‘Pem’ (Emily) Green’s Shop, The Square, Attleborough c1900. (See page 12 for more photos from the Green Family Album) NUNEATON AND NORTH WARWICKSHIRE FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Member of the Federation of Family History Societies http://www.nnwfhs.org.uk

JOURNAL JULY 2004

Price £1.50 (first copy free to members) Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 1

CONTENTS PAGE NNWFHS Committee 1 NNWFHS Diary - A Report From The Chairman, Peter Lee. 2 Shocking Suicide - By Tom Beebe 3 20th Century Family Myths & Legends - By Jacqui Simkins 4 Nuneaton’s Inns, Pubs and Taverns - By Peter Lee 5 One Of The Most Neglected Genealogical Techniques - By Alan F Cook 11 Family Album - The Green, Brown & Townsend Families’ Holiday Photos - By Anne Paling-Lawson 12 HART - Atherstone Civic Society’s Local Heritage Initiative - By Judy Vero 13 New Books, CDs Etc 14 Get Netted 15 Noticeboard 16 New Members/ New Members’ Interests 16 Publications 17

NNWFHS COMMITTEE

CHAIRMAN PETER LEE, P O Box 2282, Nuneaton, Warwicks CV116ZT Tel: (024) 7638 1090 email [email protected]

INDEXING PROJECTS CO-ORDINATOR CAROLYN BOSS, Nuneaton Library, Church Street, Nuneaton, & VICE CHAIR Warwickshire CV11 4DR Tel: (024) 7638 4027

SECRETARY & ALVA KING, 26 Thirlmere Avenue, Nuneaton, Warwicks. CV11 6HS BURIALS INDEXING PROJECT Tel: (024) 7638 3499 email: [email protected]

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY JOHN PARTON, 6 Windmill Rd, Atherstone, Warwickshire CV9 1HP Tel: (01827) 713938 email [email protected]

TREASURER & CELIA PARTON, 6 Windmill Rd, Atherstone, Warwickshire CV91HP NORTH WARWICKSHIRE CO-ORDINATOR Tel: (01827) 713938 email [email protected]

JOURNAL & PUBLICATIONS EDITOR PAT BOUCHER, 33 Buttermere Ave, Nuneaton,Warwicks CV11 6ET & MICROFICHE LENDING LIBRARIAN Tel: (024) 7638 3488 email [email protected]

COMMITTEE MEMBER & RAY HALL, 4 Thornhill Drive, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, CV11 6TD BURIALS INDEXING PROJECT Tel: (024) 76 744647 email [email protected]

PUBLICATIONS MANAGER ROBERT BUTLER, 16 Dovecote Close, Solihull, West Midlands B91 2EP Tel 0121 743 8526 email [email protected]

WEBSITE MANAGER BILL BOSWELL, 21 Randle Road, Stockingford, Nuneaton,Warwicks CV10 8HR Tel: (024) 7634 3596 email [email protected]

COMMITTEE ALAN F COOK

COMMITTEE VAL PICKARD, 108 Lister Road, Atherstone, Warwicks CV9 3DF Tel: (01827) 711863 email: [email protected]

NORTH AMERICAN REPRESENTATIVE HARLOW G FARMER, 7101 Bay Front Dr. #124 Annapolis, MD 21403 USA. E-mail [email protected]

If you have a photograph or an article which you would like to be published in the next journal please contact Pat Boucher either at the monthly meetings, telephone 024 7638 3488, email [email protected] or by post at 33 Buttermere Ave, Nuneaton, Warwicks, CV11 6ET. I am happy to accept word processed articles or scanned photographs etc on computer disk. Also, don’t forget items for help wanted, new websites, software reviews etc Thanks, Pat Boucher - Editor. Deadline for all copy to be included in the October issue of the Journal is September 7th Page 2 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal NnwFHs Diary A Report From The Chairman, Peter Lee As we enter the summer season family history takes a bit of a back seat. Holidays, gardening, rambling, fishing, etc. and other outdoor pursuits fill up our leisure time. Despite this some of you enjoy visiting some of those places associated with your ancestors. Visiting your roots is a summer favourite, as well as more serious studies, records offices, libraries, museums and battlefields. Light nights and better weather help this. Our family history society never shuts so if you need any help this summer season we are here for you.

The Nuneaton local and family history weekend is at the Chilvers Coton Heritage Centre on Saturday, September 11th. If you can make it we are pleased to see you there especially if you are displaying your family records. This is something we welcome very much and we will be pleased to meet you. Not only that you might come face to face with some long lost cousin, or obtain additional local information, which provide new clues where to look next. Tables and display areas are available, but you need to book early to reserve them. To reserve your place at the event please call me on my mobile (07710 233539) which is switched on 24 hours a day and accompanies me everywhere, (even to the pub!). Try and combine it with a weekend in the area. If you are coming a long distance we can help with hotel, guest house and travel information. Also we might be able to put you in touch with a cousin or two who live locally.

Our popular second Tuesday of the month sessions at Nuneaton Library (7.30pm-9.30pm) continue despite the hot weather, so please try and make one of those. Bring your family with you as well. Let us show them what records are here and take advantage of the local collections with all the census records 1841-1891, as well as parish records.

Thinking of new ways we can maximize the benefits of family history, I was talking to an Indian friend of mine one day who told me all about his family back in the sub-continent. It occurred to me that an “Asian Family History Event” might be a useful addition to our range of services at the Library. So please let me know if you have any expertise in this area. In our multi-cultural society “family” is the same in any language, so there must be a local need here. This is planned for later in the year.

Something I have learned about organizing these local events is the total coverage you need to give them. Every available publicity outlet as well as constant reminders to people so that what appeared to be a good idea three months ago is still fresh in people’s thoughts right up until the day of delivery. Forgive me, therefore, if you get the odd e.mail reminding you of what is on. You can always delete it after you have read it.

CRIME WATCH 1820 STYLE By Val Pickard

The Sheepy Magna Association for the Proscecution of Felons instructed Henry Radford, Solicitor of Atherstone to seek out one William Corbett, Cattle Dealer of Austrey in Warwickshire. This he did by placing an advertisement in The Times newspa- per in early 1820. 15 Guineas reward was offered. NNWFHS William Corbett was charged with having “feloniously stolen, taken and driven away on or about the 16th of December 1819, HELPLINE one beast of the cow kind, the property of Ralph Oldacres of Austrey” it was also said that “he hath fled from justice”. Peter Lee

William Corbett, about 48 years of age, 5ft, 3 or 4 inches, fresh (024) 7638 1090 complexion, full and round visage, sharp look with his eyes, 6.30 - 8.00pm dark brown hair, straight in person, very stout made and active. Mon to Sat When last seen in Northampton, on Saturday 19th February he had on a round hat, light coloured great coat and kneecaps. Or email: Don't you wish you had a description of one of your ancestors [email protected] as good as that? I wonder if they ever caught him?

