KNOWLE LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

Exhibitions & Talks

Members of the Society have been preparing exhibitions and talks on aspects of village life for 30 years.  We now present at least one exhibition per year.  The main summer exhibition usually has its first outing at Knowle Festival in the park in June.  We also aim to present an exhibition for Heritage Open Days (formerly organised by the Civic Trust, but now transferred to English Heritage) in September.  Exhibitions are mounted on display boards, with a total space of 36 square feet each side, although we are often only able to use one side.  Talks are normally of three quarters - one hour's duration.

Both exhibitions and talks comprise text, together with  photographs and other exhibits, based on research from estate brochures, newspaper cuttings. etc. as well as information from sources at local repositories.   Anecdotes from local residents bring them to life.  We usually need to acquire further photographs, which then augment our photographic archive.  Many of these are taken by our resident photographer; others are kindly supplied by local residents.  We are grateful to everyone who helps us with information and material.

Most exhibitions are done as part of our own programme, which also includes our own talks.  We are, however, often asked to give talks for other organisations.  We can normally give talks which are already prepared at very short notice - they are all set up on the computer and we have our own equipment (digital projector, laptop, screen, etc.).  We are happy to prepare new talks, provided they can be accommodated within our schedule and are of general public interest.  We are also sometimes asked to provide small exhibitions.  We can do this provided our display boards are available, particularly for those exhibitions prepared after 2003.  The Society does not charge for giving talks, but welcomes donations.  There may be a charge for exhibitions if they incur considerable costs.

The talks we have already prepared are show below.  The Society has in mind to present suitable exhibitions into talks and/or publications and vice versa.

Part 1:

The Church & Guild House  *  The Square

Kenilworth Road * Kixley Lane * Golden End

Wilsons Road * The Berrow Homes

The Square, c. 1900

Including:

Freckleton’s Dole

The Fishers & Richard Moland

The Boultbees  *  The Jacksons

The House  *  The Stables

Springfield VAD Hospital

The Staff  *  The Grounds

The Estate * Springfield House School

The Nature Reserve

The Environmental Study  Centre

Illustrated Talk: THE OLD VILLAGE

A geographical tour round central Knowle, illustrated with old photographs, in two parts. Duration: each of one hour’s duration.

High Street, c. 1900

Part 2:

High Street  *  Hampton Road

Warwick Road (north)

Lodge Road & Longdon Road  * Station Road

Warwick road (south)

Water Gardens,  Springfield, early 1900s

Illustrated Talk:  A THOUSAND YEARS OF KNOWLE

A chronological history of Knowle from before the Norman Conquest to the present day.

Duration: 1 hour approx

Chester House (now the public library, Knowle’s oldest secular building .

At the Red Lion, en route for Warwick Races, c. 1900

Talk: KIXLEY LANE

A tour along one of Knowle’s most ancient lanes, with recorded history going back to the 14th century.

Duration: 40 minutes approx.

Victorian Terrace

The Children’s Field

Knowle C of E Primary School

Knowle’s First Council Houses

The Water Meadows

Yew Tree Farm

Far End  *  The Cottage

The Canal  * Kixley Farm

The Watercress Patch

The Path to Elvers Green

Far End, once an inn for bargees, in 1979

Illustrated Talk:  SPRINGFIELD HALL ~ A COUNTRY HOUSE IN KNOWLE

The history of Springfield from its origins as a private estate in the early 18th century to its present day use as a school for children with special needs.

Duration: 1 hour approx

Click the button at the top of the page for a complete list of Exhibitions, talks, etc.

For the current year's exhibitions see Programme in the Menu on the left of the page.

For exhibitions in progress see Latest News in the menu on the left.

Top of Page

Talks

Including:

The Road to Coventry & Warwick

The Old School to Kixley Lane

High Street to Wilsons Road

Wilsons Road to Golden End

Golden End

The Canal & Beyond

Cottages, Golden End

Illustrated Talk:  KENILWORTH ROAD

A tour along the original main street through Knowle, passing through the  oldest part of the medieval village.

Duration: 1 hour approx

Talk: THE HISTORY OF DORRIDGE

The history of Dorridge, from its origins as part of the Manor of Knowle to the opening of the station and the development of Dorridge as a separate community.

Duration: 1 hour approx.

Including:

Before the Railway

The Station

Town to Country

Shops & Businesses

The Churches

The Inns

The Community

Station Approach with Pitt’s Hansom Cab

Talk: RESEARCHING KNOWLE HISTORY

An introduction to the Knowle records for those starting out on research.  

Duration 40 mins.  Not illustrated.

The Square, c. 1900

Including:

The Knowle Boundaries * National and Local Sources * The Internet * Oral History

Primary Sources * Secondary Sources * Maps

Photographs & Postcards * House Names

Sale brochures * Court Rolls * Property Deeds

Wills, etc. Etc.

Exhibitions

Exhibition IMAGES OF KNOWLE

A display of photographs of Knowle, divided into areas of the village:

The Square, Kenilworth Road, Kixley Lane, The Canal & Elvers Green, High Street, Hampton Road, Warwick Road (north), Lodge Road & Longdon Road, Station Road, Warwick Road (south)..  Can be produced quickly.

Narrow boat at Grove Farm swing bridge

Grove Cottage, Copt Heath.