The Henry Street Project
(Image courtesy of ‘Our Warwickshire’, colourised with Google Gemini)
See also: Henry Street presentation
What is ‘The Henry Street Project’ ?
It is now approaching 50 years since I collected my first piece of information about Henry Street. I have continued collecting ever since. The project started in earnest about three years ago when I started sorting through my archives to see how much I had. I decided to assemble a history of every house in the street, and, where possible, of its residents, and collect as many photographs as possible.
But why Henry Street? I’ve always liked Henry Street, or to be precise, I have a fondness for its cottages and in particular the decorative brickwork that can be found all along the road. There is no other road in Kenilworth like it.
New roads in Kenilworth were quite rare when Henry Street was started in 1881; only two had been built in the preceding 100 years or so; Station Road and Southbank Road, and each provided a key link between other places. Henry Street was built solely as a residential road, the first, and it was for the working class.
Due to the lack of earlier records, Henry Street also has the bonus of being the oldest road in Kenilworth where an entire detailed history can be told. The project at the moment stands at a text of over 130 A4 pages, but there are gaps.
This then is an appeal for information. If you think you can help then please get in touch. This is what I am after:
Any information, deeds, conveyances, etc., on the origin of any house, or land sale that preceded it. I do have many such details and I will post which in particular I am after at a later date, but I would rather have the same information twice than chance missing out!
Photographs of course. There are a couple of well known postcard views but little else. I have been sent for example a couple of family group photographs taken outside the front of houses; do you have anything similar? Or may be a first treasured car or motor cycle parked in the street?
Also, I have a particular interest in rear views of houses with the original single-storey extensions that had a scullery, a coal house and WC; most have been replaced now but do you have photographs of the way they were? Or perhaps a modern photograph of one that is still largely the same?
The original inside features too are of interest. For example, I have been sent a photo looking down steps into an unplastered scullery that shows original features. This came from a house-sale particulars produced by an estate agent; do you have such photos, or have kept old information about your house?
Or maybe you have memories? Henry Street at one time had its own carnival float; did you help with it? Has the Tanyard Stream flooded your garden? Can you remember the shops? Mr Ayres shop closed in the 70s, the Post Office much more recently.
If you think you may be able to help, please use this email contact:
Rookfieldpublications@victoriankenilworth.co.uk
