Clerks Cottage At Cottage View Field

A Memory of Whitnash.

I remember these 3 cottages before the top two were demolished leaving Clerks Cottage at the bottom. I remember the house being lit by gaslight, my father was always buying new gas mantles because he kept hitting them with his head. I remember the cold dark nights when I had to go and get water from the well and the bath nights in the old tin bath in front of the fire.
Right opposite was the farm pond and on the rise the farmhouse and to the left of the front door was a small caravan park where my sister and I would often go and play. The Green had an air raid shelter which was a favourite place to play, just opposite the Methodist Church. The lane wound towards Leamington through farmyards with plenty of animals to look at and I would often have to run down to the pub off licence to tell Grandad that dinner was ready.

My grandfather kept greyhounds and used to train them in the field behind the cottage. The village Bobby, "Todd" would come down on his bike and suit and have a cup of tea with Grandad. There was a small village store on the bend going towards the current parade of shops where I would be sent by Mum to get groceries and I am sure I can remember using ration coupons in the 1950s to buy things.

Having just gone back recently it felt such a shame that the village feel has gone with the new estates, the price of progress I guess.

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