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Wilmcote
Wilmcote maps
Historic maps of Wilmcote and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Wilmcote maps
Wilmcote area books
Displaying 1 of 6 books about Wilmcote and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Wilmcote
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Wilmcote.
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War Years in Wilmcote
My father was a builder doing war work whereever he was sent. My parents wanted all the family to be together so we all arrived in Wilmcote, my mother, father and older brother and I. We lived in an old train carriage which had been transformed into a temporary home for us. It was situated in the grounds of the home of a Mr and Mrs Baldwin of Start Point, a bungalow in the village. I went to the village school and remember a Mr Needham was the head master. My mother and I used to walk along the canal to go to Stratford unless the swans were nesting as then we daren't as they used to fly at us and could have caused us serious damage, then had to go on the diesel train. We weren't there all that long before my father had to go elsewhere but I have many happy memories of my short time in Wilmcote.
Warwickshire memories
1980s
I was the newspaper reporter for the Coventry Evening Telegraph regional office on Wood Street for a year and lived off Joseph Way on a new housing development.
I remember reporting on time share appartments at the former home of Danny La Rue, attending magistrates court and council meetings and eating at Pizzaland which was conveniently across the road from the tiny offices.
This is now a book shop I think but I - as editorial - had the upper floor with its black and white timber beams and uneven floors while the advert team were downstairs. My predecessor was Bruno Dore.
The Herald was the local weekly and I worked closely with Simon Woodings the reporter from there and Harry Piggot Smith who knew everyone.
Samual James Whitehouse
I recently visited Wootton Wawen to look at the war memorial where my great-grandfather Samual James Whitehouse is mentioned. He was the local postman and sadly died at the beginning of the First World War. I felt honored to be able to visit such a pretty place where he had lived. If anyone has memories of him or his son, Harold Whitehouse who was my grandfather,I would love to hear them.
Park Lane
I spent many happy days during the summer holidays with my grandparents who lived at No 1 Park Lane. I played in the park opposite and in a wood across a field at the back of the house. There was a pig sty at the bottom of the garden where they kept a couple of pigs until they were ready for slaughter. The butcher, who only had one arm, slaughtered the pigs on the back yard, although as I remember he only had one arm. I believe his name was Eden. One of my favourite places is the churchyard where the family graves are. I can stand in there, shut my eyes and the smell of the evergreen trees is exactly as it was when I was a youngster. I am 71 now. Happy Days.
Fred Gazey
I wonder if any older people remember my gt uncle, Fred Gazey. He used to live at Keeper's Cottage at the top of Primrose Hill. He was killed in the late 1960's when an unknown well in the house collapsed and he drowned. I spent many happy hours up at the small holding in 1950's and 60's and adored my uncle. His wife, Ethel, died in 1951 and as they had married late in life had no children of their own. He only ever left Oversley to ride his bike to Stratford Market or on Christmas Eve. Then he rode his bike to Redditch to visit his two sisters, Nell and Jinny, and his brother Joe. He stayed all Christmas Day and we used to have a big family party laid on by the gt aunts on Christmas night. Next day Fred was up at 5.00am to ride home to his sheep, chickens, geese and turkeys. He was a lovely chap and I still miss him, even... Read more
I Lived Here
I lived at The Malt House, Claverdon in the early mid 1960s. It was owned at the time by Mr Jefferson who lived in a lovely new bungalow a little further away. I loved this house even if it was a bit unusual to live in. I went to school in Claverdon and Miss Lewthwaite was my teacher she was really nice. Does anyone else remember this place?
I don't think the Malt House has changed that much, it still looks lovely in the modern photos I have seen of it. I bet the floors still slope upstairs.
In the barn at the end it had a "Copper" where my mum boiled the whites on washing day and she had to cross the road to hang her washing in a field on the corner.
