Weddington Castle
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PICTURE GALLERY 5: The Grove

PictureThe 'Fox and Crane'
The Weddington Grove on Weddington Road was also variously known as The Grove, The Weddington Hotel, The Weddington and the Fox & Crane. You can read more about the Grove in the 'Local Halls' section of this website.

This gallery covers various stages of the history of The Grove, a large residence on the former Castle estate with strong historical associations with Weddington Castle. Despite all the odds, The Grove still stands today - just! Click on the thumbnails below for full image and description.

Sincere thanks to both Gemma Reid (the last licensee of The Fox & Crane) and Ben Dodds for their help, time and patience in answering my questions and allowing me access to the building in 2008, at a time when the closure of the Fox & Crane was having a major impact upon their own futures.  

'The Grove' at the time of the Castle:
This set of photographs were discovered hidden under the floorboards wrapped in newspaper, when 'The Grove' was converted into the 'Fox & Crane' in 1996. Whilst the newspapers date from 1962, it is obvious that the photos are much older. They depict various poses of a middle-aged man dressed in formal Edwardian dress, along with two young girls in dress of the same era. It is likely that these images depict the former owner Henry Nigel Pole Shawe and his family. Or could they be of Captain Henniker who was resident of the Grove in 1875 (see newspaper article below)? These images were framed by the owners and placed on the staff canteen walls, although they were later taken down as the staff felt that the eyes of the subjects were following them around the room...! This display is now in the possession of the Weddington Social Club.
A photograph found under the floorboards of The Grove during refurbishment work in 1996 Possibly former owner Henry Nigel Pole Shawe
A photograph found under the floorboards of The Grove during refurbishment work in 1996 Possibly former owner Henry Nigel Pole Shawe
A photograph found under the floorboards of The Grove during refurbishment work in 1996 Possibly former owner Henry Nigel Pole Shaw
A photograph found under the floorboards of The Grove during refurbishment work in 1996 Possibly former owner Henry Nigel Pole Shawe
A photograph found under the floorboards of The Grove during refurbishment work in 1996 Possibly former owner Henry Nigel Pole Shawe's daughter
A photograph found under the floorboards of The Grove during refurbishment work in 1996 Possibly former owner Henry Nigel Pole Shawe's daughter
The photos found under the floorboards of the Fox & Crane in 1996 They were later mounted and displayed in a frame along with the papers (dated 1962) that they were wrapped in.***
The Grove cottages, built c.1818**
The Grove cottages, built c.1818 (Reg Bull)
Article on Captain Henniker in Cheltenham Chronicle 28th December 1875
Robert Swinnerton MBE (1848-1939) could trace his ancestry back to the village of Swynnerton in Staffordshire. The family farmed at Weddington, Caldecote and Fillongley and he owned Swinnerton & Sons, timber merchants in Regent Street. He lived for a while at the Grove in the Weddington estate. There is a large memorial to the Swinnerton family in St James churchyard and the road 'Swinnerton's Heritage' off Church Lane is named after him.
The Weddington Pub / The Grove Pub:
The Weddington Hotel. This postcard used to be sold at the 'Fox & Crane' when it first opened. It is dated 1938****
(c) Nuneaton News
This is my grandfathers van out side the Weddington Hotel, he was A.E.Simpson builders. He was a local builder and was also in partnership with someone and were known as Simpson and Twitty, he built the church in Camp Hill and donated the cross on it as I believe they ran out of money, local people donated bricks when it was built. (c) Mandy Williams. Date unknown, 1950s to 70s?
The Grove swathed in flags 1935 (c) Nikki Pearson
The Grove swathed in flags 1935 (c) Nikki Pearson
P Chater
The Grove as The Weddington Hotel (c) Nuneaton Local History Group
11th Nuneaton (Weddington) Wolf Cub pack on parade at Weddington Grove, c1960. (c) David Parker
The Grove Weddington with Ronnie (george) Hall, Jim Halliwell and David Reece (RIP) for John Pinfold wedding late 1960's ?? (c) Brian William Rylance
The Grove in 1975**
The Grove in 1975**
The Weddington pub in 1981. The pumpkin was from the local Allotment Association who regularly displayed their wares at the pub***
Ladies darts and dominoes team from The Weddington Hotel in about 1984 (c) Nuneaton News
Licensee Alan Parnell with with Irene outside The Weddington, early 1980s
Article on change of ownership of 'Weddington Hotel' 1986 (c) Nuneaton News
Pub sig n outside 'The Weddington' (c) John W Wells
'The Grove' on Sunday 31 March 1996 - the day last orders were called before the Weddington Hotel was closed and reopened as The Fox and Crane*.
Sunday 31 March 1996. Sunday lunch time regulars in the public bar*
Sunday 31 March 1996. Sunday lunch time regulars in the public bar*
Sunday 31 March 1996. Sunday lunch time regulars in the public bar*
Sunday 31 March 1996. Empty Lounge*
Sunday 31 March 1996. Empty Lounge*
28 July 1995 - Weddington Hotel Bowl Tournament
