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Bedworth
Bedworth town centre and civic hall
Bedworth Bedworth shown within Warwickshire
Population	30,648 (2011)
OS grid reference	SP3586
District	Nuneaton and Bedworth
Shire county	Warwickshire
Region	West Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BEDWORTH
Postcode district	CV12
Dialling code	024
EU Parliament	West Midlands
UK Parliament	North Warwickshire
List of places UK England Warwickshire 52°28′30″N 1°28′37″W / 52.475°N 1.477°W / 52.475; -1.477Coordinates: 52°28′30″N 1°28′37″W / 52.475°N 1.477°W / 52.475; -1.477

Bedworth (/ˈbɛdərθ/ or locally /ˈbɛdʊf/) is a market town in the borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth, Warwickshire, England.^[1] It is situated between Coventry, 6 miles (10 km) to the south, and Nuneaton, 3.5 miles (6 km) to the north. In the 2011 census the town had a population of 30,438.^[2]

Geography

Bedworth lies 101 miles (163 km) northwest of London, 19 miles (31 km) east of Birmingham and 17 miles (27 km) north northeast of the county town of Warwick.

Bedworth has six main suburban districts, namely Collycroft, Mount Pleasant, Bedworth Heath, Coalpit Field, Goodyers End and Exhall. Exhall is a generic name for the area surrounding junction 3 of the M6 motorway, comprising parts of both Bedworth and Coventry. Much of what is now considered Exhall within south Bedworth is also referred to as Hayes Green by locals and on older maps of the area.

The River Sowe rises in Bedworth flowing through Exhall, northern and eastern Coventry, Baginton and Stoneleigh, before joining the River Avon south of Stoneleigh.^[3][4][5]

History

Originally a small market town with Saxon origins, Bedworth was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086.^[6] Bedworth developed into an industrial town in the 18th and 19th centuries, due largely to coal mining and the overspill of ribbon weaving and textile industries from nearby Coventry. The ribbon weaving industry had been introduced to the area by French Hugenot immigrants in the 18th century and thrived for nearly a century, until it was largely wiped out in the 1860s following the Cobden–Chevalier Treaty which removed tariffs on imported French silks, causing enormous hardship to the town. Hat making however grew and largely replaced the ribbon trade, and lasted until the 1950s.^[7][8]

The opening of the Coventry Canal in 1789 and later, the railway in 1850 enhanced the town's growth.^[8]

Bedworth was for many years primarily a coal mining town: Located on the Warwickshire Coalfield, coal mining in the area was recorded as early as the 13th century. The industry peaked in 1939 when there were 20 pits in the Bedworth area producing over 5.8 million tons of coal. The last colliery in Bedworth, Newdigate Colliery closed in 1982, and Coventry Colliery on the edge of the town closed in 1991.^[7] In the middle of the 19th century, the large number of public houses, and thirsty miners lead to the town being called 'Black Bedworth'.

From 1894 Bedworth was a civil parish within the Foleshill Rural District. In 1928 Bedworth was incorporated as an urban district in its own right.^[9] In 1932 the urban district was enlarged by the addition of Exhall and parts of Foleshill, Astley and Walsgrave on Sowe parishes.^[10] It was further enlarged in 1938 by the addition of Bulkington. In 1974 the Bedworth Urban District was merged with the borough of Nuneaton to create the borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth.^[11]

Features

Nicholas Chamberlaine Almshouses

The most notable buildings in Bedworth are the Nicholas Chamberlaine Almshouses on All Saints' Square in the town centre, which are built in Tudor style and date from 1840,^[6] having been funded by a legacy from the local benefactor Nicholas Chamberlaine (1632–1715) through his will.

The main venue in Bedworth is the Bedworth Civic Hall which has an attached arts centre.

The Bedworth water tower is probably the most noticeable landmark building in Bedworth; built in the 1880s in the then fashionable style of an Italian campanile, it is visible from miles around. It used to provide drinking water for the houses and the mining facilities. It was part of the 19th century development of the water supply infrastructure following the 1854 cholera outbreak in London's Soho district that was identified by Dr. John Snow as originating from a contaminated water pump. The tower was also home to a pair of peregrine falcons in 2006,^{[out of date?][12]} before its 2012 residential redevelopment.

All Saints' Square – church at the far end. The almshouses are to the left out of picture.

Bridge No 13, Coventry Canal, Bedworth Hill Bridge. The Act of Parliament for construction of the Coventry Canal under James Brindley was passed in 1768, and runs via Nuneaton and Atherstone to Fradley Junction near Lichfield. Completed in 1789.

Former topshops. They were a common feature in Bedworth's and Coventry's textiles industry during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The lower two floors served as the weaver's private dwelling, while the upper floor acted as the workplace. This photograph clearly shows how the windows on the top floor were once much bigger, to allow more daylight.

