The Royal Electric Hall, Nuneaton’s First Cinema, Opened c1909

NUNEATON AND NORTH FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/naylor/nunweb JOURNAL JANUARY 2000 Price £1.50 (first copy free to members) Nuneaton & Family History Society - Journal Page 1

CONTENTS PAGE NNWFHS Committee 1 A Note From The Editor 2 The Cinema And Geneology - By Michael Roberts 3 Names In The Churchyard Of Church - Indexed By John Austin 4 Old Newspaper Cuttings - By Peter Lee 6 Down Memory Lane 7 Nuneaton Parish Churchyard - By Peter Lee 8 Courting Days - By Peter Lee 9 Gone For A Soldier - By Pat Boucher 10 Parish Registers On Microfilm Held By Nuneaton, Bedworth, And Coleshill 12 Libraries - By Caroline Boss Notice Board 14

NNWFHS COMMITTEE

CHAIRMAN PETER LEE, 34 Falmouth Close, Nuneaton,Warwicks CV11 6OB Tel: (024) 7638 1090 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 CV9 1HP NORTH WARWICKSHIRE CO-ORDINATOR Tel: (01827) 713938 Email [email protected]

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

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

MINUTES SECRETARY STEVE CASEY, 10 Quantock Drive, Nuneaton, Warwicks CV10 8PU Tel: (024) 7638 2890

COMPUTER AND DATABASE TOM BROUGHTON, 32 Carisbrook Road, Weddington, Nuneaton, CO-ORDINATOR Warwicks CV10 OBY Tel: (024) 7638 1666 Email [email protected]

EXHIBITIONS MANAGER NORMAN RAISEN, 79 Edward St, Nuneaton, Warwicks CV11 5RF Tel: (024) 7673 6233 Email [email protected]

SOCIAL SECRETARY PAT GODFREY, Fernlea, Clock Hill, Hartshill, Nuneaton CV10 OTB Tel: (024) 7639 4563

EVENTS SECRETARY MICHAEL ROBERTS, 52 Balliol Road, Burbage, Leics. LE10 2RE Tel:(01455) 636519 [email protected]

PUBLICATIONS MANAGER JILL DIXON, 189 Camphill Road, Nuneaton, Warwicks, CV10 OJR Tel: (024) 7639 7083 Email [email protected]

WEBSITE MANAGER KAREN NAYLOR, 16 Mayfair Drive, Galley Common, Nuneaton, CV10 8RP Tel: (024) 7639 8728 Email [email protected]

NORTH AMERICAN REPRESENTATIVE HARLOW G FARMER, 7427 Venice Street, Falls Church, VA, USA. Telephone 22043 703 560 6776 Email [email protected] Page 2 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

I hope you all had an enjoyable Christmas and New year, and didn’t fall foul of the ‘Millennium Bug’ i.e. the flu!

I went to an antique fair in Atherstone just before Christmas, only to find that it was actually a stamp and postcard etc collectors fair. I spent a happy hour there and treated myself to a couple of early Christmas presents. First of all I found an album of 48 postcards of Nuneaton, some of which I had and others that weren't too interesting but there were some real pearls amongst them which I shall be treating you to in further editions of the journal. Then I found a real gem, a copy of a booklet called “Nuneaton Past and Present, It’s Trades and Industries” published circa 1899 by The Nuneaton Observer. It is crammed full of lovely drawings of buildings long since demolished or altered beyond recognition, articles about the town, and advertisements of local tradesmen. I read through this 100 year old document thinking about Nuneaton now and how the town has changed but when I read the following preface I really had to smile “Nuneaton today is in a state of transition. New streets are creeping into the green fields in all directions. In the centre of the town old buildings are being demolished, ancient landmarks are being swept into oblivion, and the improving hand of time is being eagerly grasped by enterprising tradesmen determined to keep abreast of the growing requirements of a thriving community.....”. Nothing really changes does it.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this edition and please keep the articles coming in. It would be especially good to publish some items from our overseas members.

Our cover picture this time is of the Royal Electric Hall in Stratford Street. Opened circa 1909, it was the first of Nuneaton’s many cinemas (sadly now all gone although some of the buildings themselves remain in other guises)

Finally I would like to wish everyone a very happy and prosperous new year, century and millennium!

Pat Boucher Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 3 THE CINEMA AND GENEALOGY By Michael Roberts n reading the above title Where did they do their you are probably courting? In many cases wondering what the we will never know, but I O cinema has to do with our bet in the last one hundred wonderful hobby. Well, in my case it years the cinema had got a is everything, let me explain. lot to do with it.

My mother played the piano for the Recently I have been silent screen at a number of cinemas in reading a book about Coventry. When sound came she then people’s experience of the worked in the ticket office of one of cinema. One section is these cinemas. My father had become headed ‘The Cinema Will friendly with the manager of this Never Die As Long As particular cinema, and on one occasion There Are Courting when he was visiting his friend at his Couples’, in it one lady place of work he met my mother, and writes “It was on the back as they say the rest is history! row of the Star Cinema, where a Tyrone Power film I’m not saying that I was conceived in was being shown, that my the cinema! But without it I may not husband, then my boy have been here. friend, told me he loved me”. No dates are given of this lady’s memory of this important occasion in her life, but it The Prince of Wales, Nuneaton could go back at least Bulkington. Two of the cinemas go sixty years. back at least to the turn of the century. The 1900’s that is, you may be reading I would imagine that if this in the year 2000! Therefore you asked your parents or Nuneaton genealogists parents and grandparents how they grandparents could say that any one of met and where they did these cinemas played an important their courting, then in part in their courtship. many answers the cinema would be high on the list. Here is another story from the book of people’s experience of the cinema. Since 1995, which was the “When I got to courting age the done one hundred years thing was to take a girl to the pictures. anniversary of the cinema, Even better if you could book two I have been giving slide seats on the back row in the corner. presentations showing the My first attempt to impress failed history of the silver screen miserably. When I looked at the of various towns in seating plan through the glass window , but living, of the booking office I must have got in my formative years, at it upside down. I booked what I Stoke Golding, it was just thought to be the two back seats, but as easy to get to cinemas when we got there on the night I had in Nuneaton. Therefore I booked two seats in the front row. had to include a section What a fool!” Probably no that deals with the Palace, descendants for the family tree from The Imperial Picture palace, Earlsdon Hippodrome, Vint’s that encounter! I’m one of those genealogists who like Picturedrome, The Royal, The to know the story behind the marriage Prince’s, the Scala and the Ritz, all in We are all interested in looking at lines in parish registers. How did Nuneaton. I know there were others at family trees not necessarily our own. grandad meet grandma? What were Attleborough, Stockingford, and Many of the stars of the ‘golden age of the circumstances of their courtship? Chapel End, and not forgetting (Continued on page 4) Page 4 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal

