Bedworth and Nuneaton

I have connections, on my mother's side with Foleshill going back several generations. The Humphries and Twiggers were mainly miners although "we" also had a pub in Bedworth, recorded in the 1800s as Foleshill. I have fond personal memory of the yard at the side of the Griffin. In 1963 at the age of 15 my first girlfriend lived in that row of cottages. All very innocent, we went to the Ritz cinema - which was formerly, I think, the Dovedale, or to the rink to listen to the loud music. Later that year I joined the navy and she had the good sense to go on to pastures new. Nevertheless, happy days.

Hello Walrus, Lots of Twiggers in Bedworth. Was the pub by any chance the 'Queens Head', now called Alties after Alfred Twigger.

Heritage, I've just checked the records, in the mid 1800s the Twigger pub was described as a beerhouse at 57 Leicester St. Bedworth but unfortunately I can find no trace of a name for the establishment. A Sarah Humphries, on my maternal grandmothers side had the Travellers Rest on Bulkington Rd. in the 1800s.

Hello Walrus, Bedworth, as in most towns, had a lot of unnamed drinking establishments, a few became named pubs but many just disappeared. We have a lot of information about Bedworth pubs which included Thomas Twigger, miner and beer house keeper, in 1861 but Sarah Humphries had passed me by. If you have a date it would be appreciated.

It was around 1895, Sarah Humphries was previously Sarah Smith but was widowed young and subsequently married Walter H Humphries who was a miner while she ran the Travellers.

Hi all Often when I set out in a morning I do not know where I am going to go. This morning, being the last forecasted mainly dry day for a bit, I was determined to go somewhere. I am so well blessed with bus services, that I do have to make choices just as soon as I leave our cul-de-sac as to which bus stop to walk to. Today, Wednesday is Nuneaton street market day & I had some vague notion that I might end up there. Seeing a couple of friends already waiting at the bus stop to go that way settled the issue. From Wheelwright Lane, there is a choice of services, 55 via Keresley, 56 via The Cross Keys & 57 via Smorrall Lane. The fastest to Bedworth is the 56, the slowest is the 55. I change to service 48 at Bedworth (anyone going to Nuneaton from Coventry city centre, the 48 is the one to travel on). Being a dry sunny morning, I got off the 48 at Coton Arches so as to walk the length of Riversley Park, part of the Pingles Park & then George Eliot Gardens. This is my real enjoyment of rambling this way, the fact that the parkland walk takes us right into the town centre without touching a main road. I have recorded a few pics which I will finish off this ramble story with. Maybe someone from our city planners office might read this & consider the value of a riverside walk into Coventry. The first pic is the tunnel entrance to Riversley from Pingles Park. Public buildings in Riversley Park, Museum & Registry Office. The Riverside. The ramble continues under the ring-road into Eliot Gardens. The final picture is the resting point that two of our site members recommended to me. Thank you very much Tricia & Mayjan.

Thank you for the photos, Philip, that's what we like to see, lovely greenery.

Glad you enjoyed your walk Philip, we often walk that way into the town centre. Nuneaton and Bedworth are very lucky with parks. My husband and I often walk round the Miners Welfare Park in Bedworth; it's lovely to walk round the golf course and the gardeners make a fantastic job of the flower beds.

Bull and Young pork and stuffing batches are very good! Generally I find that living in Nuneaton is good - they do seem to arrange some good community events. The carnival this year was really great, not some much the floats but the fair and stalls at the running track. We managed to fill 4 hours there with our children and they experienced so many different activities and cultures, a fantastic day all within walking distance of our house. Leanne

Agreed Tricia. As a teenager I always preferred the Pingles to the Memorial Park.

Glad you enjoyed your Nuneaton trip Philip. I was in two minds whether to go myself yesterday. Decided against it and got on the 9a bus to Ball Hill, haven't been there for years. Was nice to have a wander around and look at the shops. A friend of mine works in the 2Tone Village so was nice to see him, great place that if you like 2Tone. Anyway Philip I was so envious of you going to my favourite pork batch shop, I just had to pick one up from Coventry market. Just sat and ate it with a nice cuppa, lovely. Sad to see that a lot of the eating places in West Orchards closed down suddenly yesterday. That only leaves about three places now up there where you can get something to eat.

Hi all I have just returned home from a very enjoyable walk around Bedworth town centre. The walk was well constructed & documented, accompanied with an enthused & very informative commentary throughout. It even stayed dry for the period of the walk. Three group pictures from various locations on route of the walk. I have learnt much which is so directly related to Coventry.

I lived in Bedworth from 66-78. It has changed a lot in the centre but still retains a lot of its history. I remember when traffic ran through the middle of town and the market was on the streets. I knew the almshouses and church well as I was involved in the Youth Fellowship as a teenager. We met in the old Parsonage and also used the cellar, which is now the Heritage centre. The youth club met in the church hall on Park Road, this building has been demolished now. The old Rectory (now a nursing home) was really lovely inside - a big contrast to our council house at the back of it, on Mount Pleasant Estate! There are lots of really interesting buildings, and history linked to them, in Bedworth. It's only as I've grown older I appreciate this. At the time I was incredibly unhappy most of the time and was glad to escape!

I'm pleased you enjoyed your walk Philip - I would have liked to have been there. Another time perhaps.

If anyone wants to read a short history of Bedworth have a look at www.bedworth-society.co.uk