Trinity House, Allesley Explained

Trinity House
Address:Rectory Lane, Allesley
Location City:Coventry
Location Country:England
Demolition Date:1966
Floor Count:3
Map Type:West Midlands
Building Type:Country house
Architectural Style:Tudor, Jacobean, Victorian
Grounds Area:Approx. 3acres, with additional outbuildings and cottages
Rooms:20–25

Trinity House was a small country house in the village of Allesley, Coventry in the West Midlands, formerly the county of Warwickshire.[1] [2] [3] It stood at the end of Rectory Lane immediately north-west of All Saints Church on the crest of the hill between the River Sherbourne and Pickford Brook.[4] [5] The house became one of "the lost houses" of England after being demolished in the mid-1960s as part of the wider destruction of country houses in 20th-century Britain.[6]

History

The original structure was likely late medieval, similar to the nearby Stone House and other notable surrounding structures close to the All Saints Church.[7] [8] The house was greatly expanded over the following centuries, growing from a cottage to one of the larger country houses in the area.

At its fullest extent the house formed a large T shape, having been constructed and then enlarged during three separate and distinct architectural periods. The earliest parts were the Tudor cottage rooms which formed the far end of the length of the house and included the original medieval doorway. During the 17th century, a Jacobean style dining room, breakfast room and large additional bedrooms were added to the south side of the house, and acted as the central conjoining section. Lastly, a large 3-storey Victorian wing was added in the early 19th century, running perpendicular to the earlier structure, and becoming the principle part of the house with an ashlar stonework facade facing out over the lawns and gardens.

In 1966 the house was demolished and the land used for the development of 13 separate detached houses that now form Rectory Close.

The wider grounds of the house contained several outbuildings including the gardener's cottage, known as Trinity Cottage, which has survived to this day though now heavily modified.

Grindlay family (1924–1965)

In the early 20th century the house came into the possession of the Warwickshire branch of the Grindlay family, when Alfred Robert Grindlay, the English industrialist, official and future Mayor of Coventry took up residence with his wife and sons.[9] [10] [11] [12]

The family held numerous events at the house including ward and district fêtes, charity pageants, and gatherings of local political groups including the Coventry YWCA, the Coventry Liberal Association, and the Coventry Progressive Party.[13] [14] [15] [16] Alfred and his wife, Emma Grindlay (née Chaplin), were keen gardeners and made considerable improvements to the grounds resulting in their winning several awards at various competitions and open days.[17] [18]

The house sheltered 4 generations of the Grindlays of Trinity House, who were the final owners before its sale in 1965 and eventual demolition in 1966.[19]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Parishes: Allesley British History Online. 2021-12-09. www.british-history.ac.uk.
  2. Web site: Allerthorpe – Allonby British History Online. 2021-12-08. www.british-history.ac.uk. ALLESLEY, or Awesley (All Saints), a parish, in the union of Meriden, Kirkby division of the hundred of Knightlow, N. division of the county of Warwick, 2miles (N. W. by W.) from Coventry, on the road to Birmingham; containing 963 inhabitants..
  3. News: 1962 . Freedom Scrolls Honour – Service of Three Coventry Alderman – 'Father' of the City Council . Coventry Evening Telegraph – Wednesday 14 November 1962 . Alderman Grindlay, whose home is at Trinity House, Rectory Lane, Allesley, served as a magistrate from 1932 until retiring under the age limit ruling in 1951..
  4. News: 1940 . Deputy-Mayor Elect's Busy Public Life – A Pioneer in Motorcycle History . Coventry Evening Telegraph – Thursday 31 October 1940 . Mr Grindlay is a member of Coventry Golf Club, while he is also an enthusiastic gardener, as anyone who has visited his home, Trinity House, Rectory Lane, Allesley, will agree..
  5. News: 1965 . Sale of Freehold Properties and Building Land . Coventry Standard – Thursday 02 December 1965 . Sale of freehold properties and building land to be held at the Hare & Squirrel Hotel, Coventry, on Thursday 16th December at 4pm. Lot 1: By instruction from the executors. Suitable for occupation for redevelopment. Trinity House, Rectory Lane, Allesley. An attractive detached residence, together with 2.1acres of freehold land with outline planning permission for demolition and erection of 13 detached homes. Lot 2: Trinity Cottage, Rectory Lane, Allesley..
  6. Web site: Worsley, Giles. 15 June 2002. Country houses: the lost legacy. 9 December 2010. The Daily Telegraph.
  7. Web site: CHURCH LANE FARMHOUSE, Non Civil Parish – 1076639 Historic England. 2021-12-08. historicengland.org.uk. en.
  8. Web site: CHURCH OF ALL SAINTS, Non Civil Parish – 1342900 Historic England. 2021-12-08. historicengland.org.uk. en.
  9. Web site: Historic Coventry – List of Mayors & Lord Mayors. 2021-12-08. www.historiccoventry.co.uk.
  10. Book: McGrory, David. Coventry's Blitz. 2015-08-15. Amberley Publishing Limited. 978-1-4456-5000-5. en.
  11. Book: Kimberley, Damien. Coventry's Motorcar Heritage. 2012-04-02. History Press. 978-0-7524-9041-0. en.
  12. Web site: Historic Coventry - List of Honorary Freemen. 2021-12-08. www.historiccoventry.co.uk.
  13. News: 1928 . District News – Allesley . Coventry Herald – Saturday 25 August 1928 . District News: Allesley – A garden fete of the Earlsdon, Greyfriars and Westwood wards of the Coventry Liberal Association was held in the grounds of Trinity House, Allesley, last Saturday afternoon, by permission of Councillor and Mrs A. R. Grindlay..
  14. Web site: Coventry Progressive Party. 2021-12-09. mrc-catalogue.warwick.ac.uk. en-gb.
  15. Web site: Archives. The National. The Discovery Service. 2021-12-09. discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. en-GB.
  16. News: 1935. British History Online. Coventry Herald – Friday 15 November 1935. The Y.W.C.A. in Coventry is organising a garden fete, to be held at Trinity House, Allesey (the residence of Councillor and Mrs A. R. Grindlay)..
  17. News: 1953 . Death of Wartime Mayoress . Coventry Evening Telegraph – Monday 24 August 1953 . Mrs Emma Grindlay...died yesterday at her home, Trinity House, Allesley, Coventry...She was a former member of the Rotary Inner Wheel and her interests included a lifetime of support for amateur football. For many years she attended Coventry Football Club matches and was also a keen and successful amateur gardener....
  18. News: 1935 . Coventry and District Chrysanthemum Society Awards . Coventry Herald – Friday 15 November 1935 . Coventry and District Chrysanthemum Society Awards. 1st prize for Oblong Group of Chrysanthemums, to Grindlay of Trinity House.
  19. News: 1965 . House of Ex-Mayor sold for £27,000 . Coventry Evening Telegraph – Friday 17 December 1965 . Trinity House, Rectory Lane, Allesley, home of the late Mr A. R. Grindlay, was sold at auction yesterday...the house and 2acres of land for which outline planning consent for 13 detached houses has been given, was bought by Harvey & Kerin Ltd., of Exhall, for development..

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