(Continued from page 3) Hollywood’ have interesting ancestry. NAMES IN THE CHURCHYARD OF Did you know that the late Diana MEREVALE CHURCH Princess of Wales has Humphrey Bogart in her family tree? Gloria Indexed By John Austin, Submitted By Celia Parton Grahame who appeared in many films of the 1940’s and 50’s is the only This list has been reproduced with BUTLER, Sarah - 1878 Hollywood actress for whom a Royal kind permission of John Austin from BUTLER, Thomas - 1872 ancestry has been established. Her his book "Merevale Church and BUTLER, William - 1835 ancestry can be traced to the Abbey". CHADAWAY, Charles Thomas - Plantagenet Kings of , through 1948 the line of John of Gaunt, Duke of Notes CHADAWAY, Edith Mary - 1951 Lancaster, who died in 1399. Not bad • The rector or a church officer should CHADAWAY, Mary - 1933 for someone who was born in Los be consulted to locate the position of CHADAWAY, Mary Georgina - 1965 Angeles in 1925. Gloria Grahame died the graves in the churchyard. CHADAWAY, Samuel Charles - 1938 in 1981. • The dates given are either the date of death or dates associated with other CLARKE, Ernest William - 1959 names on the gravestone. CLARKE, Phyllis Ann - 1936 • Corrected to February 1998. CORBETT, John - 1913 CORBETT, Sarah - 1924 ALCOTT, James - 1869 CORFIELD, Arthur John - 1959 ALCOTT, Mary - 1879 CORFIELD, Marion Emma - 1954 ALCOTT, Mary - 1883 CORNOCK, Thomas - 1937 ALLSOP, Cyril Frank - 1971 COX, Elizabeth - 1887 ALLSOP, Kate Irene - 1997 AUSTIN, Elizabeth - 1754 DETHICK, John - 1837 AUSTIN, Elizabeth - 1790 DONALD, Doris Mabel - 1951 AUSTIN, Ellen - 1794 DRURY, Alan Michael - 1996 AUSTIN, Ellin - 1838 DUGDALE, Alice - 1949 AUSTIN, Hannah - 1792 DUGDALE, Alice Frances - 1902 AUSTIN, Joseph - 1783 DUGDALE, Major Arthur George - AUSTIN, Joseph - 1790 1932 AUSTIN, Lucy - 1805 DUGDALE, Lady Belinda - 1961 AUSTIN, Thomas - 1765 DUGDALE, Blanche Elizabeth AUSTIN, Thomas - 1798 Campbell - 1964 AUSTIN, Thomas - 1861 DUGDALE, Charles John Geast - Gloria Grahame, 40’s and 50’s AUSTIN William - 1752 1944 filmstar whose ancestry can be traced DUGDALE, Edgar Trevelyan back to the Plantagenets BAKER, Elizabeth - 1862 Stratford - 1964 BAKER, James - 1865 DUGDALE, Edith - 1897 BAKER, Sarah Anne - 1834 DUGDALE, Edith Cecilia - 1948 ‘Oh what a tangled web we weave’. BAKER, William - 1845 DUGDALE, Ella - 1897 Through marriage and marriages many BAKER, William - 1896 DUGDALE, Gladys Margaret - 1977 Hollywood stars have many BARNETT, Annie Mary - 1949 DUGDALE, Henry - 1897 interesting and complicated webs, BEADMAN, Ann - 1775 DUGDALE, Col Henry Charles which for their descendants, when BEADMAN, Thomas - 1785 Geast - 1911 compiling family trees, could give BENNISON, Muriel - 1997 DUGDALE, Sir John Robert Stratford many a headache. Still, headaches are BINGHAM, Ann - 1814 KCVO - 1994 even produced for we mortals of the BINGHAM, William - 1814 DUGDALE, Lucy Violet - 1895 NNWFHS when searching for our BOX, Eli - 1929 DUGDALE, Margaret, Lady - 1965 descendants, but as William BOX, LEVI - 1971 DUGDALE, Mary Eliza Cornwallis - Shakespeare, the golden boy of the BOX, Mary - 1946 1931 Second Millennium, said ‘All the BOX, Nellie - 1970 DUGDALE, Mary Louisa - 1923 worlds a stage …………..’. BRABSON, Emma - 1811 DUGDALE, Sidney - 1899

BRABSON, Thomas - 1811 DUGDALE, William Stratford - 1882 Selected Reading:- ‘Talking Pictures, BROWN, Mary - 1895 DUGDALE, William Francis The Popular Experience Of The BROWN, William - 1791 Stratford, Bt - 1965 Cinema’. Colin Harding & Brian BUDWORTH, James – 1823 DUGMORE, W S - 1848 Lewis - National Museum, BUDWORTH John - 1833 DUTTON, Elizabeth - (see Faux) Photography, Film, &Television. BUDWORTH, Mary - 1824 Bradford 1993. BUTLER, George - 1845 FAUX, Catherine - 1855 ‘Debrett Goes To Hollywood’. BUTLER, John - 1833 FAUX, Charles - 1866 Charles Kidd. - George Weidenfeld & BUTLER Joseph - 1853 Nicolson Ltd. 1986.  (Continued on page 5) Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 5

