Along the Watling Street Road. The old Roman road has changed over time and this section of the web site celebrates a lost scene as it passed through North Warwickshire with the villages either side into the borderlands of Leicestershire. Where rails crossed the roadway and old towns, villages, mansions, pubs and farms once stood. We travel from south to north along the famous road.
Rails across the Watling Street - Willey Crossing
The Watling Street heading south at Willey Level Crossing where the Midland Railway Leicester-Rugby line crossed the road. Signal box on the right.
Willey Crossing just before dismantlement of the line. The track has been disconnected at the crossing but will be reinstated to allow demolition of the branch. 27th May 1964. The line had been closed three years when Geoff Edmands climbed the signal to take this view. The A5 Watling Street roadway can be seen. The crossing keeper's house looks to be in good condition and habited but will eventually be swept away when the Watling Street is widened some years later.
A demolition train on the Leicester-Rugby line crosses Willey Crossing over the Watling Street. The gate keepers house on the right. Photo. c. 1963. The branch closed to traffic in 1961. This whole site has been obliterated. (Geoff Edmands)
A standard Diesel shunter nr. 12099 is removing lifted track and the plant on the right is used for lifting the sleepers. (Geoff Edmands)
The Lindley Hall Estate
Lindley Lodge
Lindley Lodge before WW1.
(Horace Bull, Ruby Atkins Collection)
| Who put the Royal in the Red Gate |
The Atherstone Hunt gather at the Royal Red Gate Inn.
(Reg. Bull courtesy Ruby Atkins)
The Royal Red Gate in the 1930's probably.
The Royal Red Gate approaching from the south.
The Royal Red Gate Inn in the 1950's. The A444 road to Burton on Trent is on the left. (Colin Yorke)
A 19th century view. The road going into the distance is the old road leading to Burton on Trent and Derby (now A444). This road as it led out of Nuneaton was called Derby Lane as it left the town centre but is a long way to walk! The Red Gate did a brisk trade in the 19th century in slaking the thirst of thousands of our great unwashed ancestors who congregated here to see great pugilist battles. Being on the boundary if the local constable turned up from Nuneaton to dissipate the crowds (pugilism had been outlawed by then which attracted the crowds more) and the bare knuckle fighters and the crowds could step over the county boundary where the Nuneaton constable's authority did not stretch, and carry on enjoying themselves. One can imagine on such occasions the Red Gate running out of ale. I have heard reports at the dead of night that a ghostly apparition in the form of a coach speeding across the A444 junction here without reference to the Watling Street and any potential traffic. One cannot help but think that the coach contains Queen Adelaide forever locked in her trajectory between Warwick Castle, the Curzon family at Gopsall Hall and the Earl of Denbigh's estate at Monks Kirby. Maybe the pub has a ghostly visitor to their bathroom on such occasions.
Fenny Drayton
George Fox's birthplace, Fenny Drayton. George Fox founded the Quaker movement. This old property has long gone.
Higham on the Hill
Higham Grange - an outdoor lunch. August 27th. 1907. We have no information so far on the occasion.
Higham on the Hill Methodist Chapel.
Merevale
Merevale Abbey remains and Merevale Hall on the horizon.
(Alan Cook Collection)
Merevale Hall from the air in the 1930's. The view from the Hall is stunning. You can see the Malvern Hills on a clear day. (Jean Lapworth Collection)
The White Peacock at Merevale Hall in the 1930's (Jean Lapworth Collection)
Rails Across the Watling Street - To Baddesley Colliery
Here is the famous Baddesley Beyer Garratt on this duty halting the traffic for minutes at a time. It is heading back towards the Colliery. (IRS Record April 1977)
(From the IRS Record June 1986)
Hall End Hall near Dordon.
Little Jim's Cottage, Dordon. Unfortunately this burnt down in 1967.
The Watling Street at Wilnecote.