Along Mill Street until recently were rows of former weavers' cottages which were once inhabited by Huguenot weavers.^[6] Some of these were still used as shops, although most had become derelict. They have been demolished as part of the redevelopment of Tesco.
The majority of the town centre was built in the post-war period, and has all the hallmarks of such a development. The town centre itself contains some of the usual high street retail names as well as many charity shops, card shops and banks.

Domestic appliance insurer Domestic & General has offices in the town centre and provides substantial employment for the community.

Several years ago Bedworth Kwik Save (a 1960s steel reinforced concrete building with roof parking, known locally as the Hypermarket – the original name), was redeveloped into a new Aldi store. Next to it is a Home Bargains store. Tesco was in a similar type of building to Kwik Save, but in a brick-faced and arched windowed 1970s style, closed in January 2011,^[13] and was redeveloped into a steel-framed Tesco Xtra store. Parking is at ground level, the store is on the first floor, with delivery access up a ramp to the first floor. It opened on 5 December 2011.

Bedworth has many pubs and working men's clubs: among others, the Bear and Ragged Staff, the White Horse, the Miners Arms, the Mount Pleasant, the Black Horse, the Black Bank, Saunders Hall, Collycroft Working Men's Club, Bedworth Liberal Club, Bedworth Conservative Club, the Griffin Inn, the Newdigate Arms, the Cross Keys, the Royal Oak, the Prince of Wales, JB's and Littleworks (reopened as Jack's Entertainment Club). Several others have closed.

Bedworth also has a skate park built in the Miners' Welfare Park in 2001 after campaigning by local youngsters. Previously, most youngsters would skate in the town centre, or in the market area, much to the annoyance of residents and the local police.

A new play area, on the site of the previous aviary and paddling pool near the cricket ground within the park, was dedicated in June 2012 to Sergeant Simon 'Val' Valentine. He was born and brought up in Bedworth, a soldier of 2nd [batallion|Bn]] Royal Regiment of Fusiliers who died in August 2009 while serving his country in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.^[14] The town centre was closed and thousands of townspeople paid their respects at Sergeant Valentine's funeral in 2009.^[15]

Religion

Church of England

The town centre is dominated by All Saints' Parish Church (Church of England), which was rebuilt in the late 19th century of Runcorn stone in the Decorated style. The church has a square bell tower from the original church thought to date from 1450 which houses the town clock (1817); the church also has a peal of eight bells, which are rung for morning services and for special occasions. The church has several fine stained glass windows; of particular note, the north aisle window is a rare example of the work of Mr. H. Clarke depicting St Peter, St Paul, St Luke and St John. All Saints' was reordered in 2000 to include a narthex.

Roman Catholic

St Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, a prominent building in the town centre, opened in June 1883. Casting a tentative^{[clarification needed]} shadow over Rye Piece (a small side street in the middle of the town), it was built at a time when Catholics were still viewed with suspicion. It was a modest, oblong structure in traditional Victorian redbrick with a small schoolroom running along the west side. The money to build it was raised by the priest, Fr Pius, not entirely from his sparse congregation but also by begging all over the country. Funds for further development were supplemented by two long-running novenas dedicated to St Peter of Alcantara and St Francis Xavier.

In 1894 a school was built close to the church; it initially accommodated some 150 pupils aged from 4 to 14 years, but was later superseded by a new school. It is now a nursery.

The church itself was extended to its present form to be consecrated on 4 September 1923 and one of the hundreds of Catholic churches built following the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829.^{[clarification needed][the original building was long after 1829]} It is a memorial to all the dedicated priests and parishioners of the past, particularly Fr Francis (1892–1912). His French background undoubtedly influenced the unique character of the church. He acquired land around the church to build the new school, the presbytery, and social housing, and he bought an old brewery to serve as a social club. So the Catholic community which had first met in a disused shop in one of Bedworth's many yards, and then in a small chapel, finally had its own church, with the sanctuary at the west end and opposite to the original. Today it is in need of repair and modernisation to conform to health and safety legislation.

The church stands surrounded by gardens, with a Calvary and a grotto in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Other Christian denominations

There are also, Bedworth Methodist Church, and the United Reformed Church in Mill Street in the town centre, Bedworth Baptist Church on Coventry Road near the football ground as well as Life Church on Bulkington Road. A Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses is in Deronda Close, behind The Newdigate Arms. Zion Baptist Church is on Newdigate Road and is a striking 1977 replacement of the original 1796 chapel on High Street, which was demolished to make way for the Civic Centre (See external links.)

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  All Saints' Church of England Parish Church, Bedworth adjacent to the main shopping area.
  

  
  

  
  


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  St Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, Bedworth.
  

  
  

  
  


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  United Reformed Church, Bedworth.
  

  
  

  
  

Sport and leisure

The Oval Football Ground, home of Bedworth United.

Bedworth has a non-League football team Bedworth United F.C. who play at the Oval Ground.