(Continued from page 4) MACFARLANE, Henry - 1943 ROWLEY, Ann - 1811 FAUX, Edward - 1879 MACFARLANE, Jane - 1969 ROWLEY, Samuel - 1811 FAUX, Elizabeth - 1836 MACFARLANE, Mary - 1896 SCATTERGOOD, Carl - 1989 FAUX, Elizabeth - 1877 MACFARLANE, Mary Ann - 1920 SLACK, William - 1856 FAUX, Joseph - 1855 MACFARLANE, Peter Grant - 1910 SLATER, Ann - 1994 FAUX, Luke - 1857 MACFARLANE, Richard Grant - SMITH, Ann - 1814 FAUX, Mary - 1821 1876 SMITH, Arthur - date obliterated FAUX, Richard - 1834 MACFARLANE, Susan - 1939 SMITH, John - 1788 FAUX, Robert Wright - 1855 MACFARLANE, Walter Mace - 1922 SMITH, Helen - 1915 FLOYD, Joseph - 1855 MARSHALL, Colin - 1986 SMITH, Issac Cope Franke - 1924 FLOYD, Mary - 1830 MARSHALL, Doris - 1990 SMITH, Lucy - 1950 FREEMAN, Raymond Harry - 1993 MARSHALL, Frederick Leslie - 1997 SMITH, Mary - 1861 FURLONG, Dorothy Joan - 1996 MAYLING, Elizabeth - 1864 SMITH, Sarah Ann - 1923 MAYLING, John - 1859 SMITH, Thomas - 1869 GARRATT, Charles - 1849 MCDONALD, Ethel Gertrude - 1993 SPENCER, Elizabeth - 1859 GARRATT, Elizabeth - 1863 MICHOT, A M - 1848 SPENCER, Joseph - 1859 GARRATT, Mary Avins - 1911 MICHOT, Elizabeth - 1848 STAIEN, Ann - 1833 GARRATT, Sarah Sophia - 1854 MILES, George - 1850 STAIEN, Elizabeth - 1833 GARRATT, William - 1890 MILES, George - 1850 STAIEN, William - 1832 GARRATT, William Edward - 1860 MILES, Hanna - 1850 STAIEN, William - 1833 GOODRIDGE, Agnes May - 1991 MILES, Harriet - 1850 TAYLOR, Emily - 1953 GOODRIDGE, James - 1985 MILES, JOSEPH - 1850 TAYLOR, Evelyn MARY - 1964 GORRINGE, Peter - 1994 MINGAY, Admiral James - 1872 TRICKER, Mary Ann - 1950 MINGAY, Lydia - 1887 TRIVETT, John - 1991 HADDON, William - 1875 MINGAY, May Constance - 1881 TWIGG, Denise Elizabeth - 1989 HALL, Samuel - 1831 MINGAY, William - 1872 WEST, Ada - 1914 HALL, Sidney - 1995 MINGAY, William George - 1872 WEST, Arthur - 1914 HARDING, Charles - 1858 MINION, William Edward - 1874 WEST, Kathleen - 1914 HEATHCOTE, Edward - 1790 MITCHESON, George Arthur - 1934 WHATMAN, James - 1931 HENTON, Emma - 1886 MITCHESON, Sarah Bardsley - 1942 WHITMEE, William Charles John - HENTON, Sarah - 1886 MONTGOMERY, Charlotte - 1911 1936 HENTON, William - 1886 MONTGOMERY, Hugh - 1911 WILSON, Emma Denise - 1991 HERBERT, Edward, Earl of Powis - MORGAN, H.R.B. - 1963 WINDRIDGE, Ann - 1859 1911 MORGAN, John Lancelot - 1926 WINDRIDGE, Allen - 1859 HOWARD, Edward - 1836 MORGAN, Marjorie - 1980 WOND, Emma - 1950 HUDSON, Dorothy - 1995 MORSE, John - 1867 HUDSON, Mary - 1928 MORSE, Mary - 1871 HUDSON, Thomas - 1961 MORTON, Aaron - 1795

JENKINS, George - 1843 MORTON, John - 1788 JENKINS, Laura - 1938 MORTON, Mary - 1801

JENNINGS, Elizabeth - 1869 NEWEY, Margaret - 1993 JENNINGS, Robert - 1874 JOB, Mary - 1870 OLIVER, Ethel Lilian - 1988 JOB, Thomas - 1875 OLIVER, Mark William - 1986

KEEN, Hannah - 1865 PARRY-MITCHELL, Ellen Bridget - KEEN, John - 1873 1929 KEEN, Thomas - 1845 PARRY-MITCHELL, Henry Digby - KEEN, William - 1843 1914 KNATCHBULL-HUGESSIN, Norton PAYN, Elizabeth - 1800 Reginald - 1941 PAYN, Elizabeth - 1824 WANTED KIRKHAM, Albert - 1974 PAYN, John - 1783 KIRKHAM, Mary - 1979 PAYN, John - 1821 DEAD (OR ALIVE) FOR PAYN, William - 1834 THE NEXT NNWFHS LEWIS, Ann - 1858 POGMORE, Betty - 1865 JOURNAL LEWIS, Charles - 1890 POGMORE, Godfrey - 1848 LEWIS, Joseph - 1866 POGMORE, Frances - 1900 Articles about your ancestors, LEWIS, William - 1863 POGMORE, Frank Herbert - 1882 family photos, items for our LLOYD, John - 1853 POGMORE, John - 1882 notice board and help wanted/ LLOYD, Rebecca - 1855 POGMORE, Sally - 1827 LLOYD, Thomas - 1855 offered section etc. READ, Harry - 1977

