Weddington Castle
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PICTURE GALLERY 6: Weddington Village

This section contains photographs of Weddington over the last century, showing some of the many changes that have occurred to the area over this time. Other views of Weddington can be seen in the 'Other Buildings' and 'St James Church' picture galleries in this section. You can also read a little piece of Weddington's rural history, with the recollection of a milk round in the 1940s by Alan Cadman, by clicking this link.

You can view images of Weddington Village from more recent times at this link: Weddington Village Today.

You can also read an article on Childhood Memories of Weddington written by Jill Morrow, and previously published in the Nuneaton Local History Group's 'Nuneaton Historian' newsletter: Weddington Childhood Memories.
Entry for Weddington (then known as Watitune) in the 1086 Domesday Book. See #### link below for translation
Weddington as featured in the Sheldon Tapestry Maps of the 1580s ###
Map showing 'Wedington' in the 1720s (c) Peter Lee / NBLFH)
A plan of the depopulated village of Weddington from the thesis: "A Study of the sources available for a history of the parish of Weddington", by G.J.Page / Manchester Polytechnic Dept. of Library & Information Studies, Postgraduate Diploma 1980. Local Studies Option / NLHG Archive.
Weddington Meadows - early colour postcard
Postcard of bridge from Church Lane to Weddington Meadows. Postally sent c1921 #
The same view of the fields in 2013
Reverse of 1921 postcard. #
Weddington Road in the 1900s
Weddington Road in the 1900s (a colourised version of the previous image)
Weddington Fields seen here in an early London to Manchester air race - year not given. Photo CET / Bedworth Echo (with thanks to Nuneaton Memories)
Weddington Fields seen here in an early London to Manchester air race - year not given. Photo CET / Bedworth Echo (with thanks to Nuneaton Memories)
Weddington Fields seen here in an early London to Manchester air race - year not given. Photo CET / Bedworth Echo (with thanks to Nuneaton Memories)
Weddington Meadows: early novelty postcard (courtesy of Peter Lee)
The Chase c1900, a large house in Weddington. Now the Chase Hotel.
The Weddington Cricket team in the 1910s
Weddington meadows footbridge over the River Anker, c.1926**
Plan of Castle Road, showing early housing, dated 1933 This shows that Shawe Avenue was originally called simply 'The Avenue'*
A bomb damaged house at 43 Castle Road, Weddington in the 1940s The woman and child pictured are Mrs Lily Sargent and her daughter Eileen Sargent.
Reg Dawson (Trent Valley Rail Worker) and wife (?) at his home in Weddington Road (c) Susan Essex
Locomotive train (48056) crossing Weddington Road rail bridge on 23/4/1966. The bridge was demolished in 1972 and the rail line is now the Weddington Nature Walk
Early 1960s train heading towards Nuneaton approaching the same bridge as the photo to the left. Crossing over Weddington Road. There is a signal box just to the left of the train. (c) David Brindley
The Weddington Walk, former rail line
Horseriding outing on Weddington fields, 1964 G Smith
Horseriding outing on Weddington fields, 1964 G Smith
Outing on Weddington fields, 1964 G Smith
Undated photo of a section of the Weddington Walk (former Ashby & Nuneaton Joint Line) . Titled Higham-on-the-Hill Railway Station, Stoke Golding. this looks like a stretch of the Walk which used to be accessible before MIRA walled it off in the 1980s
Weddington Road. March 1972 track lifting gangs are working on the Ashby & Nuneaton Joint Line dismantlement over the Weddington Road bridge which was later removed after the lifting was complete. (Alan Cook / NLHG archives)
Cresswell's Dairy Farm, Weddington (c) Jill Morrow
Gathering of the harvest at Dairy Farm, Weddington (c) Jill Morrow
Gathering of the harvest at Dairy Farm, Weddington (c) Jill Morrow
Gathering of the harvest at Dairy Farm, Weddington (c) Jill Morrow
Weddington Farm at harvest time, date unknown (c) Jill Morrow
More photos of a farm wagon at Weddington loaded with Girl Guides in the days before Health & Safety. (Jill Morrow)
A milk bottle from a Weddington Farm (c) Nuneaton Collector, bottledigging.org.uk
A milk bottle from a Weddington Farm (c) Nuneaton Collector, bottledigging.org.uk
A milk bottle from a Weddington Farm (c) Nuneaton Collector, bottledigging.org.uk
1930s bottle top from W H Brindley, Lower Farm. Thanks to Steve Day and the grandson of W H Brindley for suppling.
Abandoned orchard and buildings on what is now 'The Coppice' cul-de-sac. 1st June 1971 ** This is a possible site of the original Royal Hunting Lodge in the area. "I think the house a few doors south of Alsted Lodge had rights on it, because the owner applied for planning permission in early 1970's to open a Plant Nursery on it, using his drive as access. He was refused Planning Permission, so he sold the land and his house for building - hence The Coppice was built." Alan F. Cook
A building on a former orchard south of The Grove. 1st June 1971 ** "The building may have been a sorting shed for apple picking, sorting and crating-up. It was empty when I went in, save for a ladder (which is visible) and there were traces of trestle tables and old rotten crates." Alan F. Cook
Weddington Church fete in 1960s. Parish hall grounds (c) Jayne Jordan
Demolition of the original brick rail bridge on Weddington Road, when it was replaced by a steel structure. (c) Nuneaton Memories
The old railway bridge in Weddington Road before it was replaced by a steel bridge c. 1960's (Geoff Edmands)
Demolition of the original brick rail bridge on Weddington Road, when it was replaced by a steel structure. (c) Nuneaton Memories
Demolition of the original brick rail bridge on Weddington Road, when it was replaced by a steel structure. (c) Nuneaton Memories
Demolition of the original brick rail bridge on Weddington Road, when it was replaced by a steel structure. (c) Nuneaton Memories
Weddington Silver Jubilee Party 1977##
Weddington Silver Jubilee Party 1977##
Weddington Silver Jubilee Party 1977##
Weddington Silver Jubilee party 1977 (c) Gail Needham
Weddington Silver Jubilee party 1977 (c) Gail Needham
Weddington Silver Jubilee Party. Ryde Avenue 1977 (c) Mary Ayers
Weddington Silver Jubilee Party. Ryde Avenue 1977 (c) Mary Ayers
Weddington Silver Jubilee Party. Ryde Avenue 1977 (c) Mary Ayers
Weddington Silver Jubilee Party. Ryde Avenue 1977 (c) Mary Ayers
Weddington Silver Jubilee Party. Ryde Avenue 1977 (c) Mary Ayers
Weddington Silver Jubilee Party. Ryde Avenue 1977 (c) Mary Ayers
Weddington Silver Jubilee Party. Ryde Avenue 1977 (c) Mary Ayers
Weddington Silver Jubilee Party. Ryde Avenue 1977 (c) Mary Ayers
Original quartzite gateposts for Weddington Gardens, these remain next to Weddington Post Office
Winter in the Fields, 1984 G Edwards
Aerial view of Weddington, 1984**
Infrared Aerial view of Weddington, 1985**
Autumn in the fields, 1992 G Edwards
Weddington's original Parish Hall, Church Lane. Demolished c.1990**
Inside the Parish Hall, 1953 (c) Emma Tarling
Inside the Parish Hall, 1953 (c) Emma Tarling
Weddington fields before the 1999 flood (Fiona Cooper-Woods)
Weddington fields after the 1999 flood (Fiona Cooper-Woods)
Weddington fields 1999 flood (Fiona Cooper-Woods)
Weddington fields 1999 flood (Fiona Cooper-Woods)
Weddington fields 1999 flood (Fiona Cooper-Woods)
Weddington fields 1999 flood (Fiona Cooper-Woods)
Weddington fields 1999 flood (Fiona Cooper-Woods)
Weddington fields 1999 flood (Jenny Brookes)
Weddington fields 1999 flood (Jenny Brookes)
Weddington fields 1999 flood (Jenny Brookes)
Weddington fields 1999 flood (Jenny Brookes)
Weddington fields 1999 flood (Jenny Brookes)
Midland Red East Bus old bus blind. An actual destination sign for buses operating in the area. Dated October 1983, 31" wide.

