Empty Plot of Liggins Bakery – Then & Now
This somewhat forlorn picture shows the final stages of clearing the plot of the former Liggins' Bakery site at the junction of Park Hill and Stoneleigh Road. A Midland Red…
Résumé of the ‘English’ de Montfort Family
During the course of 2016 there has been a lot of interest in Simon de Montfort, the 2nd Barons’ War and the Great Siege of Kenilworth. Numerous talks have been…
Demolition of Prefabs – Then & Now
This pair of Then & Now images shows the demolition of the estate of post-war prefabricated houses (or 'prefabs'), just off Stoneleigh Road in the mid 1970s and the housing…
December 2016 Newsletter
KENILWORTH HISTORY & ARCHÆOLOGY SOCIETY - December 2016 Newsletter » Last Meeting: We learnt a lot about the strange adventures of Bertie Greatheed from Anne Langley. The tale was almost…
Demolition of Liggins’ Bakery – Then & Now
This Then & Now pairing shows the demolition of Joseph Liggins' bakery buildings which stood at the corner of Park Hill and Stoneleigh Road, opposite the Wyandote pub. The Victorian…
Tainters Hill – Then & Now
This then and now shows the windmill on Tainters Hill, built in 1778. Rob Steward records in Kenilworth History 2000 – 2001 that “this mill battled on, driven by the…
Liggins’ Bakery, Park Hill – Then & Now
Joseph Liggins' Bakery stood at the corner of Park Hill and Stoneleigh Road, opposite St Barnabas' church and the Wyandotte pub. The bakery premises was formerly Parkhill House. Robin Leach…
The Brethren Meeting Rooms – Then & Now
This Then & Now pairing shows the site of the Brethren Meeting Rooms near the junction of The Close and Park Road. It was one of a spate of ‘tin…
November 2016 Newsletter
KENILWORTH HISTORY & ARCHÆOLOGY SOCIETY - November 2016 Newsletter » Last Meeting: Alan Godfrey spoke about Kinwarton – the ‘pint-pot parish’. He amazed us at just how much history can be…
KHAS Meeting – Monday November 14th at 7:45pm
Dear KHAS Member, Just a reminder that there will be a KHAS meeting tonight (Monday November 14th) at 7.45pm, in the Senior Citizens' Club at Abbey End. Anne Langley will be speaking to us on…
The Common – Then & Now
Harry Sunley tells us in A Kenilworth Chronology (Odiborne Press, 1989) that various of the common lands of Kenilworth were enclosed by act of Parliament in 1755, with the exception…
The Square from the Clock Tower – Then & Now
The Square must have been established along with the building of the new Castle End borough on lands granted to the de Clintons as lords of the castle manor in…
Building of Talisman Square – Then & Now
This remarkable street scene, dated 28th November 1965, shows the building of Talisman Square in progress. In the ‘then’ photo, both the Almshouses that used to front onto Warwick Road…
Noah’s Ark – Then & Now
This characterful property, known locally as Noah’s Ark, was situated at 95 – 99 School Lane. It was an 18th century building with a distinctive mansard roof; a roof with…
October 2016 Newsletter
KENILWORTH HISTORY & ARCHÆOLOGY SOCIETY - October 2016 Newsletter » Last Meeting: Dr Nick Humphris gave a detailed account the archæology of Chedworth Roman Villa, particularly where the recent work has…
The Vaults – Then & Now
The Vaults, which fronts onto Station Road behind The Kings Arms & Castle. This building has a long and varied history to it. The first incarnation of this structure was…
The Kings Arms & Castle From the Rear – Then & Now
This shot of the rear of the Kings Arms & Castle shows just how much it was altered during the 1985 demolition and rebuilding. The original building, also used as…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Laying the Pipes Under the Tiltyard in 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…
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…
Kenilworth Through the Ages – Free Talks at Kenilworth Library
There will be a series of free talks on Kenilworth Through the Ages at Kenilworth Library: Kenilworth 100 years Ago by Sue Tall, on Tuesday 20th September at 7:00pm War and Worship,…