MACFARLANE, Alan grant - 1947 RIPLEY, Richard - 1852 Start writing NOW!!! RIPLEY, Thomas - 1852 Page 6 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Old Newspaper Cuttings By Peter Lee Old newspapers are a useful source of the piece of land with equal tenacity cloth. After trying some time with family history information. Obituaries, has kept the name of "The Churle's sticks to get it nearer the side, and as it marriages, court cases, inquests, Piece." We regret to add that the turned over the face of a young public enquiries, and general stories tradition is broken. Thomas Rogers, woman presented itself, and for a are all of value to our researches. reduced in circumstances, was moment they were terrified at the From time to time I will feature some compelled to part with the heritage of spectacle. The body was got out of the of the local cuttings I have taken from his fathers, and The Churle's Piece" Water and conveyed to the Anchor newspapers which will interest our has passed into other hands. Inn. It proved to be the body of Harriet readers. Some are very sad, others Bolestridge, a female about 19 years poigniant, some amusing, others From the Nuneaton Observer, of age, who had been engaged at work puzzling whilst a few are very strange. Friday,January 18th, 1878 in Mr Townsend's silk throwing LOCAL NEWS factory at Attleborough. The inquest Local Newspapers in Nuneaton and EXTRAORDINARY WEDDING was held Tuesday last at the Anchor Atherstone did not get started until the A singular wedding took place Inn, Hartshill, before Alfred Carter, latter half of the 19th century, before yesterday, Thursday at the Parish esq. Coroner. A mass of evidence was that the various Coventry newspapers Church, Nuneaton between John adduced which went to show that she circulated in the northern half of Sawbridge of the Meadow, Nuneaton was of unsound mind, and had Warwickshire and had small sections and Ann Springnut Harris. The bride repeatedly threatened to commit dealing with the outlying towns and was 89 years old and the Bridegroom suicide - indeed she made an attempt villages. Not that they were widely 90. The old man required a little help to drown herself two months ago. She read since probably 75% of the when rising from his knees, but was was engaged to a young man named population were illiterate whose only active when on his legs. They both Jonah Allen. but frequently told him use for a newspaper was cut into have all their wits about them, and are he liked some one else better than him. squares and hung in the privvy. remarkably hearty for their great age. On Saturday evening she went to a Nevertheless they are useful to us now The venerable couple spend the public house and called for half a pint and I hope you enjoy some of these - honeymoon in their own chimney of rum and soon afterwards half a pint "Old Cuttings": corner. of ale; she then left the house and was never again seen alive. At half past ten From the Nuneaton Observer, From the Coventry Herald, Friday, on the following morning the body of Friday, March 29th. 1879 February 24th. 1860 the deceased was found as above "The Churle's Piece" - There died CHILVERS COTON described in the canal. Under a bush last week at Bulkington an old man A CURIOUS WEDDING was close by the towing path was found a named Thos. Rogers, eighty two years solemnised at Chilvers Coton Church bundle containing a shawl and prayer of age. He was one, perhaps the last, by the Rev. G. Mackie D.D. Vicar on book belonging to the deceased. of a line of Yeoman who have been Wednesday week, the happy couple There was also a letter in the bundle, settled in that parish for some being Mr. George Lowndes and Miss the contents of which were as hundreds of years. Dugdale relates that Mary Ann Ensor, both of Chilvers follows: - "Fare ye well my tender about the time of Edward 1st, the Coton. The bridegroom is death and mother, and do not grieve; nor my Lordship of Bulkington was settled dumb, but answered the usual sister love, nor brother, for this world I upon William de la Zouch and Maud questions during the ceremony by now must leave. I leave my sister my his wife, in which family it continued handing to the Vicar slips of paper, on gold ring, my sampler, and all my for several generations. One of the which he had written correct answers. little things, for I am in death. Jonah Lord Zouches who resided here, When a child he was placed by Mrs brought me to my grave early in wanted to possess himself of a large Newdigate at School, where he made youth; for I am in my bloom cut down meadow adjoining his own fields, rapid progress and was afterwards like a flower from a tree. I am poison possibly to provide better for his apprenticed to Mr. Edward Howe, myself. Let Jane see me; pray do not retinue and household. He invited the tailor, of Chilvers Coton, and has fret for me - I am dead and gone, and freeholders of Bulkington to his house, become a good work man. The bride, my soul is lost for ever. Farewell all and "welcoming them with very good who is a cripple, received the my friends, Jonah Allen brought me to entertainment," proposed to purchase assistance and patronage of the above this, but God will not frgive me." The their several portions. All of them kind hearted lady. letter bore no date. There was nothing agreed except one, Rogers, who could to prove any misconduct on the part of not be prevailed upon to sell. My Lord FOUND DROWNED - On Sunday the young man, Allen, of whom the Zouch at length getting impatient, last as two young men residing in witnesses generally spoke well; and exclaimed "let the Churle alone with Nuneaton, and a labouring man, the Jury returned a verdict of his piece" Rogers kept it and his George Wright, from Bulkington, "Temporary Insanity". children and children's children have were passing the canal near Chilvers kept it ever since, down to the time of Coton, they observed something in the the old man wo has just died; while water which they thought to be a horse Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 7 Down Memory Lane

Member number 51, Mrs P Wright, has sent in these two photographs of local football teams which she found amongst family papers.

The writing on the ball in the top photograph reads “BRFC 1910-11” and the writing on the ball in the bottom photograph reads either “JBBS SPORTS 1939-40”, “JEES SPORTS 1939-40” or “ JEBS SPORTS 1939-40”.

Mrs Wright would dearly love to have some more information about the photographs and if anyone recognises any of the players or can tell her who they played for and where she would be very grateful to hear from you. She can be contacted at the following address:-

11 Stable Walk, Whitestone, Nuneaton, Warwicks, CV11 6UY Telephone (024) 7637 5137

Important notice There will be a short Extraordinary General Meeting of the society held at the February meeting at Nuneaton Library on NNWFHS Tuesday February 1st at 7.30pm. The HELPLINE committee wish to propose a change in the society’s constitution in order to allow the Peter Lee (024) 7638 1090 Annual General Meeting to 6.30 - 8.00pm take place in November each year Mon to Sat rather than October. Page 8 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Nuneaton Parish Churchyard By Peter Lee n 1999 Nuneatonians find speak; even if I dare essay to lift that Eliot and used as characters in that the insidious motor car veil with which the heart instinctively "Scenes of Clerical Life": is set to take over the very shrouds such sacred sorrows, my core of the town's soul - the trembling hand would refuse to write, James Williams Buchanan - Ichurchyard. The Parish Council want and thoughts too deep for utterance Lawyer Robert Dempster to grub up some mature trees and dig would mock the poverty of the words. Mr. Buchanan went into partnership out a few anonymous bones in order to But every stone bears a familiar look; with George Greenway, who built provide a tarmacadam stand for cars. here the name of some old friend; Attleborough Hall in 1819. George How low can we get when that last there of one whose form but a few Greenway also lies in Nuneaton bastion of the old town, our prime years ago was frequent in our streets. churchyard although the slate heritage site, is taken over by the "The place that knew them knows them memorial has become parted from the automobile! no more"...... Silent, family vault. Of Lawyer Dempster she passionless, lifeless, as is now their wrote: To me the churchyard is the very rest, their hearts once throbbed with essence of the town, beneath its turf lie the same feverish energy, and in their "He was a tall and rather massive hundreds if not thousands of our lives were the same elements, tragic or man, and the front half of his large ancestors. Already much damage has humorous, which makes up the surface was so well dredged with been done. Headstone blasted flat in melodrama of our being. It may be snuff, that the cat, having the war have been moved to the there is no name on all these tombs inadvertently come near him, had been perimeter of the seized with a severe site, a corner fit of sneezing - an nibbled off for accident which, road works in the being cruelly 1960's. The site misunderstood, had itself, pleasant caused her to be and green with driven mature trees and contumeliously shrubs lacks a from the bar. Mr. display of flowers Dempster which would habitually held his brighten it up. In chin tucked in, and effect it shows by his head years of neglect, hanging forward, and has not been weighed down, interpreted as the perhaps, by a key part of our preponderant heritage which it occiput and a surely is. bulging forehead, Although the Nuneaton Parish Church and Churchyard (from an old engraving). between which his Nuneaton Picture taken from “Nuneaton Past and Present” published by the closely clipped graveyard has an Nuneaton Observer circa 1899. coronal surface lay air of peace and like a flat and new tranquillity it is not as it was in George which is now remembered beyond the mown table land." Eliot's times, when many of the slate circle of our ownsfolk; yet the homely headstones we see laid to rest on the joys and griefs, the domestic tragedies, We can also see the slate memorial to ground stood upright and celebrated and grotesque humours of one Nancy Wallington of Charlecote who many long lost ancestors of Nuneaton generation of these sleepers, will ever kept a private school in Nuneaton people: One of our most respected delight mankind in the pages of where the better off classes sent their local antiquarians, Alfred Lester George Eliot. As she is of ourselves, so children. It was called "the Scrivener (1845-1886) wrote: has she deeply felt and sympathised Elms" (demolished 1960) and was with our own forms of life and located in Vicarage Street. George “I never enter our ancient churchyard thought, and with no young hand has Eliot attended Miss Wallington's without experiencing a pleasurable given them shape and being which the school between 1828 and 1832 in melancholy. It is not only that I see world will not willingly let die”. which year our young potential and mark, with bowed head and novelist witnessed the momentous humbled heart, the green mounds There are a number of prominent Great Reform Election of 1832 in beneath which they sleep whose loss memorials which have stood the test Nuneaton town centre where the riot has darkened my own life with the of time and stand sentinel to those act was read and troopers called in to shadow of death. Of these I cannot people who were taken by George (Continued on page 9) Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 9

