Chain Gardens

It was also a great short cut for me. Sometimes, when I attended Moseley Avenue Primary School, I would walk from there through the 'Chain Gardens' to the railway arches and up Melbourne Road to my gran's house in Kirby Road. The alternative route would have been to walk all the way up Four Pounds Avenue and through Chapelfields.

Out of curiosity, why is it called Chain Gardens?

The Renold Chain works are at the Spon End end of the path. Wearethemods, my grandad lived in Melbourne Road, so you would have gone past his house! Edited by member, 8th Jan 2022 5:37 pm

Thank you, Anne.

Hi, Dreamer. We always called it the Chain Gardens, the colloquialism being handed down through generations I suppose. I picked it up from my parents. My mum worked in the offices of Renold's for quite a long while so maybe it was a term used by the staff. I remember the dances and groups playing in the Works Social Club near the Arches, just before the start of the path. Edited by member, 9th Jan 2022 11:59 am

Wearethemods. My other grandad, my mum’s dad, also worked at Renold Chain. He lived in Leamington so travelled over on his motorbike and sidecar. He must have been busy because he also had a radio shop in Leamington. Edited by member, 9th Jan 2022 1:37 pm

It's funny because I just walked past the Arches and looked at the Koco building this morning. I was really tempted to walk through on the pathway but I was in a bit of a rush so I decided against it. It's on my to do list though!

When my mother tells the story of her family's 1934 move from Sherbourne Street to Lilac Avenue she says they walked there via the Chain Gardens.

Just to document that it has been done. I drove to Morrisons car park this morning and parked. I then tested out the Chain Gardens pathway and walked all the way through and past the Koco building. It looks mostly as it always did on the Spon End side but felt 'cut in half' with the Alvis factory not being there. I completely forgot about the small bridge which runs over the Sherbourne. It was also extremely muddy but I felt accomplished walking through it and back. I'd recommend that anyone does this in warmer weather. They say that true happiness is not found doing big things but in achieving numerous tiny victories. So this was my victory for today!

Well done Dreamer. I seem to remember it being quite wide for a footpath or is it because I was only little when I walked it. Did you go and have a cup of tea in Morrisons at the other end?

Yes, it is quite wide for a footpath and it was tricky trying to walk without getting my shoes caked in mud. I popped into Morrisons and didn't stay for a cuppa unfortunately. I did get a few goodies for tonight's dinner as well as some pickled herring for lunch!

Good job Dreamer!

Try walking along the path in the summer after a dry spell and watch one of the allotment holders with his massive water pump, spraying water from the Sherbourne over several plots at the same time, the pump being so powerful - oh yes, and take a mackintosh!!!

Thank you, Neil!

Great idea, Harrier! I don't mind getting soaked if it's a baking hot day!