Dictum of Kenilworth copy on display at the Barn Museum
Sunday 4th, Saturday the 10th and Sunday 11th of September will be the final three opening days of the season for the Barn Museum and Heritage Centre in Abbey Fields.…
Free Guided Walk of the Abbey – 10th September
Heritage Open Days 2016 Kenilworth Abbey 'Barn' Museum & Heritage Centre open both Saturday and Sunday 10th & 11th September 2.30 to 4.30 pm. On Saturday 10th there will also…
St Nicholas Church – Then & Now
Another shot attributed to J. Tarver from 1963, this time of St Nicholas Church taken from within the Abbey ruins, with matching a 2016 counterpart shot. It is not known…
Medieval Fare on Abbey Fields – Saturday 27th August
Medieval Fare - August Bank Holiday Weeekend Commemorative Events Saturday 27th August - Medieval Fare on Abbey Fields - Meet King Henry III, see the Dictum of Kenilworth and lots…
Garden of Rest Stonework part 2 – Then & Now
This Then & Now set is part 2 to the earlier part 1 posting here: http://www.khas.co.uk/garden-rest-stonework-pt1-now/ According to The Abbey of St Mary guidebook by E. Carey-Hill (Odiboure Press, 1985)…
Garden of Rest Stonework part 1 – Then & Now
According to The Abbey of St Mary guidebook by E. Carey-Hill (Odibourne Press, 1985) “When the north cloister wall of 1890 was rebuilt in 1984, the carved stones were grouped…
The Tannery, Warwick Road Updated – Then & Now
Today's Then & Now pairing is an updated version of an earlier post showing the Tannery, Warwick Road. Thanks to Robin Leach for pointing out that the original 'now' photo…
St Nicholas Church in 1963 – Then & Now
This pair of pictures from 1963 and 2016 shows the Abbey’s Tantara Gatehouse with St Nicholas' Church in the background. The 1963 shot is labelled as having been taken by a…
Free Guided Walk of Kenilworth Abbey – 31st July
Free Guided Walk - 31st July 2016 A reminder: On 31st July 2016 KHAS members will be hosting a free guided walk of Kenilworth Abbey ruins in support of the…
The Mill in 1964 from Forge Road – Then & Now
This black and white photo from 1964 shows the mill taken from what is now Forge Road, Mill End, shortly before its demolition. Originally built as a mill for bread flour,…
The Mill, Mill End, from the yard 1964 – Then & Now
The mill was powered by water wheel, fed from a pool called Woodmill Pool, located over the modern day allotments between Manor Road and Lower Laydes Hills. The pool was…
Mill End from The Common – Then & Now
For readers under the age of 60 or so, this 'then' image will present a completely unfamiliar scene. It shows the mill buildings which once stood on the edge of…
June 2016 Newsletter
KENILWORTH HISTORY & ARCHÆOLOGY SOCIETY June 2016 Newsletter » Last Month: Dr Richard Buckley of Leicester University, who has been the lead figure in the whole of the “Richard III Project”…
The Castle from the Air – Then & Now
This remarkable pair of aerial photos shows the castle from the air, taken from the west. The ‘then’ photo dates from before the Elizabethan garden had first been restored in…
KHAS meeting on Monday June 13th
Dear KHAS Member, Just to remind you that there will be a KHAS meeting on Monday June 13th at 7.45pm, in the Senior Citizens' Club accessible from the Abbey End…
‘Clappergate’ Stile – Then & Now
In the days when the Abbey Fields was a patchwork of farmers’ fields, the 'tumbledown' or 'clappergate' stile shown in this old postcard was situated in the Abbey’s Tantara Gatehouse…
THE GREAT SIEGE OF KENILWORTH – Time Line
A timeline of the events of the great Siege of Kenilworth from its origins in August 1265 to its aftermath in December 1266: August 1265 – survivors of the battle…
Abbey Ruins 1960s – Then & Now
Today there is comparatively little to see above ground of the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey in the Abbey Fields. Following the Abbey Excavations in 1840, in the 1880s and…
The Second Barons’ War & the Siege of Kenilworth – the short and long term effects both locally and nationally