Details taken from the archives of The Times newspaper. Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 3 Shocking Suicide By Tom Beebe Thomas Beebe was my great discovery was first telephoned to remains of the deceased were brought grandfather, he was the son of John Hinckley railway station, and the in on a trolley. Witness attended Beeby and was born in Dadlington on station master, accompanied by a subsequently and made an 25th February 1860. He married Clara policeman, immediately went to the examination. The body was Meller at Dadlington on 17th June scene, the body being at once removed, decapitated, one arm and one leg had 1880 (although it is interesting to note and placed on a platelayer's trolley. It been amputated, and the body was that on the 1881 census he is at his being found that the accident otherwise greatly mutilated. Witness parents’ house and listed as unmarried, happened in Warwickshire, the did not previously know the deceased. whilst Clara Beeby is listed as a remains were brought to Nuneaton Death was the result of mutilation and married kitchen girl living at the home station. The exact district in which the decapitation of the body. of Mr Charles Jee at Nuneaton fields). occurrence took place was Hydes Pastures, which is situated in the Clara Beebe, wife of the deceased, The spelling of Beeby had changed to Longford police division. The said her husband was 31 years of age. Beebe when my grandfather was born circumstances surrounding the case He was by trade a collier, working on and they were living at Cold Comfort clearly point to it being one of suicide. the pit bank. He was ill five weeks ago in Hinckley, which was the area were A letter, written in pencil, was found but had not previously been ill, nor yet the Sunnyside Hospital stands on the upon the body, which, after being since. She could not say anything as to A447 Ashby road. When or why they deciphered with difficulty, was found the condition of his mind. He lost his moved to Attleborough I do not know. to read as follows:- "My dear Clara,- I mother some weeks ago, and had been felt so bad I could not help it. You have troubled by this event. During I did not know about what had been a good wife to me. Don't you fret. Saturday night he seemed rather happened to Thomas but then, at the I have always been afraid we should queer, but appeared to get all right. January meeting, I was talking to come to want. Do not fret my dear; I Since the frost had been about, he had someone about Higham on the Hill could not help it. Tell my Father not to been troubled about the fear of coming when a visitor to our meeting, Mrs fret. I could not help it. Take care of to want, and this seemed to prey on his Celia Hornbuckle, asked me had I read my children. God bless them. I wish I mind. On Sunday morning he went the history of the Mellers of Higham. could be cheerful, but I could not. from home to the colliery, to unload a She told me that she may be able to get Good bye my dear." There was no truck of clod. He kissed her as usual me a copy but it turned out that she signature to the letter, and for some before leaving the house, and bade her could not. While doing some time the man, whose body was brought "Good-bye," telling her he should researching in Leicester she saw the to the Crown Inn, in Bond Street, return in two and a half hours. He did article in the Daily Post, noticed the remained unidentified. A description of not return, however, until half-past name Beebe, thought he could be on the appearance, clothing, etc, was five o'clock. She asked him where he my tree, and so contacted me with the issued, and late the same evening the had been, and he said he did not know. details. The rest, as they say, is now body was identified by his wife as that He seemed rather quiet, and she asked History! I now have various accounts of Thomas Beebe, labourer, of him what was the matter. He replied, of the incident taken from local Attleborough. It should be mentioned "Nothing particular". He had a good newspapers, one of which is printed that a pair of reins were found lying tea, and also some of the dinner, below. Thomas was buried at near the scene of the accident, and the which witness had kept hot. After tea Dadlington. His widow, Clara, died theory is that the man at first he stayed for some time, going out c1940 at Market Bosworth and is contemplated ending his life by shortly before eight o'clock. She did buried at Higham on the Hill. hanging but that it occurred to him to not see him alive again. He had never find a more speedy method of ending told her he was tired of life. When he The following account is taken from his existence. came in on the Sunday evening she the Nuneaton Chronicle of Friday thought he had had some beer, as he January 16th 1891 An inquest on the body of Beebe was looked rather down, and she said, held at the Crown on Wednesday at "Aren't you well, Tom?" He said, "I'm SHOCKING SUICIDE ON THE noon by Dr. C. W. Iliffe, the district all right." He had always thought, RAILWAY NEAR NUNEATON coroner, and a jury of whom Mr. C. ever since they had been married that Rowton was chosen foreman. poverty would come upon him, and A horrible discovery was made on Inspector Cliffe attended on behalf of that they would come to want. His Monday morning on the London and the London and North-Western wages averaged about 16s or 18s per North-Western Railway Company's Railway Company, and produced a week. She had no idea that he line between Hinckley and Nuneaton, a plan of the scene of the accident, contemplated suicide. He said when he few yards on the Warwickshire side of which he explained to the Coroner. went out that he felt funny. As they sat the Watling Street, the body of a man, by the fire she asked him if he would terribly mutilated, being found upon Dr. R. B. Nason, surgeon to the read a chapter from the Bible, as he the metals. The head was completely London & North Western Railway usually did, and he said he would. He severed, and one arm and one foot had Company, said his son Dr. W. S. (Continued on page 4) also been cut off. Information on the Nason was at the station when the Page 4 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal

did not do so, however, but got up with any. above, and also a chain, the sum of 1 s shortly afterwards and taking his hat, 9d, and a red pocket handkerchief, went out, saying he should be back in By a juror: The note produced was in which were found upon the deceased. a few minutes. the deceased's handwriting. She did not see him write it. The Coroner asked the police to hand Charles Currin, miner, of the money found on the body over to Attleborough, said he knew the Thomas Allen, engine driver in the the widow. In summing up, he pointed deceased. He last saw him alive at a employ of the London and North- out that the case was an easy one for quarter to six on Sunday night, when Western Railway Company, said he the jury to determine as to what was he was having his supper. Witness had was driving the 8.25 train from the condition of the man's mind. The seen him from time to time during the Leicester to Nuneaton on Monday deceased had evidently contemplated past year or so. His wife was joking morning. When between Hinckley and self destruction by taking about with him about having been away so long, Nuneaton, he saw something on the him a pair of reins and a chain, either and witness left the house, as he did line, but could not tell what it was. It of which he might have used with not think it was any business of his to was near the bridge which crosses the which to hang himself, and it was stay when the husband and wife were Watling Street Road, on the down line, probable that it afterwards occurred talking about their own affairs. He did and on the bank side of the railway. He to him that the safest and quickest not think that any domestic quarrel called the stoker's attention to the method of destruction would be by had occurred which would be likely to matter, and went on to the Midland means of walking down the line and influence the deceased to act as he had junction, where he told the signal-man placing himself upon the rails in front done, that there was something like a bag, of a passing train. There could be no lying on the side of the railway. Some question as to the condition of mind, In reply to the Coroner, P. C. Smith platelayer's were sent back, who found because any man who acted like this said he had made every enquiry as to the body of the deceased. They were must without any doubt be out of his the reins found near the body, but travelling forty miles an hour at the mind. could not discover the owner. time, and it was a foggy morning. Witness knew that it was not his engine The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide Mrs Beebe, recalled, said her husband that had caused the accident. whilst in a state of temporary did not possess any reins. The insanity." deceased had no reins when he left the P. C. Smith produced the reins found house, and she had never seen him near the body, the letter referred to Sergeant Lines had charge of the case. 20th Century Family Myths & Legends By Jacqui Simkins Great grandmother Jane had married offspring bearing three surnames were place of great-grandmother Jane along three times. I had not found her death living together on the farm at Onston: with her third husband John Rigby. (or that of her third husband) in Eardley, Challoner and Rigby – a Jane had died in 1924 at the age of 71 Cheshire where they lived and farmed, genealogist’s dream (or nightmare!). years – nearly a hundred miles from and half gave up thinking she had where I had been searching for her. married a fourth time so I was looking Within the family it was said that Whilst uneasy that her grave appears for the wrong name (I still haven’t grandfather, Fred Challoner, had to now be in private hands, it was a positively found her birth!). I had come south to Warwickshire where relief to know where she was (I have searched and re-searched the GRO for farms were cheaper and readily taken the matter of access up with the her death in Cheshire and had spent available, accompanied by his half- local vicar and diocesan office – watch many an hour reading gravestones in brother Tom Rigby: they looked this space!). the villages around Delamere all to no remarkably similar. My mother had avail. never known who her grandmother Further research is needed to discover Challoner was and this fuelled the why so many Cheshire families came Jane Dulson was reputedly born 1852 assumption that Fred and Tom were to Warwickshire during the late at Whixall, Shropshire “daughter of the only family who moved south. nineteenth and early twentieth Thomas” – the only near match I have centuries. Were agents sent to is daughter of Mary Dulson. In It therefore almost passed unnoticed Cheshire to seek tenants for the farms? Cheshire in 1877 she married my when someone mentioned that a John I have been told that rents were very widowed great-grandfather Joseph Rigby had once farmed at Little low to attract dairy farmers, as there Challoner (b. 1836) as Jane Eardley a Packington (between Meriden and was a need to produce milk for the widow aged 26. Joseph and two of his Coleshill). Unsure if this was John burgeoning town populations children by Jane were to die in an senior, John half-brother of Fred, or (Cheshire farmers were noted for their epidemic in 1885 when near neighbour some unrelated Rigby, I took a visit to milk production): or is that another John Rigby also lost his wife. My trawl the churchyard. I walked along myth? However, I do know now that grandfather and his brother survived the short drive of what is now Fred Challoner, Tom Rigby, William along with their mother Jane and John signposted “private residence” to the Challoner and John Rigby Jnr (half- Rigby who then got hitched in the church (now a house) and hoped brothers) all came to Warwickshire - local Methodist Chapel, and more nobody was home to challenge me. I though what happened to the latter two children were born. By 1901 Jane’s found the gravestone with ease – I had is to be discovered. at long last located the final resting Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 5