(Continued from page 8) nineteenth century because in addition restore order. to the aforementioned gentlemen she Courting Days also talks about another silent sleeper By Peter Lee James Williams Buchanan married with a significant tomb in Nuneaton Janet Wallington on July 5th 1825. churchyard: William Craddock. She Just recently I have entered into Janet was the daughter of George refers to him as Mr. Jerome: She correspondence which led me to wonder Eliot's schoolteacher: Nancy wrote: " Mr. Jerome had a very just how did our 18th and 19th century Wallington . The novelist fictionalized pleasant manner with him, an' there middle class ancestors become Janet Buchanan as Janet Dempster in was niver another as kept a gig, an 'ud romantically acquainted , particularly, if their parents were not alive or in a position "Janets Repentance" in the trilogy of make a settlement on me like him, short novels she published together as to arrange their marriage for them. In those chapel or no chapel." days although people could move around "Scenes of Clerical Life". Of Janet she the district on foot or by horsepower their wrote "A heavy mass of straight jet- Mr Craddock, was in fact the richest ability to get to know a member of the black hair had escaped from its man in Nuneaton when he died in opposite sex was particularly fastening, and hung over her September 1834, he left £120,000 circumscribed by politeness and shoulders. Her grandly-cut features, which was a fortune in those days. He circumstance. That is unless you were a pale with naturalness of a brunette, was partner in Craddock and Bull's member of the labouring classes who did had premature lines about Bank. (His partner William Bull lies not give much credence to position and them...... " nearby). His family had made their propriety and were prepared to do their courting any where and at any time. fortune in cheese and corn factoring in Another tomb in the Nuneaton the days of "Pitt and high prices". However, I have come to the conclusion churchyard is of the Greenway family. that attendance at church on Sunday was George Greenway built Attleborough At one time because Nuneaton was the the polite way for a lady of certain Hall the site of which you will have centre of a large agricultural district standing to become acquainted with walked past on your way from had an important flour mill. This was unattached gentlemen , and for that Attleborough village (only a fragment demolished over 20 years ago, but it introduction to lead to an invitation to call of wall remains and the granite sets set stood next to the George Eliot as appropriate and engage in tea and a little into the entrance of a house in Memorial Gardens. In Nuneaton light conversation. Once the two people Attleborough Road are a remnant of churchyard are buried very close to involved became thoroughly acquainted; his stipend disclosed and her inheritence the entrance gateway. each other, two generations of millers, set before him, provided both were one of which Mr. Tomlinson (in real acceptable to each other then the George Greenway was James life Thomas Hincks) featured in possibility of an engagement might be Williams Buchanan's senior partner. Scenes of Clerical Life. She writes: considered, but entered into only when all Mr. Greenway is portrayed as Mr. "said Mr. Tomlinson, the rich miller, the circumstances were thoroughly Pittman in "Janets Repentance". "I know well enough what your discussed by all parties. George Eliot wrote of him: "Old Sunday evening lectures are good for Lawyer Pittman had once been a very wenches to meet their sweethearts, Anyone who has read "Scenes of Clerical important person indeed, having in his and breed mischief. There's work Life" by George Eliot will know that polite earlier days managed the affairs of enough with your servant-maids as it town life revolved around the church. You would not find demure ladies entering several gentlemen in these parts, who is - such as I never heard the like of in had subsequently been obliged to sell licensed premises, and the only my mother's time, and it's all along o' opportunity they had was to parade everything and leave the country, in your schooling and new fangled plans. "peacock like" up and down Church Street which crisis Mr. Pittman Give me a servant as can nayther read and through the Market Place in their accomodatingly stepped in as a nor write, I say, and doesn't know the Sunday best. Gentlemen would observe purchaser of their estates, taking on year o' the Lord as she was born in. I their perambulations and be prepared to be himself the risk and trouble of a more should like to know what good those introduced to a lady who took his fancy. leisurely sale; which, however, Sunday schools have done now." - (Nuneatonians used to, and maybe still do happened to turn out very much to his call this the "Bunny Run", but these days it advantage. But I think Mr Pittman It is important for future generations comprises mostly young girls in their teens must have been unlucky in his later and twenties, summery dressed winter and of local historians to interpret our high summer trudging between certain "in" speculations for now in his old age, he heritage, to understand what our theme pubs in the town centre. ) had not the reputation of being very churchyard means. It is not just a rich; and though he rode slowly to his morbid place of the dead. It is a However, what I did find surprising office in Milby every morning on an document recording the names and through correspondence with Jim old white hackney, he had to resign relationships of our ancestors. It is a Sambrook, was that there was a "Dating the chief profits, as well as the active key to our past and if managed Agency" in Coventry in the 18th century. business to his younger partner, properly a resource for future Harry Rowe (1726-1800) and his wife Dempster." generations to enjoy in a much more rented a house called Bondfield House and advertised in the Coventry Mercury their meaningful way than we see at It is quite obvious that those with new venture "an office for the present. encouragement of matrimony". Harry access to the law were the leading adopting the surname "Tack" as members of Society in Nuneaton The thought of turning part it into appropriate to his new undertaking! during the early years of the another car park is obscene. Page 10 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal

