North Warwickshire Borough Council North Warwickshire YOUR GUIDE Welcome to North Warwickshire More tourist information, including places to stay, is on the Borough Council’s website at: www.northwarks.gov.uk/ tourism For accommodation, attractions, events and heritage in North Warwickshire and beyond, see the Northern Warwickshire Tourism Association’s leaflet and website: www.visitnorthern warwickshire.com Thank you!… to the photographers who donated their work to this 2011 edition THE LOCAL including The Herald, Nuneaton News, Warwickshire County Council and GLOBAL PLAYER Enjoywarwickshire.com We can provide this TNT is a global express delivery player, with a major local presence. information in another format, for example We’re part of the local community, with a UK hub at Atherstone and a Nuneaton depot in larger print. Contact serving commerce and industry throughout North Warwickshire. North Warwickshire Borough Council Whether it’s a package, parcel or pallet, destined for Coventry, London or New York, Tel: 01827 715341; make sure it’s taken by TNT. Call the number below and our Nuneaton team will be email: customerservices on its way. @northwarks.gov.uk The information in this For an immediate collection Freefone Guide was as correct as possible at the time of 0800 100 600 going to print, Nov 2011. or visit www.tnt.co.uk Contents Page No. The Market Towns: Atherstone, Polesworth, Coleshill .................................................... 6 Business matters in the Borough ..................................................................................... 14 North Warwickshire's countryside - a breath of fresh air ........................................... 18 At your leisure – getting out, gyms and golf courses ....................................................... 20 Places to visit – from a book farm to a bird reserve ........................................................ 22 A wealth of history & heritage ........................................................................................ 24 2 3 Welcome to North Warwickshire a community of communities In the far north of Warwickshire lies the London and from Coleshill Parkway, either alongside The Belfry, headquarters of home… together with historic links to smallest and perhaps the least well west to Birmingham or east to Cambridge, the Professional Golfing Association Boadicea, Richard III, Shakespeare and known Borough in the County – North Peterborough and Stansted Airport. and famous for four Ryder Cup Lady Godiva, you’ll appreciate that North Warwickshire, with its 62,300 residents. These excellent transport links are a major tournaments. Then we have traders Warwickshire has an awful lot to offer! attraction for companies such as Aldi, at Atherstone’s market in the historic So, enjoy browsing through the information We’re known as a ‘community of BMW, Ocado and TNT, which have market square; sailing at Kingsbury in this 2011 Guide. If you’re a new communities’ because of our diverse selected North Warwickshire as the base Water Park, the most popular of resident, a warm North Warwickshire market towns, villages and hamlets, all for their businesses. Warwickshire’s country parks; the welcome to you. If you’re working here, of which have their own identities. engine production line at BMW at take some time out to discover the delights I’ve also heard us called ‘the Near To’ North Warwickshire can also be described Hams Hall and lastly, St Peter’s of the Borough. And if you’re a first time Borough, because we are within such as a ‘Borough of contrasts’ and for proof Church, which dominates the skyline visitor, make sure you come back again, easy reach of Birmingham, Coventry, of this, look no further than the cover of at Coleshill. because although North Warwickshire may Leicester, Nottingham and Solihull ! this Guide. be small, we’re well worth a second look! If you add in … numerous garden The M6, M6 Toll, M42 and A5 all pass North Warwickshire’s rich mining heritage centres and golf courses … children’s through the Borough and there’s a is commemorated in the colliery wheel at farms, canalside walks and country Jerry Hutchinson, Chief Executive, regular train service from Atherstone to the village of Baxterley, which is pictured shows …a castle which is still a family North Warwickshire Borough Council 4 5 The Market Towns: The town’s Christmas lights illuminate the festive window displays in the local Atherstone, Polesworth and Coleshill shops, street vendors sell crafts, gifts and food, families enjoy the fairground rides and the grand finale is the spectacular firework display set to Cable Marking Systems and music. www.dickensnight.co.uk Cable Accessories. Walk this way… 40 successful years Walk away from the Market Square based in Coleshill. towards Coleshill Road and head towards the canal. Stroll along the canal towpath to watch the narrow Partex (UK) Ltd boats navigate the locks and spot 61-66 Station