Allesley Hall School

From 1848 to 1886, the building in Allesley Park was used as a boys boarding school. The headmaster was Thomas Whyles (?his wife Anne nee Ford??) The school was endowed. Anyone any information about the head, his wife, the school or what happens to an endowment? I have tried local studies etc. but have found nothing - looking in the wrong place probably? The school building was demolished in 1908. There are a couple of pictures in the books on Allesley but that is about all!!

I hope you're ready for this Harrier, I have a thing or three for you! By sheer coincidence, not long after I'd begun the Historic Coventry site, a lady named Mary Keller from Illinois made regular contact with me because of her Coventry roots. Her family had moved to the States a couple of generations before her, but she was particularly proud of her great-great-grandfather..... a certain Thomas Wyles, headmaster and founder of Allesley Hall School. Mary knew that Thomas had ended his days at Buxton, being buried in Burbage, although she didn't know where that was at the time and had never located his resting place. So, one day back in September 2002, I decided that we'd have a family day out.... to Burbage! It took us ages to find his gravestone, and we ended up seeking the help of the vicar who had a super large ancient graveyard plan. We eventually found the reason that we'd not spotted it at first..... a tree had grown over it! After clearing a few branches back, you can see it half hidden near the right of this photo.... Once uncovered, we discovered that his wife Ann was buried with him, plus, sadly, his daughter Eleanor, who died young after a fall.... Both stones together.... Shortly after this, Mary sent me a bit of information that she'd gathered about her g-g-granddad, so if you've got a bit of spare time on your hands and a large computer screen, please read on.... A letter was sent to her from a researcher saying this about Thomas: Now for a couple of old photos (c1870) showing the front and back of Allesley Hall.... And now for a few pages of their school curriculum.... I hope you're taking notes - you'll be tested on it at the end of term!!! Best wishes, Rob

I forgot something in that last post (surprised?).... another photo - or rather a poor photocopy of a photo - of Thomas Wyles - the white bearded chap on the right....

I reckon Rob's first post above must get the prize for the forum's longest post!

Not only that, it must be one of the most interesting.

I agree, backed up with all the photographs made it so interesting. Thanks. By chance, I found T. Wyles' death notice in the papers and it mentioned that before Allesley, he was the 'conductor' of The Midland School, Primrose HIll. I looked further and Hillfields first school in the area was located within Primrose Hill House which had been converted to serve as a school, this closed in 1837 but was re-opened as a boarding school in 1848 by Rev. Gilbert and T. Wyles. Primrose Hill House

This is fascinating. I had an involvement with Allesley Hall for many years - and before work started on its present use I even met the old Lord Leigh at the Hall as he had wanted to show his grandchildren before it was altered. The vestiges of the previous house are visible in the cellars but I had always understood that the previous house was fairly modest and little more than a farm. This is clearly not true from the pictures and it therefore makes me wonder why the Iliffe family knocked it down. The Iliffe family apparently had lived on Tamworth Road before building the current house. Lord Iliffe told me that his earliest memory was having tea on the lawn in 1914 when they received a phone call ! to say war had been declared. There was apparently much trepidation because his father was playing tennis in Dover.

There's some detail of the history of the original hall on this link.

Interesting link Foxcote. As I recall it was probably during the early 60's when we could walk freely through the grounds on a few occasions and my daughter always made for the goldfish pond which was covered over with wire netting for protection. Being nosey and looking in the windows and finding the place empty and desolate. I guess that was when the parks dept., had taken it over. I think the more recent building had more character than the original one.

Superb piece from Rob. I have done some research on all the schools in the village but this puts my bits and pieces in the shade. With my Allesley connections I have always been interested in the hall. Around 1920 one of my father's brothers delivered newspapers to the hall every day. After the newspapers were delivered he then went to Lady Iliffe's house in the village to clean the families' shoes. This was before he attended the village school, hard work but money was short. At the time the family lived up the jetty opposite the Rainbow. What always stands out in my mind was the dovecote, to a small boy in the late 1940s it was huge and fascinating that the birds all lived happily together.

You're all very kind thank you - I'm so glad you've enjoyed reading about the old school. You musn't give me too much credit though - virtually all the information was supplied by others - my main contribution being to enjoy a family day out in a lovely part of the country to find and photograph Thomas' grave! Many thanks to all who have added yet more fascinating information. I'm sure Harrier, who posted the original enquiry, will really appreciate all the interest and efforts.

I found the history of Allesley Hall very interesting. I was always given to understand that the house was crenulated before it was modified by Iliffe, so much for hearsay. As a teenager I used to work weekends on a farm in Staircase Lane to earn some pocket money, as I lived in Wildcroft Rd, my route home was down past the Stone House, across the front of Allesley Hall then across the fields that are now the Allesley Park Estate.

I found the original owner Thomas Flynt and his biography and the building of the Hall - Thomas Flynt It's all a learning curve 'cos the Parliament site that I never knew of is a winner.

A very good read this one Rob, thank you. Being a teacher herself, my daughter found your post more than interesting. How times have changed. The most interesting part was how high on the list education was to even the youngest child and the high standards required for teaching.