Gone For A Soldier By Pat Boucher ast Summer I went married (or not!) en route somewhere. Barracks in Warwick on 16th and 17th to visit my great Unfortunately, my great uncle Albert January 1900, to their return to uncle, Albert Bates, knew nothing about this part of his Budbrooke on 30th April 1901. Eager who is my late grandfather’s life but he did know that to find out more, I looked through the grandmother’sL youngest brother. I Isaac had fought in the Boer War and card index and found several was hoping to fill in a few of the was mentioned on the Nuneaton Boer references to the Boer War in the remaining gaps in my Bates research War memorial in Coton Road. I had Nuneaton Miscellany. and also add a little ‘meat to the never looked at the names on this bones’. memorial before so off I went to check Amongst these items I found an it out. It bears the names of all of the ‘Illustrated War Souvenir’ printed by I particularly wanted to talk to him local men who fought and not just the the Nuneaton Observer. This lovely about his paternal grandfather, Isaac ones who died. It also lists the rank little booklet contained a list of all of Bates. Some time ago I had obtained and regiment and so I discovered that the local volunteers with a little piece a copy of the birth certificate of Isaac had been in the Nuneaton about each man. To my delight I read Isaac’s son, Walter Isaac (born 1878), Volunteers. “Mr J Bates a volunteer of long and had standing and an been old marine intrigued to having note that the completed 12 father’s years service. occupation He now ranks was listed as corporal of as ‘soldier’. the Nuneaton I had been Company 2nd unable to Battalion Royal find any Warwickshire more out Regiment”. At about last, I had found Isaac’s a reference to soldiering my great great days as he grandfather’s apparently previous had a very military short career background. I in the army, was a bit being 14 worried that I and an had the wrong errand boy man when I saw The nine Nuneaton Volunteers at Nuneaton Railway Station before their departure in 1871 and the ‘J’ rather to South Africa. Taken from the ‘Illustrated War Souvenir’ published by the married and than ‘I’ Bates Nuneaton Observer in 1899. Corporal Isaac Bates is second from the left on the front a painter but could find row. The names of the other men are, I believe, Sergeant Moreton, Privates G Green, T and no other Bates Margates (or Margetts) J Washbourne, W Holloway, J Payne, J Fairfield and S Lucock. decorator in at all from Of these nine men eight returned, J Fairfield died of of enteric in June 1900. I would be 1881. I Nuneaton. Also grateful to hear from anyone who can fit the names to the faces. have never I know that been able to these two letters find a marriage entry for Isaac and his were often confused as they could be wife Emily Whitehall. Emily was the Armed with this information I went to written in the same way. At the back illegitimate daughter of Mary Nuneaton library to see what else I of the booklet was an even bigger Whitehall of Foleshill. Isaac was the could find out. I found a book about surprise, a photograph of the Nuneaton son of Caroline Neale and Charles the Royal Warwickshire Regiment Volunteers taken at Trent Valley Bates (who deserted his family when with a section about the Boer War and Railway Station, Nuneaton. I wasn’t Isaac was very small and went to the volunteers. Isaac was listed as sure which of the men was Isaac, America, but that’s another story). private I Bates of the 1st Volunteer although I had a good idea from other Because of this lack of family I have Service Company, 1st Volunteer family photos, but luckily my great always had a romantic notion in the Battalion. It also had a ‘table of dates’ aunt was able to point him out for me. back of my mind that perhaps Isaac giving brief details of the company’s had ‘gone for a soldier’ and Emily had whereabouts and engagements from Because this booklet was published by run away with him and they had their attestation at Budbrooke (Continued on page 11) Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 11

(Continued from page 10) in reply to a question as to his age given in an article in the Observer the the Observer I was prompted to look said ‘thirty five sir.’ The adjutant, following week). There were a few at the local newspapers of the day to finding that the man had been twelve more little notices in the local press see what else I might find. There were years in the marines, thought the about ‘our lads at war’ but then, when lots of articles about the war but of corporal had made a mistake and their return was imminent in April particular interest were the following, made a remark to that effect. The 1901, the plans for the welcome home found in a regular ‘Local News’ corporal made reply that at one time started. column in the Observer: - he had belonged to the Salvation Army and had of course been born According to a lengthy description in 12th January 1900. “The members of again!” (Although no name is the Observer of 3rd May 1901 the the 2nd V B Royal Warwickshire mentioned in this article, the reference returning heroes were welcomed by a Regiment attended at the Armoury to his being a Nuneaton volunteer, a vast crowd who lined the streets and Coventry on Saturday, in order to marine of 12 years and a corporal can hung out of windows all along the undergo medical examination. Major only mean he was Isaac Bates.) route of the procession from the Tarry, at the conclusion of this ordeal, 19th January 1900. “Local Volunteers railway station to Attleborough, read the conditions of service which For The Front - On Wednesday Coton, Coton Rd, Princes St, Edward were as follows: - £9 will be granted morning eight of the Nuneaton St, Arbury Rd, Manor Court Rd, Abbey St and finally the market Place. In Abbey Street “there were countless heads from bedroom windows and business premises. Flags, coloured paper, chinese lanterns and all kinds of bunting were stretched from side to side. At intervals there were cheers and waving of flags, caps and hands”. After the procession a reception with ‘refreshments’ and speeches was held at the Conservative Club. Nine volunteers went to South Africa, eight returned, Private J Fairfield having died in June 1900 of enteric. The Observer also produced a ‘Photographic Souvenir for the Homecoming’ which was, unfortunately, not filmed with the newspaper it was issued with. I have made some enquiries but have been Postcard showing the crowds and procession in Abbey Street for the unable to find a copy. If anyone unveiling of the Boer War Memorial in Bond Gate on 28th January 1905 by knows of the whereabouts of one I General Buller. The scene must have been very similar to the procession of should love to hear from them. 1901 when the Volunteers first returned. And so through a visit to my uncle and to the corps of each volunteer for Volunteers went to Warwick for final a bit of detective work I have managed clothing and equipment. On medical examination… it is to put another piece in my completing his period of service each satisfactory to note that seven of them genealogical jigsaw puzzle and see a volunteer will be given a gratuity of passed and only one failed being bit more of that illusive picture of my £5, in addition to any gratuity given to about half an inch short around the ancestors. Now, where do I find out the troops at the end of the war…The chest. The names of those who passed about Isaac’s Marine service record? number of the Nuneaton Company are: - Lance sergeant G Moreton, which were selected are: Sergeant G Corporal Bates, Privates Washbourne, Moreton, Private F Green, Private T Payne, Margate, G Green and Margates, Private S Lucock, Private Holloway… The men were W Holloway. Others who passed the accompanied on Wednesday by examination were selected as waiting Sergeant Instructor Pymm, and Lieut. Companies to be called upon if Knox also attended at the station to required among them being of the see them off.” Nuneaton company, Corporal Bates, Privates W Croshaw, J Hurst, J On the 20th of January there was a Payne, and J Washbourne.” large gathering of people at the Newdegate Arms Hotel to give the 19th January 1900. “BORN AGAIN! – Volunteers a '‘good send off'’ with While being examined by the adjutant singing and drinking and speeches (a on Wednesday, a Nuneaton volunteer full account of the proceedings was Page 12 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal

PARISH REGISTERS ON MICROFILM HELD BY NUNEATON, BEDWORTH, ATHERSTONE AND COLESHILL LIBRARIES By Caroline Boss, Lending Librarian, Nuneaton Library

Nuneaton, Bedworth and Atherstone libraries have recently received some more microfilm copies of parish registers. Nuneaton library now has copies of Astley and Fillongley; Bedworth library has Corley, Exhall and Keresley; while Baddesley, Merevale, Nether Whitacre and Over Whitacre are at Atherstone library. The full list of microfilm copies of parish registers held by libraries in Nuneaton, Bedworth and North Warwickshire is as follows:-

Parish and type of Coverage Library or Parish and type of Coverage Library or register Libraries register Libraries Ansley Bulkington Baptisms 1637 - 1981 NUN Baptisms 1606 - 1966 BED Marriages 1637 - 1981 NUN Marriages 1606 - 1978 BED Burials 1637 - 1967 NUN Burials 1606 - 1984 BED Banns 1754 - 1965 NUN Banns 1898 - 1984 BED Arley Caldecote Baptisms 1557 - 1928 NUN Baptisms 1725 - 1961 NUN Marriages 1557 - 1939 NUN Marriages 1725 - 1975 NUN Burials 1557 - 1929 NUN Burials 1725 - 1961 NUN Banns 1755 - 1956 NUN Banns 1823 - 1960 NUN (incomplete) Chilvers Coton Astley Baptisms 1539 - 1970 NUN Baptisms 1670 - 1985 NUN (1603 - 1653 missing) Marriages 1670 - 1836 NUN Marriages 1539 - 1983 NUN Burials 1670 - 1953 NUN (1603 - 1653 missing) Banns 1755 - 1942 NUN Burials 1539 - 1992 NUN (1603 - 1653 missing) Atherstone Banns 1780 - 1990 NUN Baptisms 1825 - 1976 ATH Coleshill Marriages 1851 - 1972 ATH Baptisms 1538 - 1982 COL Burials 1870 - 1970 ATH (1917-1956 missing) Marriages 1538 - 1979 COL Banns 1920 - 1978 ATH Burials 1538 - 1956 COL Attleborough Banns 1906 - 1973 COL Baptisms 1842 - 1992 NUN Bishops’ Transcripts 1847 - 1870 COL Marriages 1854 - 1988 NUN Corley Burials 1842 - 1946 NUN Baptisms 1540 - 1912 BED Banns 1948 - 1989 NUN Marriages 1540 - 1973 BED Baddesley Burials 1540 - 1932 BED Baptisms 1688 - 1965 ATH Exhall Marriages 1688 - 1938 ATH Baptisms 1540 - 1968 BED Burials 1688 - 1875 ATH Marriages 1540 - 1978 BED Banns 1862 - 1967 ATH Burials 1540 - 1952 BED Banns 1826 - 1989 BED Baptisms 1673 - 1899 ATH Fillongley Marriages 1673 - 1936 ATH Baptisms 1538 - 1953 NUN Burials 1673 - 1812 ATH Marriages 1538 - 1981 NUN Banns 1825 - 1941 ATH Burials 1538 - 1947 NUN Bedworth Banns 1887 - 1964 NUN Baptisms 1644 NUN, BED Hartshill 1652 - 1963 NUN, BED Baptisms 1848 - 1957 NUN Marriages 1653 - 1964 NUN, BED Marriages 1848 - 1965 NUN Burials 1653 - 1963 NUN, BED Burials 1848 - 1918 NUN Banns 1944 - 1947 NUN, BED Banns 1856 - 1969 NUN 1952 - 1959 NUN, BED Keresley Bentley Baptisms 1847 - 1963 BED Baptisms 1837 - 1872 ATH Marriages 1848 - 1976 BED Marriages 1837 - 1872 ATH Banns 1847 - 1901 BED Banns 1874 - 1927 ATH Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 13

