Then & Now

Fancott’s Bakery – Then & Now

Harry Sunley tells us in A Kenilworth Chronology (Odiborne Press, 1989) that DS Fancott established Fancott’s Bakery in the high street in 1825. It remained in the Fancott family until 1979. The D.S. in question was David Soden Fancott, who became a master baker and a well-established figure in the town. Robin Leach’s excellent book… Read More Fancott’s Bakery – Then & Now

Then & Now

Lower Ladyes Hills – Then & Now

Rob Steward’s book The Inns and Roads of Kenilworth (Odiborne Press, 2000) records that the ancient brook side trackway that would later become Lower Ladyes Hills was improved by the Enclosure Award of 1756, where it is referred to the be description “One other footway leading from the North side of Odiborne Bridge along the…… Read More Lower Ladyes Hills – Then & Now

Then & Now

Preparing to Repair the Breach in the Tiltyard, 1964 – Then & Now

Here’s a view which is almost impossible to recreate today – a view through the breach in the tiltyard beneath Mortimer’s Tower, taken in 1964. The ‘then’ photograph probably shows the end of the stone bridge eastern side wall in the bottom left. In which case the camera was about three metres below the general… Read More Preparing to Repair the Breach in the Tiltyard, 1964 – Then & Now

Newsletters

September 2016 Newsletter

  » Last Meeting:  A special private meeting in the Castle, starting in the Gatehouse,  to  commemorate the 750th anniversary of the Great Siege of Kenilworth.  This  was a  talk and tour by Chairman Jan on 25th July.  It was well-attended and much  enjoyed  by the capacity turn-out.  » Tonight: Dr Nick Humphris speaks about… Read More September 2016 Newsletter

Then & Now

Laying the Pipes Under the Tiltyard, 1964 – Then & Now

It was widely assumed that Colonel Hawkesworth drained the mere and breached the Tiltyard dam to render the former royalist stronghold indefensible. However an article on page 32 in Kenilworth History 2015: “The question has often been asked when the breach in the dam was made? This is not known. Hawkesworth may have just opened… Read More Laying the Pipes Under the Tiltyard, 1964 – Then & Now

Then & Now

Filling in the Gap in the Tiltyard, 1964 – Then & Now

The ‘then’ photo shows the preparations for filling in a gap in the castle’s Tiltyard by the Ministry of Public Building and Works in 1964 . The restored Tiltyard entrance opened in 1967, replacing the lower walkway which sits beside the Tiltyard. The dam was probably constructed in three phases; initially circa 1125, then subsequently… Read More Filling in the Gap in the Tiltyard, 1964 – Then & Now