Simon English
England Revisited

On a branch erected by a cattle trough in middle of field near Paul’s Ford. 2 miles east of Nuneaton

On a stick in the same field near to where the cattle trough must have been in 1971.

The field now arable, the cattle trough has gone. Finding its original position was assumed by a visual line taken from the apex of the western shed (I gather new then) of the farm to the north seen in the B&W photograph against the grain elevator behind it. Both these structures are still standing although now, as of this year, a much bigger barn has been erected to the west next to them.

The farm to the east, that owned the field then, was dairy. On the death of the farmer it was purchased by the farm to the north, both farms are now run by that farmer’s sons. The field then seemed to have had oats growing and in the stubble was a crop of white clover. The cows have long gone. This year the field is under potatoes, Maris Piper grown for the Potato Crisp industry.

In the old black and white photograph there is a very big elm tree standing behind the farm buildings. I gather that this was the tallest elm in Warwickshire. It died along with all the Warwickshire elms in the first wave of Dutch Elm disease. The farmer remembers cutting it down with his brother.

Also in the old photograph there is a large oak to the left (west) of the big elm. This actually grows in the valley half way between point 45 and the farm. This still stands with a bigger and still full crown. I should imagine that in the future the present view of the farm buildings shall be partly obscured by a plantation of trees on the dam of the new pond dug to the south of the farm.

To the north runs the Roman Road of Watling Street, known now as the A5. Off this runs a track between the fields towards the town which is used as a farm track and is designated as a footpath and bridleway. As it exists on old maps it may be designated as a ‘Green Lane’. I gather that, as at Point 18, off road Motorcyclists, using old maps and interpreting ancient rights of way from the age of the horse for motorised vehicles, tried to get a right of way legislated through a court of law. They lost and on our visit the footpaths were being well used by the local populace on foot.

On the horizon to the west is a distinctive conical hill, locally known as ‘Mount Jud’. It is the other side of the city centre and is the spoil heap at Judkins quarry and stands about 155m above sea level. This was once a granite quarry, one of the largest granite quarries in the UK providing building and road stone, now being filled in. The site is due for ‘restoration’ and to be made into a local amenity.

The fields here are on the edge of Nuneaton. As with many towns this has been subject to much development and expansion in the last 40 years. The southern boundary of the field has had a new estate of houses built in right up to farm hedge. I am told by a resident of 11 years that they were possibly built about 1995. The further planned expansion of the town into the country is indicated over the field to the west where the new road made up to the new crematorium has the kerbs left open so that any new development on the existing fields would join roads with all widths and sight lines already in place.
Points 44 & 45