Longford (inc. The Red Hills)

I find it surprising that you did not respond to my post regarding the Red Hills of Longford. I alluded to how this name described the place from the moment I was allowed to be out-and-about in such a place, but also speculated that earlier generations may have used other names. I asked of you what name you employed for so grand a place that we were discussing. You did not respond to my answer to your question. You did not respond to the question I posed. Perhaps you forgot.

Longford lad. Truly sorry for not replying, but I can't recall there being any name, they were just part of the district, if anything they were thought to be old brickworks spillings, but I don't recall them being other than a wild area. I did not live there, only played with schoolmates from there. About the time you were born was about the time I last visited the area. 1949/50 I lived in Bedworth for a short spell, but sailed through on the bus mostly. During the thirties we did not use the name Bedworth so much, it was called the 'Top of the trams' but that faded out during the war. I remember going to schoolboy boxing shows at the skating rink in the thirties, I think that also faded out during the war, and so did the milk round I did around Longford, when the gov't cut down the roads we could use. Like everyone else the war changed my life completely, the church, the doctor, school, the people, the places that I had known all my life up to then, disappeared from my life. Only through this forum has my mind travelled back to those days. My regards to you and your family. Kaga.

Well the notion of "old brickwork spillings" perhaps would account for the Red in the Red Hills. For sure, there wasn't much about the hills that was Red by the early 1950s. The notion that everything was changed by the war probably is right - you would be in a much better position than I to judge as much. You mentioned "doctors" under the things that had changed, yet some time ago you identified Dr Webster on Hurst Road as your lad to go to in times of troubles. My first doctor, by then on Longford Road, just a smidgen to the north of Hurst Road. He was my doctor from my earliest recollections, but he was gone by the mid-1950s. Subsequently, my family found a practice on Lythalls Lane. Much later my younger brother`s wife worked there as a bookkeeper. I cannot recall any of the names of the doctors. The name Crippen keeps crippin`up, but I`m sure that there is nothing to this. I loved your recollection of the Skating Rink as a place for schoolboy boxing matches, and admire the symmetry of Les Allen`s becoming the one-time owner of the place. Longford was a smaller place in my youth. My dad knew Les Allen`s dad, and knew Les. I met Les as a youngster. Years later Les acquired the off-licence in Sydnall Road that once belonged to my grandparents. The first time in the shop after Les took over, I introduced myself. His response was that he had me me many years earlier, mentioning my dad, citing that my dad had lived in that same off-licence as a boy. Les was the opposite of every notion of punch-drunk ex-fighters. He had a good mind, powerful recollection and the heart of a true gentleman. Unfortunately for me, I left Longford as a home shortly after Les became the owner of the off-licence. I never returned save as a visitor.

Longford Lad, Dr Webster was my doctor, from birth to when I was 17 (1944), the Army took over then. Les was about two years younger than me, a schoolmate at Foxford, we cycled together twice a week for about two years to the top of the trams. Montgomery(?) had a boxing stable, just inside Bulkington Road(?) I lost touch with Les when I was about 15, due mostly to the bombing and 8f cadets took my time. My in-laws had lived in Lady Lane as far back as I knew, until the war when they moved to Elmsdale Ave. It was a damn smaller place in my day. Boxing at the rink, If I recall correctly, there was only about three rows of seats, on either side of the ring, and about ten rows either end, I believe it was always mid-week.

Derrickarthur, when I was small there was a Lanchbury a few doors from us, his brother lived in Canal Street, Longford, both worked at Keresley 'pit', talked of often, meant little to me. A few years after my marriage I found out my mother-in-law was a Lanchbury from Lady Lane, Longford (confusion as a kid).

Hi Kaga. In your boxing days did you ever come across a boxer from Nuneaton with the name "Canning"?

johnwright, no, but when I read Canning, 'Eric' came to mind, but we are talking 1940 days for me and Gummery's.

Ah Jeez Norman, You're ruining my childhood memories with stories of dead dogs & chickens. I involuntarily drank enough of that water to sink a ship, when I was about 7. I fell in under Longford Bridge and was dragged out unconscious by the postlady! I'm sure the story was made it to print in the Telegraph - anyone remember Mary Burden?

Hi I lived in Oaks Yard between 1950/1963, while I was there the name was changed to Oaks Place. Its location was off Longford Road down from the skating rink practically in Longford Park. Hope that's some help

I am researching a family tree for a friend. According to the 1861 census, her relatives William & Jane Stew lived in SCAMPTON ROW, Longford. Further research showed that an auction was held in 1854 at the premises of Mr Hodson & Mr Moore also in Scampton Row. The auction was for 3 A-LA Bar Looms (whatever they were) Does anyone have any idea where Scampton Row used to be ?

Hi all Whilst looking for info regards the River Sowe I have stumbled across this website describing Longford. Longford Eye Web.

Thanks for those links Philip. Before the war my father had some connection with Tom Mann and I feel sure that he visited our house. I have totally forgotten what that connection was, that is if I ever knew. As with many things we really should glean from our parents what information that we can before its to late and memories are lost forever. As I have mentioned before, my childhood was spent in Hall Green Rd and the Sowe was just over the road. In those days the river was quite clean and supported a variety of wildlife. Between the old bridge and the river corner at Kay's farm kingfishers could be seen occasionally. On the corner where the river ran slow and deep there were newts and rarely crayfish. We could catch eels with a hook and line right opposite our house. With the coming of the war or perhaps a little earlier all that changed, it became polluted and was little more than just a smelly brook.

Thank you Philip. A real walk down memory lane for me, those pictures really show how much countryside there was in the early thirties in that area. As more factories grew in Foleshill in the twenties and thirties, the more brooks and rivers became polluted as LesMac stated. But a few questions to the Longford Eye. A pity no one has shown the canal drained. Or when did the Rivoli take over or when did they show Asian pictures, or what was the building on the right in the Old Crown picture? Or what year did the train stop running over Aldermans Green Road? The real things that upset the balance to people in Longford district. LesMac, Thomas Mann was born 1856 and more or less started the unions. Edited by Midland Red, 19th Aug 2017 2:46 pm (Reference to cinema copied into 'Coventry's cinemas' thread for further discussion)

Hi from a new member. Across from the Rivoli the ice cream shop was owned by Dan Tebbut who delivered his ices locally on a push bike fridge! Perhaps 1950 time. Cheers

Hi. As well as the concrete works you had the "Longford Brick co" set behind Sydnall road and up through Union Place. The "clayhole" associated with it had a pond at the bottom where we caught newts till we were chased off by a mouthy employee! Naughty naughty! Cheers.