Nuneaton’s Inns, Pubs and Taverns By Peter Lee “There is no private house in which a bit of additional income could be Tuttle Hill next to the Coventry Canal people can enjoy themselves so well as obtained. In a town of courts and yards bridge. Closed in 1950 to remove an at a capital tavern. You are sure you like Nuneaton the owner of the plot of awkward bottleneck when the canal are welcome, and the more good things land with his good front house fronting bridge was widened. A Bass House. you call for, the welcomer you are. the main street, who had filled up his The license was transferred to a new There is nothing which has yet been back yard with court tenements could pub by that name further up Tuttle Hill. contrived by man by which so much turn his parlour into a beer house thus Licensees included Francis Harrison happiness is produced as by a good scraping a few more coppers out of his (1806) John Cotton (1828) Samuel tavern or inn.” hapless tenants. In October 1830 a new Warren (1841). In 1877 Alfred Dr Johnson 1776 (from “Boswell’s act of parliament removed 2s. 8d. beer Scrivener the former and founding Life”) duty from a barrel of beer and removed editor of the Nuneaton Observer wrote: the need to be licensed as long as you “While the Market place was excited The following is based on a list only sold beer. New beer houses by the dashing glories of the mail originally published in the Midlands sprung up all over the district. Many coach, curious groups woul;d gather at Evening Tribune October 21st.1899 only lasted as long as the proprietor times on the Punch Bowl bridge to with many additional notes on pubs could be bothered to carry on the watch the passage of the packet or the which have come and gone since then, business. Some old beer houses flyboats. A.Harris was the landlord and those still with us today. established back in 1830 are still going 1938/9 today as fully fledged pubs. Now The White Gate Inn, a cottage near Nuneaton had a wide selection of old having obtained licenses to sell wines, the Windmill on Tuttle Hill, kept by licensed premises. Pubs are important spirits and tobacco. Thomas Lees. It bore the inscription: in social history because they were, and “This Gate hangs well upon the trees, still are, the working man’s front The former Wellington (now re-named call and drink at Thomas Lees”. parlour. Here they can meet with their The Pig & Whistle) traces its ancestral The Windmill Inn, Tuttle Hill (house friends with an endless supply of liquid history back to the Old Ram, Market occupied in 1899 by Thomas J Chinn.) refreshment. A whole chapter of Place, where A.Jephcoat’s shop stood. formerly kept by William Croshaw people’s lives were acted out in the bar. A very very old pub believed to date (1815 - ), cordwainer, who was the A resort of comfort in times of back to the time of Nuneaton Abbey. It grandfather of one of Nuneaton’s relaxation, in distress and marital is recorded in a survey of Nuneaton mayors Walter Croshaw (1879- ). infidelity. Political headquarters, dated 1543/4 when at “Le Ramme” was Mayor from 1937-1939 sporting clubs, friendly societies, pub Richard Jely, tenant of John Broke, of entertainments from darts and London. Daniel Green and Thomas Abbey Street/ Abbey Green dominoes to skittles met there. Chasing Bills were publicans there in the first The Plough and Ball, Abbey Green. the opposite sex, posing in your best half of the 19th century. In Dan Green’s Derived is name from the Old Plough attire, getting rid of the stresses and time it was a resort for cock-fighting. in the Market Place which closed and strains of your working lives, a place of When the pub closed in the 1860’s its was demolished in 1845 and the site retreat from a nagging wife or a place was taken by the New Ram in later became Iliffe’s the Chemist on the plethora of kids. Where you could Abbey Street (later re-named the corner of the Market Place and Bye indulge in lotteries, betting, and other Wellington) William Clarke was the Corner (Newdigate Square). The gaming pursuits. Not to mention the publican at the New Ram in 1863. license was then combined with the warmth and cleaner facilities than equally ancient Golden Ball an old pub sometimes one would have at home. The Wharf Inn. In Coventry Road was on Abbey Green. The original Golden But like actors once their part at the bar built as a canal pub with warehouses Ball was said to date back to the 18th was played out, the soap opera of their for boat traffic. It was originally owned century but looked from contemporary lives was forgotten. by the Arbury Estate and then was photos a lot older. Also that is was taken over by Salt’s Brewery of Burton favourite retreat in the olden days for Public houses also played a key part in on Trent which was absorbed into the cock fighters and bull baiters when the commercial life of our town. The Bass empire. Demolished there was a bull ring on Abbey Green. Inns and Hotels provided bed, board Kept by William Cox in 1850 and Tom and dinner for visitors and commercial The Virgins Inn stood here on the Willoughby c. 1900. The pub was travellers. Fed and watered their horses. corner of College Street at Hill Top. It being altered in 1904 when it suddenly Provided a stopping place for stage is said there was a shrine to the Virgin collapsed. Ceilings were being lifted coaches. Business was contracted in the Mary on the corner of Coventry Road because they were only 5’10” or 6’0” bar in the days before offices were and College Street. (Although it was high. However the building was so used. Even today some of the best not called College Street when the fragile that the act of raising the ceiling business deals are done over a “pie and shrine was there up until about the brought the whole lot crashing down. a pint”. middle of the 19th century.) That is how Two workmen were injured but got the pub got its name. It was located at away with a miraculous escape Taverns and public houses provided this ancient road junction which was including one Nuneaton rugby entertainment for the general known as “Virgin’s End” footballer Mr.A.Lee who was due to population and often were used as a play for the club against Handsworth place of business and a stopping place Tuttle Hill the next day. Needless to say he could for carters and traders. The White Horse, Tuttle Hill, a former not play. The pub was then entirely canal inn is today a Chinese restaurant rebuilt and is now the Town Talk. Fred Beer houses were found throughout the (2003). F. Wale was the landlord in Carris was the landlord in 1938/9. The district, and were informally set up in 1938/9 Old Plough incidentally was the site of people’s front rooms where a chance of The Punch Bowl, At the bottom of (Continued on page 6) Page 6 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal

(Continued from page 5) Leicester factory. It burnt down in have become popular in Nuneaton ten a row of butchers shambles. Wooden 1928. years later. Paul Pry was an inquisitive stalls were arranged around its walls The Bell, Meadow Street. Joseph character. Located just above the and live animals were killed on the spot Bacon. Opened 1830 as a beer house. former chemist shop of Ranby’s which and their still warm meat supplied to Still extant in 1841 when the address stood on the corner of High Street and local shoppers on market days. was given as The Bell Inn, Abbey Abbey Street. David Smith was the The Wheatsheaf Inn, Abbey Street Meadow. proprietor. dated back before November 1825 The Bowling Green, later the Midland Seven Stars, Abbey Street, on the site when it belonged to a Mr. Lingard and Railway Inn, on the corner of Midland of the Tribune Buildings. (next to the was occupied by a landlord called Road and Manor Court Road. A very Bull’s Head – now the Courtyard). An Marler and other tenants. It was sold old pub which was there in the 1840’s. 1830 beer house. T.Johnson kept it at for £600. Later landlords were John It was bombed by the Luftwaffe in one time but precise dates are not Randle 1828 and 1841, William Craner 1941 and its license transferred to a available. (1850) The Wheatsheaf was rebuilt former private house in Princes Street – New Seven Stars, Abbey Street. about 1900 and was demolished during The Harcourt. The landlord in (possibly on a different site to the July and August 1963. A new modern 1938/39 was H.J.Knight. previous beer house. Elizabeth Staine. pub has taken its place. Rose and Crown, Abbey Street, house Whether this replaced the Seven Stars The Bush. Licensed victuallers returns now occupied by Mr. W.Green, builder. on the same site is not known. for 1806 give the name of this pub in Benjamin Rayner was landlord at least Cross Keys, Abbey Street next to the Nuneaton and the victualler. William between 1806-1841. In November 1877 Half Moon. Mr. John Smith purchased Taylor was the proprietor, but its Alfred Scrivener, Editor of the a newly erected premises at the back of location, thought to be in Abbey Street, Nuneaton Observer wrote: “The Rose the Half Moon for £350 in August 1817 is not known for certain. and Crown in Abbey Street, though which may have been later opened as The Black Horse, Midland Road, (not probably old at least as the times of the Cross Keys beer house.Occupied by to be confused with other Black Horse Good Queen Bess, is changed into a a Mr. J.Smith in 1899. pub, next to Mrs. Brownsons in 1899; plain and comfortable private house. It The Fox, Abbey Street. John Bell. Mr. John Simons was the owner.) is a remarkable well preserved example Bell was driver of the mail coach to The Constitution. Abbey Street. An of the old half timbered English Birmingham. He also rented a field in 1830 beer house. dwelling…The Rose and Crown in the Abbey Meadow off Meadow Street. The Black Horse, Abbey Green next to more modern days is chiefly The Shipwrecked Sailor, Abbey Lusty’s factory in 1899(house standing remarkable because its landlord, Mr. Street. An 1830 beer shop. then but since demolished) the noted Banjamin Raynor, who cracked his last The Britannia, Abbey Street, where badger baiters house. An 1830 beer old fashioned joke more than twenty Messrs Wilkinson’s premises were. shop. years ago, for thirty years united his Former publicans were John Dance The Coach and Horses. Abbey Street. general duties as mine host the office of (1828), Thomas Winter (1841), Joseph In the 1806 – 1850 kept by the English Master at the Grammar Haddon. Hastelow family. School.” The Odd-Fellows Arms. Or the The Abbey, Abbey Green. James Adie. The Exhibition, Abbey Street where “oddies” as it is popularly known is the Stood on the site of Frederick Mr. T.Tullett’s shop stood in 1899. last traditional pub in Abbey Street. Bostock’s butchers shop 7 Abbey George Wood was the proprietor. Still with its original name. J.H.Lucas Green. Building still stands in 2003 but Opened in 1851 to celebrate the Great was the landlord in 1938/9. much altered externally. Exhibition. The Bulls Head, Abbey Street. In the The Horse Shoes, Abbey Green, near The Royal Oak. Abbey Street. Alfred 1806-41 period was kept by the the Entrance to the Burgage Walk. Scrivener wrote in 1877 ”Higher Robottom family (Samuel, James and (This Horse shoes not to be confused upAbbey Street on the same side (as the Samuel) In 1863 by Sarah Ball. As it with the Horse Shoes at Chilvers Coton Rose & Crown) was the sign of an inn backed onto the Nuneaton gas works it with which it was contemporary). J. probably more ancient than its name. It may have been owned by them. When Wilson is a low mean dark building, but the it was sold by the Gas. Co. in The Three Tuns, Abbey Green. quaint corridors and intricate passages September 1893 former occupiers were Licensees Richard Hawkins (1806) In at its rear might be contemporous with listed as George Randall, Thomas January 1827 the Nuneaton Diary that memorable tavern the Tabbard at Buckler and William Ratcliffe. On 5th records “The Three Tuns, public house Southwark, whence Chaucers merry February 1986 it was sold to Bass in Abbey Street with three tenements company started on their immortal Holdings Ltd. A former landlord adjoining put up by auction and bo’t in pilgrimage.I please my wayward and reportedly has seen a ghost of an old about £1250. John Vernon was listed credulous fancy by supposing that this lady in Victorian dress who was seen there in 1828 and 1841. In 1850 Joshua tavern close to the Abbey Gates, was late in the bar one night as he was Siddall was tenant but it was owned by frequented of old by pilgrims and jolly locking up. She walked out through a William Vernon. It was put on the friars, by chapmen and devotees, whom solid wall! market again in August 1851 in four business or devotion brought to the The King’s Arms Upper Abbey Street. lots. venerable pile.” Unfortunately this Most of the Kings Arms customers Gauze Hall, now Baptist Chapel, word picture is all we have of the Royal were colliers or workers at the Hall and Abbey Street. Landlords were James Oak because in the 19th century it was Phillips factory at the rear to which Thorne in 1851 and John Haynes. Built entirely rebuilt and its replacement was there was a direct connecting footpath. in the heady days of the gauze ribbon th itself demolished in September 1960. This path was closed one day a year to trade at the beginning of the 19 C.B.Scattergood was the landlord in establish Hall & Phillips private right century as ware rooms for wholesale 1938/9. of way. Former landlords include ribbon dealers and traders. The gauze Shepherd & Shepherdess, Abbey William Congreave (1806) John Grave ribbon fashion died out and the large Street, where Dr. Vaughan lived in (1850) Kept by Pat Molloy, a premises were put to other uses 1899. James Biddle was the proprietor. policeman in the 1920’s. There was a including a pub. By 1900 it had become Paul Pry, An 1830 beer house.Abbey swimming pool at the rear of the pub. the factory premises of Pool Lorimer Street, named after a popular American The origins of this is obscure some and Tabberer. A subsidiary of their song which came out in 1820 and must (Continued on page 7) Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 7