Extract from KHAS original Siege booklet published 1966: “The effects of this long siege on the lives of the local people in Warwickshire were severe. Even before it started, the…
The Abbey ‘Barn’ – Then & Now
This shot from 1963 shows the Abbey building known as the ‘barn’, clad in ivy and bathed in the July sun. There appears to be a rickety fence and style…
Warwick Road Aerial Photo – Then & Now
This fascinating aerial view of Kenilworth is dated May 1920, and was obtained from the absorbing Britain From Above website. To the modern eye this scene is notable for the…
From the Archives – Parliament Piece, Kenilworth – A Metal Detector Survey
The piece of open land known as Parliament Piece, sandwiched between Upper spring Lane and the Coventry Road, is the subject of a bit of local myth and legend. One persistent myth…
May 2016 Newsletter
KENILWORTH HISTORY & ARCHÆOLOGY SOCIETY - May 2016 Newsletter » Last Month: Last month Roy Smart gave us an entertaining account of the colourful life of The Last Naval Hero: David, 1st…
Talisman Square, mid 1960s – Then & Now
Talisman square, mid 1960s and again in May 2016. The 'then' picture shows the footbridge being built between the offices built above the north and south sides of the square…
De Montfort Hotel – Then & Now
The De Montfort Hotel (now the Holiday Inn) opened in 1967, occupying part of the site destroyed by the landmine of the 21st November 1940. Historically, the Square had been…
The Clock Tower Post-War – Then & Now
The Square, early 1960s and in December 2015. At first glance, little has changed between the two images. However, a handful of the buildings on the left of the clock…
High Street / Castle Hill Cottage – Then & Now
A timber framed cottage at the junction of Malthouse Lane, with High Street in the distance and Castle Hill behind the camera. As Rob Steward explains in Kenilworth History 2001…
Talisman Square – Then & Now
The 'then' photo below shows Talisman Square, largely as had been initially conceived in the post war planning of the late 1950s. The 'now' counterpart photo was taken in December 2015.…
Our Warwickshire at Kenilworth Library – 26th April
There will be an open event at Kenilworth Library on Tuesday 26th April (10 am to 3 pm) to share the Our Warwickshire website ourwarwickshire.org.uk. Local residents are invited to come along…
Open Day at the Rouncil Lane Anti Aircraft Battery
Dear KHAS Member, I have been asked if I would notify you of another event, taking place this Sunday, 17th April, at Goodrest Farm in Rouncil Lane, when the Friends of the…
KHAS April Newsletter – Additional Items
Dear KHAS Member, It has been decided to reinstate the circulation of the monthly Newsletter by email for those who require it. As mentioned previously, it is available each month…
April 2016 Newsletter
KENILWORTH HISTORY & ARCHÆOLOGY SOCIETY - April 2016 Newsletter » Last Month: We were unexpectedly privileged to welcome Julie Crawshaw, the Project Manager, no less, for the “New Place Project” which operates…
The Great Siege of Kenilworth 1266
Jan Cooper discusses the events of the Great Siege of Kenilworth 1266, following on from her earlier article on the life and death of Simon de Montfort at the Battle of Evesham:…
‘Barn Museum’ Bank Holiday Opening Hours – a reminder
A quick reminder that the Abbey 'Barn' Museum and Heritage Centre will be open both Easter Sunday and Monday from 2.30 to 4.30 pm and every Sunday and Bank Holiday…
From the Archives: The Brays
We know a great deal of the phases of development of Kenilworth Castle itself, but what of its enigmatic counterpart known as The Brays? Was it a hastily constructed rampart…
Easter Sunday ‘Barn’ Museum and Heritage Centre opening hours
It's springtime, and that means many of us will be out and about in the park this weekend looking to fill our bank holiday weekends. So, just a quick reminder…
The King’s Arms & Castle – Then & Now