Armistice Day

Every year Armistice Day 11 November is well attended by the population, who gather in the town to watch the veterans' armistice parade that concludes with the laying of poppy wreaths at the war memorial, to pay their respects to those who fought and died in the armed forces. Local youth groups like the Girls' Brigade, and cadets march through the town as part of the parade, with bands playing commemorative music. Second World War Douglas C-47 Skytrain 'Dakota' military transport aircraft, also known as the civilian version Douglas DC-3, scatter remembrance poppy petals over the town, aiming at the war memorial if the weather permits. Before 2005 Spitfire fighters were used.

The flypasts were featured on the national TV news on remembrance days, but they were banned on health and safety grounds from low flying over an urban area.

Bedworth chose to keep 11 November as Armistice Day, even after 1939, when the rest of the country moved to the nearest Sunday. In more recent times, the tradition was kept up by Frank Parsons. The former Royal Marine died in 2011,^[16] but his work over the previous 25 years not only kept Bedworth's tradition - unique in the United Kingdom - alive, but also lent significant weight to the campaign to move Remembrance Day back to 11 November.

Transport

Bedworth railway station

The bridge for the M6, Exhall

Road

Bedworth has good transport links being situated immediately north of the M6 motorway at junction 3, with access via several slip roads onto the A444 dual carriageway bypass. The A444 also provides fast access to the Ricoh Arena and shopping centre and Coventry city centre.

Rail

Bedworth is also served by the Coventry to Nuneaton railway line. The current Bedworth railway station was opened in 1988 after the original station was closed in the 1960s as part of the Beeching Axe.

Buses

Bus services to the city centre of Coventry are operated competitively by Stagecoach in Warwickshire and National Express Coventry. Stagecoach also provides direct services to Nuneaton, Bulkington, Keresley, Atherstone, Hinckley & Leicester and a direct service to the University Hospital in Walsgrave, Coventry is provided by Travel de Courcey.

Waterways

The Coventry Canal also runs through the town.

Schools

Nicholas Chamberlaine School

• Nicholas Chamberlaine School

Media

Radio

The local radio stations are:

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  BBC Coventry & Warwickshire: 94.8FM


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  Fosse 107: 107.9FM


• 
  Free Radio Coventry and Warwickshire (formally known as Mercia Sound and Mercia FM): 97.0FM


• Anker Radio – which serves the nearby George Eliot Hospital, but can be heard on 1386AM.


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  BBC Radio Leicester can be received in the town on 104.9FM.

Written media

The main local newspapers are:

• The Nuneaton News (originally known as the Evening News upon launch and then the Heartland Evening News): Serving the whole of north Warwickshire and some border areas in Leicestershire, the paper is owned by Local World. The newspaper is published on weekdays. The Wednesday edition is circulated free throughout the town, whereas the daily paper on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday are paid. It was founded in 1992, following the decision of the Tribune's publisher to switch to a weekly freesheet.


• The Tribune (formerly the People's Tribune (1895), Midland Counties Tribune (1903) and Nuneaton Evening Tribune (1957)): It is owned by Trinity Mirror's Coventry Newspapers (publisher of the Coventry Telegraph). Covering 'northern Warwickshire' (particularly Bedworth, Atherstone & Nuneaton), the free paper is available weekly to collect at many newsagents in the area on a Thursday or Friday. In September 2015 The Tribune ceased publication. The last edition was published on Thursday 24 September.^[17]


• The Nuneaton Telegraph; a localised sub-edition of the Coventry Telegraph, it was launched in 1992 (when the aforementioned Tribune switched from daily to weekly production).

Television news

The Nuneaton area is covered on regional TV News by:

• BBC (West) Midlands Today


• ITV News Central

Notable people

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  Nona Bellairs (1824-1897), writer and philanthropist


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  Pete Doherty, former Libertines front-man, attended Nicholas Chamberlaine School.


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  George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) lived at "Griff House" north of Bedworth and south of Nuneaton between 1819 and 1841.^[6] "Griff House" still stands today as a Premier Travel Inn.


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  Lee Hurst, a Coventry City footballer in the 1990s, used to reside in Leas Close in the Mount Pleasant area. He retired due to injury caused during a training exercise at an assault course, organised by then manager Bobby Gould. He also appeared on They Think It's All Over as the mystery guest as a joke due to one of the show residents of the same name, Lee Hurst, the comedian. He was an unsung local hero on the terraces of the Highfield Road stadium, who lined up alongside the likes of Roy Wegerle, Peter Ndlovu, Steve Ogrizovic, Brian Borrows, Kenny Sansom, Micky Quinn, Robert Rosario and many famous Coventry City footballers.


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  Conrad Keely of American rock group ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead was a resident of Bedworth.


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  Nick Skelton, winner of a gold medal in London 2012 Olympics, winner of the Hickstead Derby and European showjumping championships.


• David Ison, a well known theatre and musical touring sound engineer, who has worked in venues across the UK and Europe and previously worked as a producer at BBC Radio 1 was a resident of Bedworth and attended Nicholas Chamberlaine School.^[18][19]

References

External links

• Nuneatonhistory.com – Townscapes of Bedworth & Collycroft


• The Bedworth Society


• Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough council


• The Civic Hall, Bedworth


• Nicholas Chamberlaine Trusts