Hawkesbury Church School

source: Coventry Times - Wednesday 9 July 1862 In 2012, Coventry Telegraph published this article containing images from the centenary celebrations in 1962 Post copied from topic What happened on THIS day in Coventry's history? on 18th Jul 2017 12:56 pm

Midland Red, Of course the school in the picture has been altered and carved up, that it is nothing like the original that I remember. The iron church was opposite in the thirties, Pop Barnes was the Sunday School teacher, and the vicar was from Longford, the Rev. Standing. From about 1920 or before, the teacher at the school was Margery College, the sole teacher for about forty years. My father was a pupil at the school, when the boats allowed him, and all our family were taught at the school until the age of eight.

Midland Red. A huge thanks from me about the iron church. A huge chunk of my childhood wrapped up in that church and the school. As was more than a generation of people, vast chunk of Coventry history also. The church and the school stood on the cross piece of a t-junction, the three roads were the village. For almost a hundred years the same families went to the school and the church, a small playground between the school and the school caretaker's house gave us full view of the church. Little Joey Pott's not at school today, clinging to his mother's skirt, while his father was carried into the church for the burial service - all part of my childhood. The small church must have been a huge chunk of history, made of iron, reputed to have iron wheels buried beneath the surface. A small avenue of trees led up to it, inside the church was in pastel shades, the roof covered in pale blue with golden stars like the night sky, a small pump organ, a choir of about 6 kids, Sunday School on benches just inside. The church and the school were the hub of our village life for over a hundred years.

Rob, MR. I'm astonished at the historical items that you are turning up, but this one about the iron church is truly amazing. In 1862 the few scattered houses around the church were Hawkesbury village, about two hundred yards away from the church was Hawkesbury Hall. The services in the church were conducted by the Longford vicar. But the mining industry, this included the canals and railway, increased the population. But to have the Archdeacon of Coventry attend would be its greatest moment. I assume the Archdeacon lived in the centre of the city near the cathedrals. It's almost certain he would travel along the Foleshill Road and to rest at the Longford church. And travel in a hansom cab or similar with horse and driver. But the Foleshill Road in those days was mainly semi-rural, heaths, fields and farms, and was notorious for robbers and villains. Bird Grove was so named after the large number of trees and birds (George Eliot Road) with a small cluster of houses by the canal basin. After resting at Longford he would then have to travel along the country lanes of Hurst Road, Jackers Road, Aldermans Green Road, making it a truly amazing occasion in Coventry history.

The tenders for the building of the iron church in 1856 can be found here.

Many years ago, when we moved here, there was a lady called Annie Potts who lived in Lentons Lane. I wonder if she was related?

A few interesting names here? Miss Colledge, Albert Simpson, Thomas Victor Hackett, Blythe, the Lentons - is this the origin of the road name?

Thank you everyone, what a wealth of history you have turned up. There is no mention of iron wheels, also I would have thought it would only hold less than a hundred people, Miss Colledge was the farmer's daughter. I was taught by her and later worked for her brother, her father built four houses in Aldermans Green. Albert Simpson was my uncle, T. Hackett was the father of Jack, the Bedworth councillor, Blythe, I married his granddaughter, Lentons are distant relatives. Have no idea if the lane was named after them, they were a very long standing family in the lane. but if you traced all the family trees, somewhere they would all be connected. Less than two hundred yards from the church were two pit shafts, next to one of them was a small cottage my uncle Bill lived in, today many of his descendants still live in the lane. As far as I remember the church held burial services, but not baptisms or weddings Once again, thanks to everyone, what a wonderful set of people Rob has brought together.

Does the name Vera Lenton ring any bells? - (Philip may remember her from Courtaulds)

Yes, to 'Adam'

There was a teacher at Windmill Rd school during the war years with the name of Miss Colledge. Could that be the same teacher that you named Kaga ?

LesMac, I doubt it, I was told they had a big party for her at the little school when she retired.

Now Heathite, wasn't he the only bloke to have no mother-in-law? Don't you feel a wee bit sorry for him.

Coventry Herald - Friday 02 September 1859 Coventry Archidiaconal Church Extension Society.

The County Record Office at Warwick has the register of baptisms covering 1908-61.