(Continued from page 6) originally sat were The Rev. Samuel Joseph Kirby (1806) John Baraclough saying it originally belonged to Hall & Bracebridge Heming, chairman. Sir (1828) John Lowe (1841).Now the Phillips others that it was something to John Newdigate Ludford Chetwode, Crown is called Lloyds in the new do with the pub. Boxers used to train Bart., and the Rev. James Corrall premises built in the early part of the there in the 1920’s and 30’s. E.Hutt Roberts. Mr. Henry Power was the 19th century. At one time mine host was was the landlord in 1938/39. clerk of the court and the Chief 20stone giant – Ted Hutt. (probably the The Weavers Arms. No mention of Constables of the parish were Joseph same Ted Hutt who kept the Kings Abbey Street pubs would be complete Haddon and Abel Brown. Not a very Arms 1938/9 – the boxers pub). S.W. without reference to the Weavers Arms. satisfactory arrangement as you could Badger was the landlord in 1938/9. The It took its name from the principal trade often find the magistrates, the Crown (now Lloyds) is reputed to be of the town – silk weaving. Tenants constables and the defendant, as well as haunted but the ghost detected in recent were Thomas Griffin (1828); William the local labouring classes all drinking years has not yet been identified. Green (1841); James Wheway (1850). at the same bar! After 1914 it became The Mount Pleasant. Bond End. An C.Mann was the landlord in 1938/9. the town’s smartest hotel owned by 1830 beer house. The Pheasant Inn. 5 Abbey Street. Trust House’s. The Horse & Groom. Bond End. An Sarah Varden was the licensee in 1841 The Fox, Newdigate Square. John Bell 1830 beer house and 1850. Later occupiers were Roland Newdigate Street Prince’s Feathers, Bond Street, Till, Horace Warmington brother of (New Bridge Street) premises occupied by Mr. J.Clay in Louis Warmington the fruiterer in In Newdigate Street there was a beer 1899. Queens Road. The last licensee was H. th house at one time: The Lamp Tavern, Bond Street. On J.Fallows when the pub closed on 6 Dog and Partridge, Newdigate Street, the site of Mr. W.Grubb’s shop in September 1934. The license was now Mr.Swann’s clothiers. Elizabeth 1899. William King transferred to the Weddington Grove Wray was the proprietor. L & N W R Refreshment Rooms. former private house. Last house on left before entering the Abbey Gate Refreshment Rooms, Bond Gate, Bond Street gates to the Station yard. Kept by Abbey Gate, (licensed to sell beer) (formerly Bond End) Arthur and Eliza Chinn at 23 Bond where the American Meat Shop is. Mr. The Crown Inn, Bond Gate. In 1955 Street. Argyle. Mr. John Argyle was one of the former editor of the Midlands The Bell and Fleur de Lys, Bond Nuneaton’s pioneering photographers. Counties Tribune wrote: “I was born in Street. In 1806 owned by Daniel Wagstaff, and by 1863 Thomas Wagstaff. The Hollybush, in Bond Gate next to the Leicester Road Bridge. This old established pub was rebuilt in the early 1930’s. The new pub was built at the back of the old one which was closed in October 1934. It ceased to be a pub in April 1986. It has now become an office building known as Hollybush House. John Archer kept it in 1808. Thomas Large (1850), Joseph Mills (1874) Thomas Fortescue (1876). Then Mr. T.J. “Tuddy” Lilley before he went to the Newdigate Arms. The pub was always associated with the Angling fraternity in the town. For many years it had a function room which became a source of tittle tattle for all sorts of lurid goings on which cannot be repeated in these pages, but in later years this was later a venue for The old Newdegate Arms, demolished 1914 discotheques and dances. Bricklayers Arms. Blind Lane. Blind Lane was an alley way which ran from Newdigate Square the Crown Yard, Bond Street, now Back Street to Bond Street. It was (formerly Bye Corner) happily demolished and I still marvel, demolished by the 1920’s. Dick The Black Bull, later became the when crossing the river bridge at this Sidwell Newdigate Arms Inn in 1816. A point, however, 10 houses, a workshop The Railway Tavern. Certainly commercial and Posting House. Later and a bowling alley could have been on opened at the time the Trent Valley the Midland Railway’s commercial the site but it was so. I have referred to Railway was completed in 1847. The premises. Pulled down in 1914 to build the bowling alley, the last open air alley premises had been formerly occupied the new Newdigate Arms Hotel which in Nuneaton, I believe. Here there used by a wheelwright Dennis Marklew who was demolished in 1963. The to be trundled great bowls at great had been there since 1837. His daughter redevelopment of the old Newdigate skittles, the only break being copious Sarah (1841- ) was the landlady in Arms site for road widening cost swigs of ale from the gallon jugs in use 1871. The tenancy later passed to £8250. Former tenants were Thomas in those days. The ale was 3d. per pint, Joseph Henry Pipe. The Ancient Order Winfield (1828, 1845) Thomas Bills and it was ale!! I remember the of Buffaloes friendly society used to (1863). Joseph Bostock was the custodian of the Crown. Mr. meet there. Mr. Pipe’s oldest landlord in 1901. In the middle of the th Rowbottom and his two goliath sons – daughter – Annie Pipe married John 19 century a magistrates meeting was Titus and Fred. Good kindly chaps. I Bostock from the old established held every Saturday at the Newdigate often wonder what has become of Nuneaton butchery family. Arms Inn. The magistrates who them?” Former landlords include (Continued on page 8) Page 8 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal

(Continued from page 7) Church Street 10.45 service, repaired to quench their Regent Street The Marquis of Granby later the thirst in home- brewed ale.” Dun Cow, Regent Street. Richard Beet. Granby’s Head, on the corner of Rising Sun, Church Street. Charles Nuneaton’s most haunted pub. It is Church Street and Bridge Street. The Sands shown on the 1841 census and Regent Marquis of Granby was in real life: The Old Bull, later the Bull Inn, the Street did not exist before 1840 There John Manners, Marquis of Granby, the Bull Hotel, and now the George Eliot is an interesting story related to the third son of the Duke of Rutland (1721- Hotel, although it has ceased to be a haunting which centred on the pub up 1770). He was a popular soldier in his residential hotel. Two principal railway until it was demolished, but that is time, having made a heroic name for companies served the Nuneaton. Each another story! himself at the Battle of Minden at the company gave a dispensation to a local head of his regiment the Leicester hotel to provide accommodation for Queens Road (formerly Queen Blues and some of his regiment on travellers using their station and Street, Gas Street and Wash Lane) retirement opened pubs in his name. He “stopping over” en-route. The Bull The George & Dragon. Wash Lane. was a hero of the Seven Years War served the London & North Western Purchased by Joseph Scrivener. Mr. (1756-1763). The first pub named after Railway station on the Trent Valley Scrivener was a ropemaker and he laid him was at Hounslow. We can only route. As well as providing an omnibus out an extensive ropewalk. At the rear assume that the Nuneaton pub got its service from the station the railway of his premises he built ten tenement name in the same way. The pub was company collected parcels from there cottages and afterwards this was known associated with the Trickle family for to be distributed by the railway as Scrivener’s Yard. In the late 1930’s 30 years 1792-1828 but by 1841 was company. Local people would take these cottages were left disused and called the “Old Granby’s Head” and their parcels to the hotel for onward were taken over by the council after the kept by Joseph Orton. transmission. {the Newdigate Arms did night of the large blitz on Nuneaton in the same thing for the rival Midland May 1941 as a temporary mortuary. Kings Head, Church Street. When Railway} The Bull was the original Over one hundred bodies and body demolition started in June 1960 it was for the Red Lion in George Eliot’s parts had to be brought here to be stated to have been 400 years old. A “Scenes of Clerical Life”. It was identified and prepared for burial. A 30’0” deep well was discovered lined originally a coaching inn and the council employee who served in the with blocks of sandstone without the town’s post office. First World War and had witnessed the aid of mortar. The well was tested and carnage on the battle fields of France the water found perfect for drinking Weddington Lane had this harrowing job to do. W.B. purposes although the leaden pipe used The Graziers Arms, Weddington Lane Whitmore was the landlord in 1938/9. to pump the water through was hardly Midland Tavern, opposite the Graziers When the George & Dragon was conducive to healthy drinking by Arms in Weddington Lane. Benjamin demolished in August 1965 beneath the todays standards. Kelsey. roof tiles was a complete thatched roof Queens Head, Church Street, later the Gardeners Arms, Weddington Lane. which made the demolition very Pen & Wig. Certainly there in 1792 John Biggs. (later at the Graziers). dangerous. when it was kept by Elizabeth Watts. Horse & Jockey, Weddington Lane. The Cock & Bear. Wash Lane now William Johnson in 1806, Charles W.Wallis Queens Road. John Mallabone kept it Randle in 1828, William Thurman in in 1841. Later tenanted by George 1841, William Bond in 1863. The Market Place Moreton a well known local horse and Double Plough, Church Street. On the The Castle Hotel in the Market Place cattle doctor. C.H.Marston was site of the Close. (Alderman Melly’s was a commercial inn and hotel. Its landlord in 1938/9 house) Former landlords included Mary advertising in the 1870’s stated The Dukes Head, was licensed to John Mitchell in 1806 Richard Stirley (1828- “Superior accommodation with Mallabone in 1806. Its location is not 1841). Arthur Jebbett wrote in 1955: moderate charges………..The new tea recorded. “Just one other reference to inns. One and coffee rooms added to the above The Volunteer. Wash Lane. An 1830 of the name of “The Double Plough” an hotel are conducted on a low tariff beer house old chartist house existed opposite the adapted in modern coffee houses” In Cross Keys, Arbury Road. Z. Drakeley parish church. An informant states that 1845 hept by James Wagstaff (listed as Stag and Pheasant, Wash Lane. W. he has good cause to remember this a commercial and excise office. by Congreve particular licensed house, for on his 1863 was kept by Thomas William White House, just over Wash Lane wedding day nearly 60 years ago the Benfield (and brewer). (the Cock & Bear) bridge. Croft Road. parson was not quite ready to perform The Market House Inn. When the Arthur Payne the ceremony, so the wedding party Market House property (forerunner of The Red Lion, Wash Lane.Kept by adjoined to “the Double Plough” for a Nuneaton town hall) was built in 1820 William Buckler in 1801. Henry Green livener.” Dr. E.N.Nason who took a the former pub on this site, the in 1806, Hepzibah Hastelow in 1828, keen interest in local history wrote in Britannia was demolished and its John Boswell in 1841. Later rebuilt 1936: “Just beyond’ the Close’ [Ald. E. license taken over by the Market House with a new pub on the same site. F.Melly’s house latterly] the last house Inn. “The Market House Inn is let to on the right there was an inn called the Wm. Ratliff, of the Brewery, Coventry Princes Street “Plough” [in fact” the Double at £70 per year in June 1862.”) The The Harcourt. Named after an old Plough” ]. This was an old thatched brewer, William Ratliff wrote resident in the new licensed premises. roof, whitewashed walled building, subsequently, “Dear Sir, it is not a Harcourt Taylor. One of the victualling above the door of which was a small customary thing with me to request any Taylors. Had formerly been a private scale model of a plough as its sign. It alteration in a bargain once made, but house known as “Harcourt House” Last was here that the bell ringers from the these fearfully bad times render it lived in by Henry Barrett MRCVS. parish church, when they had finished absolutely necessary that I should Thought to have had the license their “chime” and let the bells down on obtain some reduction of rent off the transferred from the Midland Railway Sunday morning and while the “five Market House Inn after Xmas. The Inn which was bombed and destroyed minute” bell was still ringing and custome of the house has naturally in a German air raid in 1941. members of the congregation were lessened by the present extraordinary hastening to avoid being late for the (Continued on page 9) Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 9

(Continued from page 8) leisure gardens on the corner of the Market House Inn. W.Limm was the depression of trade, and the loss newly laid Victoria Street and Queens landlord in 1938/9. maintained by the non-letting of stalls Road – the Palace Gardens which was White Hart, Market Place. The name is also very great, from the same cause. later used as a site for the Palace was very popular in this part of the I must ask as a favour that the Cinema in 1926. This had formerly Forest of Arden with its deer hunting proprietor of the property will reduce been a large house in its own grounds traditions.Where the Star Tea Cos. the present rent to £60 per annum from st and old fashioned gardens. Shop was. In 1806 landlord was December 21 until the revival of trade The White Swan. Market Place. Kept Thomas Cox, William Wagstaff 1828, enables my tenant once again to return by John Buswell 1806. An Ansells 1841 Taylor & Estlin, 1863 David to the rent. I think this request is most house latterly. Closed Sunday 30th Bosworth. reasonable and I trust will be acceded December 1962. The premises were The Grapes, Market Place. Mr. to. Yours faithfully, William Ratliff” purchased by Lesters the Chemist. The Barlow’s Liquor shop was formerly The trustees wrote back stating that last landlords George & Winnie two licensed houses, the Grapes and the they could not reduce the rent, but Handley had been there since 1953. A Board Inn back to back with a owing to the depression in trade would colourful landlady was Harriett Platt, whispering gallery..The former was make some allowance. They eventually the widow of Peter Platt who died in a abandoned. The old sign of the Board had the “tea room” repaired and rep flu epidemic in January 1922. Born in collapsed in 1899. The Board was kept [ainted at their own cost in lieu of an allowance of rent In 1863 the tenant 1883 Peter Platt had been a very good in 1806 by Thomas Thompson and was Joseph Batchelor. The pub and the footballer playing for Blackburn Mary Taylor by 1841. Market House was demolished in 1900 and the site sold. The Hare and Squirrel, The Market Place; formerly the “Old Crown Inn” was later refronted and modernised then renamed the “Crystal Palace”. In 1543/4 there is reference to the Crowne Inn, leaseholder Richard Ratclyff. This may be the same premises. The name was changed from the Hare & Squirrel to the Crystal Palace by Ebenezer Brown (1828-1905) when he purchased it for £290 before 1863. Eb. Brown turned it into Nuneaton’s main place of entertainment in the last quarter of the 19th century. The Crystal Palace at Attleborough is its lineal descendent. Former tenants in the 18th century had been Thomas Williams and a Mr. Smart followed by John Burton. John Beamish kept it in 1801-6. Later tenants were Mary Beamish (1828), James Ball (1841) (who had married a Market Place in the early 1900’s with the Board Inn on the left. Sarah Beamish in 1837) Ebenezer Brown (by1863). Ebenezer Brown was a local entrepreneur who provided a Rovers and Luton Town and latterly Vicarage Street and Wheat Lane large concert hall and made the Nuneaton Town. He married Harriett The Black Horse, an Ind Coope and “Crystal” into Nuneaton’s principal Bradbury a widow whose husband had Allsops house, on the corner of place of entertainment. He was later a kept the White Swan previously. Vicarage Street and Wheat Street member of the syndicate that built the The Peacock. public house put on sale demolished in 1959.Mrs. A.Grant was Prince of Wales Theatre (later the by auction March 1828. The highest the landlord in 1938/39. Its license was Hippodrome) at a cost of £20,000. bidder was £870. Former tenants transferred to the Pheasant Inn on the include Thomas Thurman (1806) and Camp Hill estate which opened on Later landlords included George th Taylor ,Annie Wrighton (1898) In Edward Thurman (1828). Edward December 4 . 1958. November 1899 the Crystal Palace was Beamish (1841-1863) (formerly at the The Heart in Hand. Built in 1850. On under the new management of Mr. H. Hare & Squirrel). the opposite corner to the Black Horse B.Jennings (late of the “Prince of The Old Cock, Market Place. Was in Wheat Street. Demolished at the Wales” Moseley and the “Waggon & pulled down in 1818 to build the same time. 1958. Frequented by Horses” Edgbaston Street, Market House and conveyed to the railway footplate crews both before Birmingham. At that time it was said to trustees of that establishment for a sum going onto duty and off duty. H.Mellor have had the “Finest Smoke Room in of £800 raised by public subscription. was the landlord in 1938/9. When it town”. With resident pianists – Mr. R. The Plough, Market Place. Joseph closed and its license was transferred to A.Hughes and Mr. George Wynne. On Walton (1806) Sarah Robinson (1828) the newly built Donnithorne Arms in 7th June 1900 the pub was seriously Samuel Warren (1841). See notes on Donnithorne Avenue the last landlord damaged by fire with £1000 worth of the Plough and Ball for more Mr. M.Blewett said – “Noted for its damage. George Luckman was the last information on this pub which was friendly atmosphere and old fashioned landlord when it closed on October 5th demolished in 1845. interior. It is more like a village pub 1909 for road widening and the license The Bear, Market Place. Recorded in a and I for one shall regret leaving.” transferred to the new “Crystal Palace” survey of 1543/4 (Constable Survey) Jolly Fishermen, Wheat Street. John in Gadsby Street, Attleborough which William Smyth (the Beire) tenant of Payne. cost £2000 to build. The Crystal Palace Richard Herynge of Coventry. gave its name to a new public hall and The Clock, Market Place. Replaced the (Continued on page 10) Page 10 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal

(Continued from page 9) Opened in 1909 to replace the Crystal today. Said to be haunted by a little girl Bridge Street Palace in the Market Place. in the ladies loo! J.Bates (1938/9) Robin Hood, Bridge Street. Nuneaton The Blue Bell Inn, a beer house which The Sheepsfoot Inn. About one half of had its own brewery from 1878 to 1886 stood where Park Street enters mile out of Nuneaton along the Coton which could produce 23,000 gallons of Attleborough Road. (also known as the Road where the road in olden times had ale a week. Nom mean undertaking. Seven Stars). a kink in it. Long since straightened out Later was the site of the London The Prince of Wales, next door to the at a junction known as Sheeps Foot Millinery Cos. J.C.Smiths and later Royal Oak. A beer house. End. Debenhams premises, Bridge Street, The Steam Mill Inn, on the site of the The King William IV. Coton Road. A Nuneaton. The pub had as its sign a elastic web works on Attleborough beer house opened in 1830.Rebuilt in painting of Robin Hood in his red and Green. This was quite an extensive beer 1903 to the premises we see today. green Sherwood foresters dress and house, with parlour, tap room, club Still in use as a pub (2003). under it the legend “Robin Hood is room and skittle alley. It was offered Dugdale Arms, Dugdale Street. Later dead and gone, call and drink with for sale in 1871 and may have ceased to rebuilt as the Merevale. Probably Little John”. Little John was John function as a pub then. The site being originally a beer house. In July 1894 Knowles who originally owned the taken over by the elastic web weaving the “Dugdale Arms” beer house was brewery but the license was later taken company. sold by Mr. Sands by Joseph Merry. The Hit and Miss, Church Street. A The Sportsman. Chilvers Coton an .The Woolpack, Newdigate Square. beer house. 1830 beer house. Now Mr. H.Lester’s house. The Waggoners, in Albion Street, the The Miners. Chilvers Coton. An 1830 The Nags Head. The original pub was stretch of Attleborough Road where the beer house in Coventry Street. Previous tenants Albion buildings are situated. The Bull & Butcher. Chilvers Coton. were John Williamson (1806) Thomas The Miners Arms, site not known, An 1830 beer house. Taylor (1827-1841) Mr. Taylor bought possibly Lutterworth Road. The Bull & Bitch. Chilvers Coton. An it for £800 in 1827. It was associated The Three Crowns, was said to be an 1830 beer house. for many years with carters taking silk old fashioned thatched tavern, very old The Hare & Hounds. Bowed Lane, ribbons made in Nuneaton to sale on when William Gadsby (1773-1844) (an Chilvers Coton now off Heath End the London market via Coventry independent preacher born in Road. An 1830 beer house. JohnBaker middle-men. It was also noted for its Attleborough) drank there in the 19th 1841,1850. (also listed as a farmer and association with cock-fighting in the century. In Attleborough road grocer.) Mary Baker 1863. first half of the nineteenth century. The somewhere opposite the Albion The Newdigate Arms. Griff Hollows. current pub in Queens Road was built Buildings. It was owned in the early Not to be confused with the Newdigate in 1929 by George Hodges & Sons, part of the 19th century by George Arms in Newdigate Square. It seems to builders of Burton on Trent. It was a Greenway. have ceased to be a pub by 1850 Bass Ratcliffe & Gretton house. It was th The New Inn, Church Street, although it is shown on Eagle’s Canal re-opened on the new site on 8 March Attleborough moved to new premises map of 1807. Its popular name was 1929. The former premises in on Attleborough Road opposite to the “The Bloody Hand” Coventry Street were pulled down for Albion Buildings. Then the name The Boot Inn. Bridge Street. Henry road widening. The brewery that owned changed to the “Rugger Tavern” as Randle 1828. A canalside pub one of it then was Salt & Co. of Burton on the field at the back became the the earliest pubs in Chilvers Coton. Trent. They had been built about 1897 Nuneaton Rugby Football Ground Rebuilt as a modern pub about 1930 to replace a much older and antiquated The William IV, Attleborough. An when the canal bridge was widened. “cottage like” premises that had been 1830 beer house. The Jolly Colliers. College Street. there since time immemorial. The Plough, Attleborough. An 1830 beer house. Stockingford Attleborough The Attleborough Arms. A modern The Lamb and Flag. Church Road, The Bull, Attleborough. Believed to pub in Highfield Road, Attleborough. Stockingford an 1830 beer house. have been the Rainbow in George Recently modernised with a very high The Engine, Church Lane, Eliot’s Silas Marner. The building we th quality fit out. Stockingford. An 1830 beer house. see today dates back to the 18 century. The Woodman, Hall End, The Cripples Inn,Bucks Hill or Snow It has been said that the stone, which is Attleborough. An 1830 beer house kept Hill, sometimes known as Cripples Inn. that anonymous lump of rock set in the by Joshua Hackett (1789-1872). When Replaced by the New Inn on the same grass verge along the Lutterworth Road Joshua’s grandson ‘Jack’ or John site. E.H.Sephton 1938/9 called the Whitestone was originally Moreton Hackett died in 1930 the The Black Swan. Swan Lane, part of a preaching cross which stood furniture from this house was given to Stockingford. An 1830 beer house. outside the Bull Inn. various members of the family and a George F.Pegg 1938/9 The Fox, The Square, Attleborough. venerable long case clock from the The Heart Goodfellows. Swan Lane. Believed to pre-date 1819 as a beer Woodman, Hall End is now installed in An 1830 beer house. Still extant. A house. W.J.Hardy (1938/9) When Alan a house in Arles in Provence in France. Marstons Brewery house. J.H. and Josie Frisby took the pub over in Boulstridge 1938/9. 1991 they spent £200,000 refurbishing Chilvers Coton The Cherry Tree. Swan Lane. An it. The new fit out was very tastefully The Horse Shoes, 2 Heath End Road. 1830 beer house. Moved site in the late done as it retained the atmosphere of a Now the Lancet. S.Cooper was the 1930’s to Haunchwood Road. A. village pub. In 1997 they sold the pub landlord 1938/9. Rowlands 1938/9 to the Mansfield Brewery and are now The Fleur de Lys. Coventry Road. A The White Lion, Swan Lane, now owners of the Attleborough Arms very old fashioned pub stood on this Croft Road early landlords were Mary which they have also refurbished at site until rebuilt eartly in the 20th Jeffcote (1806), Thomas Johnson enormous cost. century. The publican in 1806 was (1828). The Royal Oak, Garrett Street, Daniel Wadcock. The Plough Inn, Plough Hill Road, Attleborough. An 1830 beer house. The Rose, Coton Road. Believed to Chapel End. W.Hewitt 1938/9. The Crystal Palace, Gadsby Street. have started in the 19th c. Still in use Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 11 One of the most neglected genealogical techniques By Alan F Cook

Are you left-handed? (sinistral, weather by our senses is also I have been unable to trace any sinistrad, sinistrorsal, laevogyrous, redundant. The eye-hand-ball co- recorded “left-handers” anywhere in gauche, caggy-handed, cawk-handed, ordination that produces a “John my family tree. cack-handed, south-paw etc. etc.) McEnroe” is truly prodigious (he is left –handed!) Jo-Anne, my wife, (very right-handed) You may wonder where that came has several “lefties” in her whole from in your family tree. We “south- What is the bottom-line for the Family- family tree (mum, brother, sister, paws” have a lot to thank Dr Marian Historian who is tracing the pedigree? uncles, aunts) – yet none of our sons Annett for – she is probably the world’s Do not ignore handedness! The realm show any “leaning to the left”. (None leading authority on the subject and is of DNA testing is a thing for the future. of them seem to obey Mendelian based at Leicester University. The possibility of other exotic clues inheritance rules anyway!) No one in like blood groups, hair and eye colour, our families, for generations, has blue She has virtually proven that “left- finger and toe prints, genetic illnesses eyes, yet Richard and Matthew have handedness” is inherited from the are beyond most of us. The Handedness blue eyes!!!!! mother’s side – the actual chromosome is not!! People were very notable for culprit is called the Right-Hand-Shift their handedness. Family folklore The right-hand world does not seem to Gene. usually records people who wrote in an realise that we have to do visuo-spatial ”odd fashion”! (I can write with either conversions in our mind. Whenever a Left-handedness has all sorts of hand, mirror, upside-down and “right-hander” demonstrates anything, I associations and connections: e.g. backwards, etc.!) At one point in school have to transform it (by some weird trades, careers, professions, illnesses, I was writing backwards, starting at the cerebral mirror!) Yet I am not alone – allergies, educational achievement. right-hand side and moving to the left- in the Universe there are many hand side of the page. wonderful molecules and viruses that The basic facts appear to be this: are left-handed! biological development of higher It may not be easy, however. I am left- mammals would tend to produce totally handed – or should I say mixed up (or There are statistical predictions that by ambidextrous animals. Along comes ambidextrous) I play most musical 2050 the “Western-world” will have the Right-Hand-Shift Gene that instruments with the left-hand! Sport is about 50% “left-handers” in it. produces very Right-Handed people. a mess – tennis, badminton, bowling The rest of us become labelled as “left- and kicking with left! golf and cricket References handers” – when in fact we are bat with the right! probably ambidextrous – and therefore 1. Marian Annett: Left, Right Hand higher up the evolutionary ladder!!?? In my family tree, however, there were Brain: The Right Shift Theory. (if you believe in that). cohorts – may be they were “LEFTIES Lawrence Erlbaum. 1985 - (very in disguise”. My Mum had a good scholarly). It is hard to date the earliest persecution visual memory and found arithmetic 2. Michael Barsley: The Left-Handed or prohibition of the left-hander. difficult, yet her dad could not write, Book. Souvenir Press. 1966 - but was good at mental arithmetic. Her (popular). Physical and Social Anthropologists granddad was an alderman, mayor and 3. Diane Paul: Living Left-handed. suggest that most prehistoric people a solicitor at Coventry. Bloomsbury. 1990 - (real life “groomed their posteriors”, after experiences). ablutions, with that hand - because the human anatomy made it easier to do it that way. It did not take ethical or religious protocols to focus on that. NNWFHS New PUBLICATION Hence the perennial and enduring ideology of right-handedness becoming associated with purity, truth, skill and Surname Index Of Burials 1813-1837 rectitude. For The Parish Churches Of: The world, and its technology evolved to create the right-handed world! St Nicholas, Curdworth;