'The Fox & Crane' (1996 - 2007) - the public bar & restaurant area. Pictures taken 2006.
Hallway of the Fox & Crane
Coffee corner
The bar at the Fox and Crane
Rear dining area
Internal doors
Fireplace
Internal doors
Inside original window with wooden sashes
Original Victorian floortiles in the entranceway of the Fox & Crane
Internal doors
A signed menu from the day sports commentator Murray Walker and his wife, Elizabeth visted the pub ion 22 June 2003*
Lizzie Udall and Megan Drake. Former employees of the Fox & Crane behind the bar.*
Former Fox and Crane staff. Left to right: David Sykes, Amy Wynne, Shaun Walton, Lizzie Udall, Beryl Gadsby, Georgina Smith, Steve Lowes *
Shaun Walton in the first floor function room*
Alcove
Front dining area - original windows facing onto Weddington Road
Side dining area
Note: framed photos found under floorboards in 1996 on wall. Reputedly of HNP Shawe. You can see these images elsewhere on this site
A roast beef dinner. A typical meal served whilst the Grove was opened as the Fox & Crane *
Goodbye
New Year's Eve celebrations at The Fox & Crane, 2007:
'The Fox & Crane' (1996 - 2007). The rest of the interior (not open to the public). Apart from the photos marked *, these images were taken just a couple of days before the Fox & Crane closed for the last time.
In the attic
Attic roofbeams
Doorway and steps onto roof
The Grove roof
The Grove roof
The Grove roof
Upper attic room
Upper attic room with graffiti
Stairs down from attic (with original wallpaper and modern graffiti)
Spiral stairs down from attic
Stairs up to attic with internal window and skylight
First floor function room
First floor function room
Side view from first floor function room
Front view from first floor function room
Disused bar in first floor function room
Original oak staircase on first floor
Original oak staircase on first floor (note original floor tiles below
Landing on staircase
Stairs down to cellar
Bricked up tunnel in cellar (legend has it the tunnel led to Weddington Castle)
Stairs up from cellar
The kitchen of the Fox & Crane (complete with staff)*
Member of staff in the Fox & Crane staff room*
'The Fox & Crane' (1996 - 2007) - the exterior of the building. Most of these pictures taken a year before the 'Fox & Crane' closed.
Artwork of the 'Fox & Crane' Featured on the final menu of the Fox & Crane as a restaurant, in 2007
The Grove, now a pub restaurant called the 'Fox and Crane' Pictured in 2006
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The Fox and Crane by night** Front view
The Fox and Crane by night** Front view
The Fox and Crane by night** Side view
A modern postcard of the 'Fox & Crane'
A side view of the Grove
A side view of the Grove
A view of the back of the Grove
Rear of the Grove
The former garden at the Grove
An outbuilding at the Grove
Beautiful shot of the Fox & Crane grounds*
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Beautiful shot of the Fox & Crane grounds in winter*
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Entrance to the Fox & Crane
Fox & Crane garden doorway
Garden at the Fox & Crane
The side garden
Entrance of former bowling club
The bowling green in the grounds of the Grove
The bowling green in the grounds of the Grove
Front garden
Outbuilding to side of building
Rear yard
Side of the Grove (staff quarters). Demolished 2010.
Side of the Grove
Side of the Grove
Exterior of stables. Demolished 2010.
Stable block
Inside the stables (note the remaining hay hook in the wall)
View from inside the Stables
Trees to front of the Grove
Tunnel entrance at rear of Grove (local legend reputes this goes to Caldecote!)
Tunnel entrance at rear of Grove (now blocked up: it probably led to an ice-house)
Tunnel entrance at rear of Grove (now on private property behind the Grove site)
The reconstructed porch of the Grove
Fox & Crane pub sign
Water tap in grounds
Licensee plaque of Gemma Reid, the final licensee of the Grove / Fox & Crane after 70 years as a public house (2007)
The final evening of the 'Fox & Crane' (15/01/2008). These pictures were taken on the last night before The Grove closed for good, after decades of  serving the local community as a public house. A number of Weddington's local residents are featured here on the final night, as well as Gemma Reid: the last ever licensee of The Fox & Crane. Many thanks to Malcolm Barnett for providing these photographs to the Weddington Castle website.
The Grove in 2008 - 2009:
The Fox & Crane before and after closure*
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Former staff quarters**
Side view through railings**
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The Grove in March 2008. With developer's signage*
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The pub sign was removed in 2008
January 2008**
A tree stump at the front of The Grove All the main trees in the grounds were felled in 2008
Planning application posted outside The Grove. May 2008**
The Grove in May 2008**
The Grove in May 2008**
The Grove in May 2008**
The Grove in May 2008**
The side of The Grove
The side of The Grove Note the blacked-out windows
Decking to the side of The Grove
A view through the (padlocked) rear fence
Probably the last time this interesting tunnel entrance could be seen
The few remaining trees at the rear of The Grove in 2008