The King's Arms & Castle, 1960s. According to Rob Steward's “The Inns and Roads of Kenilworth” (Odibourne Press, 2000) the “King's Arms Inn” was the venue of the Abbey Courts…
March 2016 Newsletter
KENILWORTH HISTORY & ARCHÆOLOGY SOCIETY - March 2016 Newsletter » Last month at the AGM, Phil Stock was elected to the Committee in lieu of Barbara Platten, who had resigned. No other…
Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester
In January 1265 Simon de Montfort called a Parliament (in the name of King Henry III), when for the first time commoners were invited to play a small part in…
KHAS Programme 2016 – some amendments
Please note the following amendments and clarifications to the KHAS programme for 2016: www.khas.co.uk/programme 14th March - there is a change of speaker and Nic Fulcher, of The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust,…
The Square, Early 1960s – Then & Now
The Square, early 1960s. Where the roundabout now stands once stood an elegant building with grand bay-windows, which can be seen on many a postcard of the Square from before the turn…
Heritage Open Days 2016
Kenilworth Abbey 'Barn' Museum & Heritage Centre open both Saturday and Sunday 10th & 11th September 2.30 to 4.30 pm. On Saturday 10th there will also be a free guided…
Building the De Montfort – Then & Now
The 'then' picture above shows the tower crane in place used for building the De Montfort Hotel, as heralded by an advertising board, which was to open in 1967. The vacant plot…
Postcard of The Square – Then & Now
UPDATED 19/02/2016: I am very much indebted to the incomparable Robin Leach for correcting the inaccuracies in the previous version of this text. The 'then' image above shows an…
Old Farmhouse on School Lane – Then & Now
By the mid-1960s the demolition of what were seen as damp and draughty old half-timbered buildings was in full swing. A nation only recently emerging from rationing and austerity was…
February 2016 Newsletter
KENILWORTH HISTORY & ARCHÆOLOGY SOCIETY February 2016 Newsletter » Last month Dr Nat Alcock in his talk about The Mediæval Peasant House in the Midlands surprised us all as he…
KHAS AGM on February 8th
Dear KHAS Member, Just to remind you that the Society will be holding its Annual General Meeting on Monday February 8th at 7.45pm in the Senior Citizens' Club at Abbey…
From the Archives: Anyone for Tennis?
Kenilworth's role as a royal residence meant that it was often at the centre of events of national and even world importance. A classic example is the story of the…
Kenilworth Castle Aerial View – Then & Now
This pair of aerial photos, from 1947 and 2016 respectively, shows a rare mid-twentieth century aerial view of Kenilworth Castle and its modern day equivalent: The 'then' photo shows the…
Malthouse Lane – Then & Now
Malthouse Lane, which was known as Quarry Lane at the time of the 1861 census and then Malthouse Lane by 1874. To the extreme right of the image, behind the Malthouse, now…
Forthcoming Events for 2016
Details of KHAS events for 2016 On 31st July 2016 KHAS members will be hosting a free guided walk of Kenilworth Abbey ruins in support of the CBA's Festival of…
Almshouses, Warwick Road – Then & Now
These former almshouses on Warwick Road were demolished in 1963 to make way for the Talisman Square development on the site of the adjoining former tannery. Next door was Olive…
January 2016 Newsletter
KENILWORTH HISTORY & ARCHÆOLOGY SOCIETY - January 2016 Newsletter Notice of the AGM next month. Barbara Platten will, sadly, be resigning from the Committee for personal reasons, so that there will…
The Square, Abbey End – Then & Now
Pre-war postcard of The Square, Abbey End, taken from the War Memorial end looking towards the clock tower. Following the landmine on 21st November 1940, all the buildings on the…
From the Archives: Kenilworth Windmills
The following article was first published in Kenilworth History 2000 - 2001 by Rob Steward. If you were of the understanding that there was but one windmill in Kenilworth, then…