Yet, in many enclaves, Left-Handers, St John the Baptist, Lea Marston; proved to be exceptionally gifted and different. The list of the “World’s St John the Baptist, Middleton; Greatest” has many left-handers! It is probably down to the way the brain St Giles, Nether Whitacre; integrates all its processing power. St Leonard, Over Whitacre; Modern humankind is so used to writing, reading, and thinking St Cuthbert, Shustoke; St Chad, Wishaw abstractly, it forgets the visuo-spatial abilities that made us different. The Price £3 (Plus P&P) ability to detect thousands of subtle See full list of publications on page 17 for more details smells is now lost; the ability to detect Page 12 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Family Album Anne Paling-Lawson has sent in these wonderful old holiday photos.

A (left) Taken at Rhyl c 1900. From front left - Molly MAYO, Margaret GREEN 1876-1967, Annie (?) BROWN, Thomas Percy PALING 1878-1949, Rosa BROWN and in centre Emily (Pem) GREEN 1874- 1950.

Molly, Maggie and Pem were cousins, grandchildren of Sarah TOWNSEND. Thomas Percy Paling married Maggie Green in 1903; he was a son of Thomas Paling, Station Master at Abbey Street. I think the Brown girls may have been neighbours of the Greens and Mayos in Attleborough. Not sure which Mayo sister Molly was - all 6 had nicknames and I can't find my 1960s newspaper cutting which tells me which is which!! B (right) My grandmother, Maggie Green, said that this photo was taken at Elwy Hall, Rhyl, which, apparently, her grandma, Sarah Townsend, took for the summer c1890. The family in the carriage are the BROWN family from Nuneaton; I think one daughter was called Amy but am not sure.

C (below) This photo was taken on the Isle of Man. The gentleman leaning over the side of the carriage, second from right, is my gt. grandfather, Alfred GREEN (1848-1920), of The Square, Attleborough. Alfred was a grocer, draper, law clerk and asst. overseer of the poor. I don't know who anyone else in the carriage is and am not at all sure of the date.

WANTED DEAD (OR ALIVE) FOR THE NEXT NNWFHS JOURNAL

Articles about your ancestors, family photos, items for our notice board and help wanted/ offered section etc.

Start writing NOW!!! Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 13

Fidler’s Laws HART – Atherstone Civic Society’s Local Heritage Initiative By Judy Vero, Honorary Secretary of Atherstone Civic Society These may be new to you. The editor of the FHS of Cheshire Journal, Within the next two years the History All transactions give the abuttals of the Graham Fidler, regularly writes up a of Atherstone Research Team hopes to property concerned, and this has en- new law based on a “painfully learned” be able to offer family historians a new abled HART volunteers to piece to- experience in computing. His latest resource. gether the ownership of every property bears repetition on a day when my virus Over the last year HART has been tran- in Atherstone. It is now possible to see software has picked up a number of scribing the Manor Court Rolls for who lived in each building and what unwanted, virus-laden emails. I do Atherstone, held at the Warwick Re- trade was carried on there over a period hope Graham will not mind it being cord Office. These extend from 1589 to of almost 300 years. shared with members in NNWFHS.

1608 and from 1640 until the 1893. Law 11: Never open a file you were not They record all transactions involving Another strand of the project is the expecting – it’s bound to contain a copyhold property. Until this property buildings survey, which is being carried virus! was enfranchised, in the 1920s, each out under the supervision of historic time an owner died, or sold, mort- buildings surveyor, Bob Meeson. The Let’s look at this in more detail. There gaged, or leased his building, he or she information gleaned from the manor are 5 sub-rules: had to attend the manor court, where court rolls helps the survey team to un- 1. NEVER open an attachment! the property was surrendered ‘by the derstand each building and how it has 2. NEVER NEVER open an attachment! rod’ into the hands of the lord’s stew- been adapted for new owners and new 3. If you have not updated your virus ard. The new owner was then admitted functions. Some of the town’s buildings checker’s database on virus on payment of a fine which ranged have been discovered to date back to signatures within the last week, then from 2 shillings and 6 pence for a quar- the 1400s. it will probably be useless. New ter burgage to 10 shillings for a whole viruses come out daily. 4. If you must open an attachment, burgage. Many of the wills and inventories were make sure that you know who it Roughly two-thirds of Atherstone’s transcribed by Marion Alexander and came from and even more property was copyhold, as opposed to the Local History Research Group importantly, do not open it unless freehold, and the town is fortunate in some 20 years ago. The most exciting you were expecting that sender to having probably the best run of manor part of the project is going to be fitting enclose an attachment court rolls in Warwickshire. Until now, these into the house histories with other 5. To be safe, don’t open the they have hardly seen the light of day. records, such as the Hearth Tax. We attachment. Email the sender to ask can now say definitively that the if they did send an attachment, and if A grant of £25,000 from the Heritage so, what it contains. Lottery Fund and £5000 from Nation- ‘Chamber next the Lane’ recorded in wide, through the Countryside Agency, Henry Rowditch’s inventory of 1676, Graham went on to explain about file has enabled HART volunteers to un- refers to a building which stands today association and how, to be doubly safe, dertake the massive task of transcribing on the site of Dillon’s newsagents in you should not use Word but change the whole archive. With the help of Dr Long Street. your folder options to open attachments Nat Alcock, the house historian, they that are *.doc with Wordpad. have already completed the majority of Over the 18 months that it has been However, the basic advice is NEVER the work and hope to put it on CD so running, HART has attracted some 60 open any attachment - even if from that it will be available in libraries, re- volunteers and will continue until Octo- somebody you think you know - until cord offices and possibly also for sale. ber 2005, when a book will be pub- you are sure they really have sent you a At the same time volunteers are prepar- lished. This is undoubtedly one of the file that you want and that will not give ing a massive database of all the names most important research projects ever you something you definitely do NOT and properties mentioned in Ather- to have been undertaken on Atherstone. want! stone’s rich archive, mostly held at the It is particularly liberat- Warwick and Lichfield Record Offices. ing not to have to worry about money. The gener- CENSUS TIP Many stories have emerged about Ath- ous funding has allowed Is anyone researching Mercer in Atherstone? During erstone in times gone by, and all stir HART to have the very the imagination. In 1659 Charles research for a family in the States on a Bindley fam- best expert advice, all the Wells, a young longbow-string maker, ily (one of the ones who put the 'Chapel' into Chapel living in London, borrowed £30 from photocopies and plans End) I found that a Bindley daughter had married a John Simons his neighbour in Butcher they need, help with Mercer and lived in Atherstone. translation of Latin and Row, Atherstone, on the security of The earlier censuses stated that she was 'born in the three ‘messuages or tenements’ he had palaeography, travelling expenses, and computer county' but on the 1881 census she was a widow liv- inherited from his grandmother, Hester ing on her own and her place of birth was listed Pitts- Wells. Charles went to the manor court courses to help those working on the database. burgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Obviously, previously and surrendered the property to the lord her husband had answered the enumerator’s ques- of the manor’s steward. Then John Any community group tions but this time she had answered the questions Simons came into the court and was herself. admitted tenant, paying the necessary that wants to follow Ath- fine and swearing his fealty to the lord. erstone’s example and So, remember, if a birthplace looks dodgy, or doesn't Simons was to hold the property until set up their own Local fit family myth, ask yourself the question - did this the loan was repaid, at the ‘Sign of the Heritage Initiative person answer the enumerator’s questions or did Black Bull in Cheapside.’ Did Charles should contact their re- someone else answer for them? ever repay the loan? We do not know, gional branch of the for by the next entry in 1722 the house Countryside Agency. Val Pickard. has passed to William Eyre. Page 14 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal New Books, CDs Etc