Mancetter It is advisable to telephone and book a microfilm reader Baptisms 1576- 1990 NUN, ATH with the relevant library before making your journey. Marriages 1576 - 1990 NUN, ATH Opening times and telephone numbers are as follows:- Burials 1576 - 1982 NUN, ATH Banns 1754 - 1990 NUN, ATH (incomplete) Nuneaton Library Bedworth Library Merevale Baptisms 1727 - 1899 ATH 02476 384027 02476 312267 Marriages 1727 - 1837 ATH Monday 9.00 - 7.00 Monday 9.30 - 7.00 Burials 1727 - 1812 ATH Tuesday 9.00 - 6.00 Tuesday 9.30 - 7.00 Banns 1754 - 1956 ATH Nether Whitacre Wednesday 9.00 - 7.00 Wednesday Closed Baptisms 1539 - 1991 ATH Thursday 9.00 - 5.00 Thursday 9.30 - 7.00 Marriages 1539 - 1984 ATH Burials 1539 - 1864 ATH Friday 9.00 - 6.00 Friday 9.30 - 7.00 Banns 1819 - 1953 ATH Saturday 9.00 - 4.00 Saturday 9.30 - 4.00 Nuneaton St Mary Baptisms 1879 - 1965 NUN Sunday 10.00 - 2.00 Marriages 1878 - 1970 NUN Burials 1878 - 1964 NUN Nuneaton St Nicolas Atherstone Library Coleshill Library Baptisms 1577 - 1955 NUN 01827 712395 01675 463307 Marriages 1577 - 1980 NUN Burials 1577 - 1923 NUN Monday 9.00 - 8.00 Monday Closed Banns 1813 - 1985 NUN Tuesday 9.00 - 6.00 Tuesday 9.00 - 8.00 (incomplete) Over Whitacre Wednesday 9.00 - 8.00 Wednesday Closed Baptisms 1561 - 1910 ATH Thursday 9.00 - 6.00 Thursday 9.00 - 8.00 Marriages 1561 - 1983 ATH Burials 1561 - 1953 ATH Friday 9.00 - 6.00 Friday 9.00 - 6.00 Banns 1824 - 1916 ATH Saturday 9.00 - 4.00 Saturday 10.00 - 2.00 Polesworth Baptisms 1631 - 1905 ATH Marriages 1631 - 1902 ATH Burials 1631 - 1947 ATH Banns 1850 - 1956 ATH Shustoke If you have a photograph, an article, or an item Baptisms 1538 - 1982 COL for the notice board which you would like to be Marriages 1538 - 1989 COL Burials 1538 - 1919 COL published in the next journal please contact Pat Banns 1754 - 1950 COL Boucher either at the monthly meetings, Stockingford telephone (024) 7638 3488, email Galley Common [email protected], or by post at 33 Baptisms 1924 - 1949 NUN Buttermere Ave, Nuneaton, Warwicks, CV11 Marriages 1924 - 1963 NUN 6ET. Banns 1940 - 1971 NUN Stockingford St Paul Baptisms 1824 - 1950 NUN I am happy to accept word processed articles or Marriages 1824 - 1960 NUN scanned photographs etc either attached as a file Burials 1824 - 1909 NUN to an email or on computer disk. Banns 1948 - 1963 NUN Weddington Deadline for all copy to be Baptisms 1662 - 1967 NUN Marriages 1662 - 1989 NUN included in April issue of the Burials 1662 - 1956 NUN Banns 1936 - 1993 NUN Journal is March Ist Page 14 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal

What’s New • At the suggestion of one of our members, Ray Hall, we have decided to hold a ‘question and answer session’ during our March research evening at Notice Board the library. If this is successful we hope that it will become a regular part of our meetings. If you have a suggestion either for the research meetings, or for the subject of a talk etc please contact a member of the committee. • Peter Lee has two new publications out:- “George Eliot’s Nuneaton, An unconventional walking tour covering places of interest and discovering the characters who peopled George Eliot’s Nuneaton, the town in the centre of England” price £1.00; and “A history of brewing in Warwickshire” edited by Fred Luckett, Ken Flint and Peter Lee, price £3.00. These publications are available from Nuneaton Library or through Peter Lee. New Telephone Numbers Please note that some UK area codes and local telephone numbers are in the process of being changed, the final changeover day being 22nd April 2000. There are six places where area codes and local numbers are changing and the telephone numbers in this publication have been altered to reflect these changes.

The six places shown in the right hand City Existing Area Existing Local New Area New Local table have new national numbers which Code Number Code Number you can use from now. They will also have new local numbers which you will Cardiff (01222) XXXXXX (029) 20XX XXXX need to use from 22nd April 2000. For Coventry (01203) XXXXXX (024) 76XX XXXX example, if you telephone Nuneaton (Coventry area), the new national number London (0171) XXX XXXX (020) 7XXX XXXX will have changed from (01203) London (0181) XXX XXXX (020) 8XXX XXXX XXXXXX to (024) 76XX XXXX and can be used from now on but if you live Portsmouth (01705) XXXXXX (023) 92XX XXXX in Nuneaton or coventry area and are Southampton (01703) XXXXXX (023) 80XX XXXX telephoning a local number you can carry on using the existing local number ie XXXXXX until 22nd of April when you will have to use the new local number ie 76XX XXXX. If you have any queries regarding these changing telephone numbers you can call BT on Freefone 0800 731 0202 or visit their website at www.numberchange.bt.com Forthcoming events • Sunday 16th January, Millennium Exhibition at the Coton Centre 10 am to 4 pm. • Tuesday 1st Feb, 7.30 pm Extraordinary General Meeting followed by usual research evening at Nuneaton Library. • 10th/ 11th June, Lives and Times Exhibition at Coventry. NNWFHS will have a stall there as usual. • 18th June, Meeting of the Croshaw family at the Coton Centre from 10 am onwards. • GOONS (Guild of One Name Studies) talk by Karen Naylor - Date to be announced. • The trip to Merevale hall was a great success and we were made very welcome by the owner, Mr Matthew Dugdale, who personally conducted the tour of the house. Because several of our members were disappointed at not getting a place on this trip we are hoping to arrange another one for later in the year when the evenings are light and there is a better opportunity for walking in the grounds, more details soon.

North Warwickshire News. • Research evenings will be commencing again in Atherstone at the White Hart Heritage Centre as from January 18th at 7.30 pm and then on every 3rd Tuesday of the month. • Atherstone Library now has microfilm copies of Parish Registers for Baddesley Ensor, Merevale, Nether Whitacre and Over Whitacre. • John Austin has now completed his book "A History of Atherstone Through Street Names" and it should have been published by the time you read this notice. • Jean Wood has rewritten her book "A New Look at Polesworth History" for the millenium and copies can be obtained from her shop in Polesworth. • If you are on the net and are interested in local history or have ancestors who came from Atherstone or Polesworth there are 2 new websites for you to check out. The Atherstone one may be found at "atherstone.uk-online.org" (Note - there's no usual "www" prefix and the "http:/ is unnecessary). Among other things the sites includes a Town Trail with potted histories of places of interest and some old photographs. The Polesworth one is at http://www.polesworth-pc.freeserve.co. uk/history/index.html. Although Polesworth is a small rural village it has bags of history.

If You have anything to put on the notice board in the next journal please contact Pat Boucher.