Road the stunning ironwork heritage Coleshill B46 1JT sculpture by the bridge. This marks 01675 463670 one of the starting points for the 25 [email protected] mile circular route around North www.partex.co.uk Warwickshire known as the North Arden Heritage Traill (see page 20). The Ball Game along Long Street using a ball, which is The town is renowned for its annual specially made each year. Originally a Atherstone Ball Game, which has been match between Warwickshire and played since the 12th century, even Leicestershire lads, it now involves Atherstone is on the Roman Watling Atherstone’s Market Square during two World Wars! This no holds hundreds of players of all ages. The Street, which was also part of the Have a browse for bargains on Long Street, barred version of the beautiful game is winner is the person left holding the ball London to Holyhead stagecoach route. then take a detour to the pretty market played every Shrove Tuesday afternoon when the klaxon sounds at 5.00pm. In August 1485, Henry Tudor passed square and admire the parish church of St through Atherstone on his way to the Mary’s. Atherstone’s market dates back to Battle of Bosworth. He made his 1246, when the Abbot of Bec, then Lord of headquarters at The Three Tuns Inn the Manor at Atherstone, obtained a charter and stationed his troops in the fields to hold a market on a Tuesday. Drop by on around Merevale Abbey. Nearby a Tuesday and Friday to buy fresh fruit and Mancetter was the site of a large veg, household items and clothing at very Roman fort, allegedly the home of the reasonable prices. 14th Roman legion. It is said that Queen Boadicea (Boudica) met her fate The Square is the focal point for many outside the fort in the Anker Valley. events, including the ‘Summer in the Square’ music concerts and the popular Heritage Motorshow in September. On the last Saturday in November, it comes alive with dozens of stalls for the annual Dickens Night. 6 7 Polesworth Coleshill Coleshill is the most western of North Warwickshire’s market towns, characterised by its steep main street and range of specialised shops. It is an ancient coaching town, taking its name from the River Cole with its striking mediaeval bridge. During the 18th century, Coleshill became one of the coaching stops on the main London to Holyhead route. Nowadays, travellers are far more likely to take advantage of the train services and free parking at Coleshill Parkway, opened in 2007! Stocks and schools The town stocks, restored in 1998, are unique in Warwickshire, as they also combine a pillory and whipping post. These stand on Church Hill outside the old Market Hall, which houses a Heritage Centre and exhibition area and is also the headquarters of the Coleshill Civic Society. For details of events and to hire the Hall, In the 16th century, the site of Polesworth heritage. A new phase of the trail will take The Abbey is open Tuesday - Friday ring: 01675 465557. vicarage was then Polesworth Hall and walkers to Pooley Country Park (see page 19). 11am-4pm; Saturday 10.30am-1pm the home of Henry Goodere. He was a and Sunday 2pm-4pm. Further along is the house, which was friend of several poets who became Tel: 01827 892340 or see Coleshill Grammar School, dating back to known as the ‘Polesworth Circle’. Polesworth Abbey and Gateway www.polesworthabbey.heralded. 1520. Next door, is the church of St Peter This elite group included the poet John The 12th century Abbey is at the heart of the org.uk; and Paul, which dominates the town and Donne and the dramatist Ben Jonson, town, next to the River Anker and Abbey email: [email protected] has superb views over the surrounding whilst Michael Drayton, born in Hartshill Green Park. Visitors can stroll in the sensory countryside. Worth seeing are the 12th century Norman font and the brass in the in 1563, attended school here. garden, constructed on the site of the The Tithe Barn Polesworth may also have links with the nave, displaying the six-fingered hand. cloisters, where the Benedictine nuns would A Grade II listed building, dating back childhood and education of the great once have walked in prayer. Enjoy the to the mid17th century, the Tithe Barn Coleshill’s markets bard himself, William Shakespeare. Fairtrade refreshments in The Refectory was renovated in1995 along with the Every Friday morning, the WI Market meets and view the audio-visual presentations on Hall Court site. It is now owned by at the Parish Rooms. On the fourth Friday of The Polesworth Poetry Trail the history of the Abbey. the Parish Council and can be booked every month, the Farmers’ Market comes to The town’s literary connections are for meetings and community activities. town, with a variety of local produce. Take now commemorated in the Polesworth The beautiful mediaeval, two storey Abbey your pick from free range eggs; bread,honey Poetry Trail. Starting from the Abbey, Gateway has been restored to provide two and home-made sweet and savoury pies.