# Text on reverse of the 1921 postcard of Weddington Meadows reads:

"Dear Ada,

"This is where I am spending my holidays, do you not think it is a lovely place. Am going on a motor drive to-morrow, "wish I was." The next day Tuesday I am going to have a look round some big munitions works at Coventry, "Whites and Poppies."

"Love from Eve.

"Glad you are not having to sleep on the floor."


Webmaster's note re: the 1921 postcard:

It is fascinating to think that the idea of going on a "motor drive" way back was considered a pipe-dream. I wonder what Eve would make of the busy Weddington Road/A444 today!!

The reference to Coventry's "Whites and Poppies" factory is very interesting. Having resorted to the internet to source this I can find only one reference to a "Whites & Poppy's" in Coventry - an account from a resident of Coventry during the night of the Blitz, who mentioned this as a factory there. This appears to have been one of many munitions factories in the area which led to the City being targetted in such a devastating way during WW2. You can read the account here:http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/96/a4896796.shtml 

Whilst the postmark is illegible on this postcard, looking at the stamp this is obviously a King George V era 1 penny stamp. These were issued from the early to the late 20s, though the later ones were much brighter red. The hue of this one suggests to me a postal date of around 1921. A time when, if Eve had taken a stroll across the bridge to Weddington Meadows, she would have been able to admire the estate of Weddington Castle (sadly demolished in 1928).

As regards why Eve was spending part of  her holidays visiting munitions factories in Coventry, and why Ada may have ended up sleeping on the floor - we can only guess!! 


Pictures marked ^ by Colin Paterson for which grateful acknowledgement is given
* Grateful acknowledgements to Kevin Purchase for providing the original document for this.
** From the collection of Alan F Cook for which grateful acknowledgement is given.
*** The Swinnerton family were major farmers in the area. Robert Swinnerton lived at The Grove in the C19th and there is an impressive memorial for the Swinnertons in St. James Churchyard
**** Grateful acknowledgements to Dave Malone (2012) for providing these images.
## Provided by Cheryl Hartshorn via Nuneaton Memories facebook. You can see photos of the 2012 Golden Jubilee party in Weddington at this link.
### http://heritage.warwickshire.gov.uk/museum-service/collections/the-sheldon-tapestry-maps/  
#### 1086 Watitune/Weddington Domesday Book entry  ( (c) Crown Copyright)
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