Bedworth and Nuneaton

Well, sort of! There's a ridge of volcanic deposits in the area between Nuneaton and Atherstone but the volcanoes which created it ceased to exist 500m years ago. Nuneaton itself sits on a layer of sandstone formed about 250m years ago.

Thanks Morgana for all the info. Although Tracey's cafe on the A444 do one mean batch, but Pete's Chippy as you say sells great chips. A few more places are the Manor Hospital, that is now a doctors and day care place. The old workhouse near to G.E. Hospital, and the old railway station at Chilvers Coton. It won a prize for best kept station at one time. Arbury Rd at one time was called Swan Lane, and there is talk of a very long tunnel that came from St. Mary's on Manor Court Rd, out towards Arbury Hall. And Arbury Hall had its very own canal system, which was fed water from Seeswood pool. Hence in the George Eliot book it mentions a mill on the floss, but was in fact on the canal system owned by Arbury Hall. It joined the Coventry Canal near to where the dip in the road is by the police speed camera as you head into Beduff.

Having being bombed out (1941 jargon!!) in Cov. was sent to stay with relatives in Nuneaton. Schooled there age 9 thro 11. Used to collect train numbers in Coton where Midland, LMS and LNER could be seen. My uncle was the commissionaire at the Princes cinema so plenty of freebees and the Ritz was the bestest cinema for miles. I also remember one of our teachers was a french lady and the mind boggled at that.

I lived in Chapel End for several years an often went for a ramble around Hartshill Hayes. Could be wrong but I believe it's gated now and is classed as a Country Park with a charge for parking. Short distance away is Oldbury Hall and nearby is a stunning view across to Derbyshire. We also used to go into the remains of Harthill Castle, don't know if it was private property but we were never challenged. Along Oldbury Lane there is a barrow or ancient burial ground, I was never able to find much of the history of the castle or barrow. Les

I read there is a haunted tunnel at Hartshill Hayes, has anyone heard of this?

Yes there is a tunnel at the Hayes but haunted, who knows? You can find a picture of the entrance at Pictures of England.com. Les

'Mirrorpix' have just added some great photos of Bedworth. I have linked one but there are quite a few. Plenty of photos of pubs as well.

Great photo Foxcote, been to see on Mirrorpix

Thank you for the photo Foxcote. I used to get the bus to work, outside the Alms Houses opposite Smith's departmental shop. The thing I remember most about Smiths was the wooden floors, the dark wood shop fittings and the female staff all wore black skirts and white blouses. In front of Smiths used to be a street market.

I thought the Bedworth folks would find it interesting. Tricia, have you been on the Mirrorpix site to see the others as I think Morgana has, you'll love them.

There are a few houses left in Nuneaton's Abbey Green area that still have the wash house, outside w/c, coal house and wood shed along the back wall of their back yards. I was pleased to be allowed to photograph this as a snapshot in history. There is no grass or flower beds here, just brick flooring and the sheds. The old wash house still retains its brick built wash basin with the hole built under for the fire that heated up the water. Outside in the yard was a stone laid into the brick flooring, with a rusty metal ring set into it. The owner thinks it maybe the capping stone for an old well, but has never lifted it to find out.

You hear stories from time to time that make you wonder if it did or did not happen. Take the case of the horse and cart falling down a hole. A person told me today about an old story of a horse and cart that was tipping waste down a sink-hole in the area of Stanleys brickyard and the old quarry nearby, around the Northumberland Ave area as it is today. As the horse was being backed up to tip its load, it backed a little to far and fell to its death. Not to stop the work going on, it just got covered over and was buried with its cart still attached. Another story I have heard of from that area is of the priest's bolt hole from Manor Court Church (St.Mary's Abbey) going as far as Arbury Hall, it is said that back in the 70's or 80's, the Council opened up the Abbey end of it to find out what state it was in, but could only get a few yards into it before they came to a cave in. Does anyone know of these or have other tales to tell?

I enjoyed your great stories Baz, thanks for sharing, yes I would believe them, I've known my brother be a doubting Thomas which my mum used to call him, he is 70, when my mum used to say things of years ago, until he had found she was telling the truth by research. The Victorians were not loving people, they were fighters, strong willed, even cruel in some cases, it's called survive and rule, it even carries on in some of us to this day. I was reading on a forum the other day of tunnels under Guys Cliffe House, a chap whose name was anonymous is making maps of the tunnels and is finding out more each time. I could tell loads of stories of years ago listening to my mum and dad's experiences you would probably not believe. Imagine walking 7 miles to work then underground walking another 7 miles to get to the face of a coal mine, just bread and cheese as cheese wouldn't go off with the heat like meat, which was rare anyway, then working a twelve hour shift, then having to walk back all those same miles again to go home, at 14 years of age, that is what my dad had to do. My uncles and dad use to frequent a pub in South Wales which the tables and chairs would raise up even if you were sitting on them on their own, it was haunted, I'm sure it still exists.

Hello there Morgana. The Cornish Pasty was made for the miners when they wanted a good meat meal, but with the dirty hands, found it tasting like the coal they were digging. A pastry was put around the meat and veg to form a crust that could be thrown away after (I do read cook books as well)