Longford (inc. The Red Hills)

Today, I visited Longford park as I start to re-trace my school age days memories. Over the coming weeks, I intend to cover an arc starting at Longford and finishing in an area of Wyken Croft, which I am calling phase one. If after, I am still able, later phase two will then continue round to encompass Caludon Park. Longford park has received a lot of time & money and that was the impression that first greeted me. It's an ornamental park with well defined metalled paths & flower beds. The Sowe enters the park at the Longford Rd. end & even with the relative dry weather of late, was running clear & well. The two brooks which run into the Sowe were well weeded and barely moving. It may be the extensive private housing developments that have forced this make-over which the park has received. At ten am today, the paths were being well used by a wide section of the community. The Aldermans Green end will receive my attention next time. Some parts of this venture may require my bike, but I will cross that as it comes. Once I am familiar with the bus routes, I might be ok. ps I like the new edit history record.

Longford Park. I cannot remember it being so pleasant to walk or rest in. Maybe my eyes have been shut on previous visits! The Sowe at the Aldermans Green end. The Longford Rd end. The willows on the slopes to the river. I can hardly say that I hope the pics bring back happy memories, as I have no previous recollection of the park looking so nice over its entirety.

Before I load anymore pictures, I need to learn how to let you see them in a manner that does not swamp this site. I might need some education as to how to do it more economically. Help, but please be gentle with me. In the mean time, I am including a reply from my friend to my email questions about the smoking hills. Hello Philip We've attached a section of a 1955 ordnance survey map. A railway line linked the canal basins to Wyken Old Main Pit and Alexandra Colliery, crossing Deedmore Road close to Walsgrave Colliery School, which changed its name to Eburne School (which is now Coventry City Mission premises). The 'burning banks' section which you call 'smoking hills' was the section to the right of Brickyard Cottages on the map. I rode along this burning section four times a day on my way to and from school at Foxford. That was the reply from our life long friends, Doreen & Hayden. These smoking hills were very real & all part of our history. I have not attached the map to this site at present. I will wait until I have been educated in the art of downloading.

I don't think I ever visited Longford Park in my youth. The only thing I remember Longford for was the Capitol Skating Rink, where we would hire their skates with wooden square wheels for a bumpy ride around the patched wooden floor. We would be forever taking them back as wheels fell off and ball bearing would scatter across the floor. But it kept us entertained on a Saturday night and there was always the chance that a stumbling young girl would cling on to you for support

I have enjoyed an Autumn walk today along the length of Longford park after returning from Nuneaton. I love the colours, just as though someone has painted every leaf.

Opposite is where the Old Griffin use to stand.