Pool near Binley Road, Stoke

I always thought that the area to the left of Binley Road, right at the end by the traffic lights and that old church, is called Claybrookes Marsh. It is a conservation area containing a quite large pool. Looking on www.geograph.org.uk this morning I now find out Claybrookes is on the site of the old Binley Colliery. If that is true what is the name of the pool area off the Binley Rd? Les

Sounds like the church you are referring to is St. Bartholomews. You would get your feet wet getting to the pool from there as the river Sowe is between the two. The pool known as Stoke Floods is apparently due to mining subsidence and only appears on maps after early 1900s. The area is now designated as a nature reserve and is part of the Sowe Valley footpath.

I used to keep my horse in the fields around St. Bartholomews and often rode around the floods. I remember finding a dead fish on the path after the river Sowe flooded, not sure what sort of fish as something had already eaten most of it. There were often swans and herons there too. The church is worth a mention as it has a fantastic interior, well worth a visit.