An artwork that previously adorned the wall of 'The Fox & Crane' Left discarded in the grounds. August 2008
An artwork that previously adorned the wall of 'The Fox & Crane' Left discarded in the grounds. August 2008
The former, pristine, bowling green at the rear of The Grove
The former, pristine, bowling green at the rear of The Grove
The overgrown garden to the side of The Grove
The rear stairs of The Grove
The Grove. August 2008 Note the blacked-out windows
The Grove. August 2008 Note the blacked-out windows
Portakabins arrive on site** 20th August 2008
Portakabins arrive on site** 20th August 2008
Portakabins arrive on site** 20th August 2008
"Grove Park": signage put up in February 2009 Announcing new development of houses and apartments
Signage put up in February 2009
The Grove in April 2009. Felled trees in the grounds**
A trench dug in the grounds, April 2009** From the archaelogical assessment carried out. Now filled in
The Grove. April 2009.** Two further trenches are visible
One of the proposed 4-bed detached properties to be built on the site of The Grove. #
One of the proposed 4-bed detached properties to be built on the site of The Grove. #
New planning application August 2009** An extra house was added, taking the total to 19
A Roman greyware pot found during the archaeological excavation of the site in April 2009***** Found in pits adjacent to Weddington Road
A late C17th field drain found during the archaeological excavation of the site in April 2009 *****
A mid C18th field drain found during thearchaeological excavation of the site in April 2009 *****
The Grove in April 2009, the frontage stripped of ivy**
More portacabins at the Grove, April 2009**
December 2009, the diggers move in**
Dug up the tarmac at the front of The Grove***
"Cartwrights" signs at the site are up saying plots 'are available.' ***
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The Redevelopment of 'Grove Park' in 2010. As of 2010, the transformation of the Grove and its grounds into a housing development ('Grove Park') was fully underway. The houses went up quickly, although the only work on Grove itself was the demolition of its outbuildings and it remained fenced off and marked with graffiti. One positive is that the road sign "Lionel Close", was in place. This is named after the former owner of Weddington Castle: Lionel Place.
2010 images by John Denny, who gained access to the site as part of a photography project:
March 2010:
Taken 17/03/10 * Demolition of the side buildings
Taken 17/03/10 * Demolition of the side buildings
Taken 17/03/10 * Demolition of the side buildings
Taken 17/03/10 * Demolition of the side buildings
Taken 17/03/10 * Demolition of the side buildings
The Grove site 26/03/10*
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April 2010**:
June 2010:
August 2010: A small comfort is that the developers listened to suggestions and named the main access road "Lionel Close", after the former owner of Weddington Castle: Lionel Place (August 2010 pictures © Shortland Horne). 
September 2010:  
The Grove 2011- 2012: A Sad Decline
January 2011: throughout 2011, the so-called "transformation" of the Grove  failed to happen. It remained a sad shell: exposed to the elements, daubed with graffiti and with no obvious work going on with it, surrounded by largely empty new houses which had failed to sell. 
November 2011: the 6 grainy black and white photos below are particularly depressing given that they not only show the first interior shots of the Grove since it closed in 2008, but they also show the degree to which Cartwright's allowed the building to fall into disrepair. Compare these to the earlier pictures in this gallery. These pictures are from a Cartwright's planning application document where they argued to demolish the Grove as renovating it would cost them more money (they lost the case). The colour picture is (c) Nuneaton News.
January - May 2012: although, at the end of 2011, The Grove survived a bid by its owners to demolish it - largely due to public support and Council acknowledgement of its historic value - it still remained at threat. As the pictures below show, the building was still at serious risk as the developers, AR Cartwights, were letting it fall into disrepair - with certain sections to the rear being left open to the elements... although in May 2012 scaffolding appeared at the side of the building following an Enforcement Order by NBBC to compel Cartwrights to prevent further deterioration of the building.
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January 2015: work finally starts on the renovation of the Fox and Crane. The work is due to take around 18 months. You can read an article on the work starting here.

June 2016: the renovation of the Grove is underway. Here you can see the main structure, roofing, porch and original wooden windows frames have all been retained.
January 2021: The former Grove and Lionel Place now fully occupied, the main building being divided into apartments and the gardens now a memory (photo by Gareth Jones)
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Grateful thanks to all who contributed photographs to this gallery - a full list of acknowledgements can downloaded here.
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