Sutton Publishing have place of birth, and the full Public Record Office/National published the second Archives reference (e.g. RG12/240 Folio 19 Page 8) making edition of probably the the standard product an ideal companion to using Census best book for family microfilm or microfiche or the Census image CDs that historians, Ancestral customers may already have in their collection! Trails. One of the major strengths of the book is The first releases, in stock, are:- the very detailed yet CD3906 deluxe Channel Islands and Isle of Man £29.95 clear and readable way CD3907 standard Channel Islands and Isle of Man £16.95 in which the author CD3914 deluxe Cambridgeshire, Essex and Suffolk £29.95 illustrates the CD3915 standard Cambridgeshire, Essex and Suffolk multifarious types of £16.95 information that exist, CD3916 deluxe Cheshire and Derbyshire £29.95 and how they can be CD3915 standard Cheshire and Derbyshire £16.95 found, interpreted and CD3928 deluxe 3CDs Lancashire £49.95 related to other CD3929 standard 3CDs Lancashire £29.95 information. He does CD3934 deluxe 3CDs London £49.95 this, in the main, using CD3935 standard 3CDs London £29.95 records relating to his Due for release on 20th May 2004 are own ancestors. As a result there are a large number of CD3920 deluxe Durham and Northumberland £29.95 examples relating to London, Devon and Bedfordshire - a CD3921 standard Durham and Northumberland £16.95 nice bonus for readers who have interests in these areas - CD3924 deluxe Kent and Sussex £29.95 though other areas of England and Wales are by no means CD3925 standard Kent and Sussex £16.95 neglected. (There is also one very good chapter on other CD3940 deluxe Staffordshire and Shropshire £29.95 parts of the British Isles). Available from all good bookstore, CD3941 standard Staffordshire and Shropshire £16.95 and genealogical suppliers. ************************************************ The remainder of England and Wales will be released later

New From Archive CD Books this year, probably sooner rather than later.

The Huguenots - Their Settlements, Churches and Industries The inclusion of large areas/more than one county in each In England and Ireland - Samuel Smiles. 1876 pack makes these products extremely cost effective compare This excellent book gives an account of the causes which led with normal unindexed census image CDs. to these great migrations into England, and describes the

effects upon English and Irish industry as well as history. We, TWR Computing, are the sole UK and Irish Archive CD Books- http://www.archivecdbooks.com wholesalers/distributors/retailers of this series of Census ************************************************ CDs for the publishers MyFamily.com/Ancestry.com. A Press release from TWR Computing: The 1891 Census Index CDs for England and Wales As ever, you will find full details on our website/online shop We have in stock the first releases of a major new series of www.twrcomputing.co.uk Census CDs for England and Wales from the world's largest, most progressive, family history company MyFamily.com/ All prices include delivery to anywhere in the world. Ancestry.com. ************************************************

Scotland Death Index: 1855-1875 The standard product provides complete coverage, McKirdy Index Limited have published another index in searchable, name indexed, browsable transcriptions! In their Scotland Death series, County of Lanark: 1857. The addition the deluxe product includes unlimited access to index, available on microfiche, microfiche is available very high quality online images of the original census linked from:- from the transcriptions on the CDs (no subscription required)! New Zealand Society of Genealogists Inc P O Box 8795, Symonds Street, Auckland 1035, New The transcriptions may be searched on any or all of the Zealand following criteria:- First name; Last name (with option for www.genealogy.org.nz/sales/fiche-new.html exact/soundex); Age (exact/within 2 years/within 5 years/ within 10 years); Father; Mother; Spouse; Birthplace; Aberdeen & NE Scotland FHS Ecclesiastical parish; Civil parish; Gender (either/male/ 164 King St. , Aberdeen, , Scotland, AB24 5BD female); Wildcards including * ? or and www.anesfhs.org.uk

Search results display the whole household including names, relationships to the head of the household, ages, gender, Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 15 GET NETTED

www.hometown.aol.co.uk/pitexplosion published practitioners' qualifications from 1859. A Celia Parton’s website about the Baddesley Pit explosion is registration system for dentists was established in 1878 and now up and running. Even if you do not have ancestors that subsequently a register recording the names, addresses and were involved, the site is very interesting, please make time qualifications of those registered was published. Anglican to take a look. clergy are listed in the Clerical Guide from 1817 and in the Clergy List from 1841. Cockford's Clerical Directory from http://www.picturesofcoventry.co.uk/index.php 1858 records the clergy of the Church of England, Ireland , Coventry Libraries have produced a new website with Wales and the Episcopal Church of Scotland, entries include archive photos of Coventry but there are 47 pictures of details of education and training. In addition to those Nuneaton too. mentioned, there are 19th century directories and registers for many professions. Currently available are: Dental http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/WAR/images/ Surgeons Directory , The Clergy List 1896 More images of Warwickshire, mainly churches, in Birmingham, Coventry and south Warwickshire 4) Phillimore's How to Write the History of a Family (book) This book is free to view and comes in two books (a main The following website reviews were printed in Genuki book plus a supplement book in its entirety) W. P. W. News and are included herein with the kind permission of Phillimore was the great authority on family history, and Rob Thompson. author and publisher of the Phillimore's Parish Registers series. Although it goes back a while it still contains a lot of www.nationalarchivist.com relevant information. For example, there is a guide on how The National Archivist is an independent company, set up to interpret old handwriting. It provides an account of how in 2003 to provide digitised images of original records to undertake your family history research, types of records reproduced under license from The National Archives and where they can be found. It covers many of the more (formerly The Public Record Office), and other unusual sources, which can still be found at county record organisations. It was founded 3 years ago by Vanessa offices and The National Archives. Williams who was in the course of researching her own family tree. Addressing the needs of the estimated 180 5) British Colonies - The National Archivist's archive of million people worldwide involved in genealogy and family Colonial India records contains digitised images of original history, National Archivist provides people with digitised publications and documents that relate to the images of original source information, as opposed to pre-independence period of present day India , Pakistan , transcriptions. Users may access, search and purchase Bangladesh and Burma . In this section you can view any electronic versions of documents previously only accessible material we hold about The East India Company servants, by visiting a public or local record office. Registration to the civil servants, Indian Army personnel and European site is free. residents prior to 1947. Currently available: Bengal Civil Service Graduation List To view the original documents, users must set up an account and pre-pay to obtain a certain number of credits. http://www.search.digitalhandsworth.org.uk/engine/ Accounts may be set up for as little as £6 using most credit custom/gallery.asp?lstExhibitionType=3 cards and can be topped up at any time. Discounts are Part of the Digital Handsworth project this is a gallery of available when credits are bulk purchased. Once located, images from the 1870’s and 1880’s baptisms in St Mary’s records are viewed using Lizardtech's document sharing Church. The site is a little complicated, and takes a bit of software 'DjVu'. Users' accounts are debited the appropriate time to get used to, but once you do you are presented with number of credits, and the new balance displayed. scanned images from the baptism register itself. The images are not the easiest to read, and you will need exceptionally New records now available on The National Archivist, good eyesight to study them. However they are there, and it including previously inaccessible military records:- will no doubt prove useful to some people. Have a good 1) Estate Duty Office Indexes to Death Duty Records - an look around the rest of the website for a collection of images additional ten years of wills has been uploaded. Visitors can from Handsworth past and present. But as with many now view indexes of English and Welsh Wills and collections of images, be prepared for a slow load. Administration from 1796 to 1857. http://freecen.rootsweb.com 2) Military Records - of particular note are the Harts/ Army This project aims to provide a "free-to-view" online Lists as this is the first time these records have been put searchable database of the 19th century UK census returns. online. Results can be searched and sorted. There are free-to- It is part of FreeUKGEN, an initiative aimed at helping view archives for most titles but also some archives that are make high quality primary (or near-primary) records of completely free such as The Grenadier Guards. relevance to UK genealogy conveniently and freely Harts Army List 1840 and 1888; Official Army List 1798; available online, in a coherent, easy to access and search, Peninsular Medal Roll 1793-1814; Waterloo Roll Call 1815; information retrieval system. To find what is already on line Grenadier Guards 1656-1874 click on 'Database Coverage' in the left hand column where you will be presented with a list of Counties,.click on 3) Directories and Professionals/ Member Lists - The 'Details' against the County of interest and there will be a National Archivist's archive of Member Lists contains listing of Parishes with those that are already on line digitised images of specialist lists and registers of members indicated. of the legal, medical and clerical professions, commercial and trade directories and handbooks to the titled, landed and http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/nof/emigrants/ official classes and other professions in the United More on migration and migrants, this is an excellent site Kingdom. Member lists are an invaluable aid to research about migration from Liverpool. It is based around an especially when looking for members of a particular exhibition in Liverpool and takes the format of a fictitious profession. The introduction of regulated practise for many diary about leaving Liverpool for Australia in 1858. A professions in the 19th Century brought about the necessity fascinating and well researched website this one will give for official registration and recognition. The Medical you a great insight into the nineteenth century world, Directory was first published in 1845 noting the names and emigration, and why people left for the new world. addresses of medical practitioners and the Medical Register Fascinating and easy to follow with some great pictures