard. Correct me if I am wrong.