Welcome to the history of Atherstone website, a project to bring together in one place as much information about the history of Atherstone and the surrounding area as possible.
The town of Atherstone has a long, vibrant, varied and in many ways, an arguably historically important past. Our aim is to record this past for prosperity whilst bringing it to light to a contemporary audience.
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Does anyone have any info on “Glass House Gardens”. This was a piece of land adjacent to Grendon Lodge opposite the railway station. According to local late 19th century maps there were a couple of dwellings and a large number of greenhouses there.
My Grandfafther Earnest Norris lived there about 1950 when he was Station Master. That’s all .
Cannot help with the above but do you know of Dr Phoebe Sheavyn who was born in Atherstone?
I have records of her living at 92 Long Street in 1901 and 1911 where her brother ran a Draper, Outfitter and House Furnisher business.
She wrote a book ‘The Literary Profession in the Elizabethan Age,’ in 1909 which is a text that is still used in academic circles. She revised it 58 years later at the age of 102! She was an ardent supporter of higher education for women and has a house named for her at Birmingham University.
I have been trying to trace the life of her sister, Mary, who became a mid-wife and did charity work in the Hackney and district of London.
Hi my grandfather Charles Henry Orgill lived in Atherstone and worked on the Bently Estate, juring that time he used to keep and race pigeons, he won a cup for best channel averages, and I am trying to find out anything about the Atherstone Pigeon Society as I am writing about my family history.
For Marilyn,
Within the last couple of years there has been a leaflet produced on the life of Phoebe Sheavyn. I am sure that Atherstone library will have copies.
I am very interested to see this website – particularly in view of my family’s association with the town, going back to the 16th century. As you see, Thomas Drayton father and son (born 1625 and 1650 respectively in Atherstone) emigrated to Barbados and Charlestown in the Carolina colony. I am descended from them. I would be very interested to know whether any other descendants of the Draytons had been in touch. I understand the Draytons were butchers, tanners and innkeepers. I remember going to a house in Long Street, owned by a Dr Clavering – which was a Drayton porperty. I also remember seeing a house in the square which was owned by a Harrington Drayton, a goldsmith from London and a benefactor of the church – or was that Edward Drayton? I know that many in the States who are Drayton descendants would be very interested in finding out as much as possible about the Draytons from Atherstone. All the best, Bill Drayton.
My grandfather was William Heath born 147 in Atherstone,Warwickshire. In 1851 he lived in Long Street. Do you have any old photo’s of this place in times gone by. Maybe you can recommend a website where I can view.
Kind Regards.
Daniel Heath
hi daniel, sorry i do not have any pictures of 147 long street atherstone….. i doubt they’re many left….. but as a young girl. i lived there for almost five years. my father and brother and of course myself were the last to live there before it was demolised. so if i can be of any help, please get in touch, cinthia.
i was born at 151 long street.. in 1950 so was my mother she is still alive.. at 149 was mills at 153 was gregory
147 was a fish and chip shop with flats above and a yard…also here was grubbs paper shop,, maskells sweet shop,, and fred hogg television/radio/electrical repairs
Have a look at http://www.windowsonwarwickshire.org There are quite a few photographs from 1900′s to the late 60′s.
for Sandra Noon,
Bernard Boulstridge I seem to remember had a relative who had a champion pidgeon called Straight Forward
The last known address of my Grandmother Marian Holmes was 200 Long Street.
There are flats there now. Can you tell me what was there before, and how long ago were these flats built. I’m trying to establish when she died, but can’t find any information anywhere.
Regards Margaret
The flats were built about 1960. Before that there was a terrace of red brick houses that opened straight onto Long St, having 2 steps up from street level. One was a very small general store.
I have not found a death for Marian Holmes on freebmd. That finishes at 1940. She does not appear to have been buried in the local cemetary in Sheepy Road.
Perhaps someone else can add more info.
There was a photo and small piece on my gg Grandfather and his brothers (5or7) of them all in uniform during the first world war, “they were from the Hurley/Ansley areas. I believe it was in a local Atherstone paper. sadly at least 2 of them were KIA. one of them won the MM any ideas on were I can find a copy of this article and photo or wear to start?
The newspaper was probably the Atherstone News. Copies are on film at the local library. If you share the surname with us perhaps someone with an interest in the military can help.
On the site of the council offices on Woolpack Way used to be a row of terraced cottages with thatched rooves I knew them as Richardson Cottages. Anybody got a photo or any details?
Hi all, does anyone have any info on the Beehive Cottage as my Great Grandad (Arthur Ward) was born there and lived there with his wife (Avarilla, nee Wilson, Ward)…..Or any info on the above family..
Many thx
Mark
I remember the Beehive Cottage from my childhood in England. I was last there in 1957 and at the time it was abandoned. I remember my parents telling me that it had a very interesting history. ( It was completely shaped like a beehive by the way.) They said that it was going to be ” looked after” and “protected” because of its long history and importance to the area. I was almost 9 at the time. Sorry, that is all that I know.
Carolyn
Hi Again,
I remember more now about the Beehive Cottage. It was located on the same street that my Grandparents, Arthur and Emily Hargrave lived on. My uncle Albert Hargrave owned the house next to them on Coleshill Rd. He would be in his 80′s now but don’t know if he is still alive. He has a son John Hargrave, (my cousin)who may still live in Atherstone and may remember more than I as he was brought up there. I remember that the cottage was located in a beautiful forest but when it was abandoned someone had tried to set fire to it. The cottage I believe is still there as I googled ” Beehive Cottage,Atherstone,Warwickshire,England” and a map of its location and postal code came up. That’s not much help but it may be a lead for you. Good luck.
Carolyn
Thx Carolyn
I will pass this info on to my family to see if it rings any bells
Mark
re Charles Phillips, Draper, Hatter & Hat Manufacturer, Long Street, Atherstone.
He was recorded there in the censuses of 1841 through 1881. The census of 1861 shows him as an employer of 300 people. There is no record of him in the 1891 census and I cannot find a record of his death. Can anyone help?
Does anyone have any information on Grove House South Street (I think)? I have found a relative of mine in the 1871 census residing there as a boarder. Is Grove House the name of the school or just a boarding house? Many thanks.
The Grove was a large property which survived until recent years as the Miners Welfare Club. Modern housing has been built on the site but old trees and tennis courts survive and the old name remains in the name of licenced premises, The Grove.
On the 1871 census it is a school ran by Francis John Hoyte, an Independant Minister and Doctor of Law. J F Hoyte died in Atherstone in 1876.
Friends of Atherstone Heritage may have photos of the house & grounds.
Thankyou for this information.
Dear friends of Atherstone,
On behalf of my 89 year-old father-in-law, I am asking if you if anyone has any records, photographs or memories of a milk bar in Atherstone. He thinks it was located in Long Street, approximately 1937.
He is fairly sure that he and a group of friends used to meet there from the nearby village of Dordon.
Any proof that he is right? I would love to be able to help him.
Yours hopefully,
I am hoping to find out about my Great grandmother who married George Fleming in 1863. Her name was Alice Peake. Are there any family members still in Atherstone?