Coundon, Coventry facts for kids
Coundon is a lively neighborhood in the northwest part of Coventry, England. It's mostly a place where people live. Long ago, Coundon was a small village surrounded by countryside, just like its neighbor Keresley. But in the 1930s, Coventry grew a lot. Many new houses were built in Coundon to make space for more people. This is how Coundon became part of the city.
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Discovering Coundon's Past
Coundon has a very old history. It was even mentioned in the Domesday Book from 1086. This was a huge survey ordered by King William the Conqueror. It helped him know what was in his new kingdom. A church called Holy Trinity Church owned land in Coundon way back in the 1300s. Around 1410, Coundon was split into two parts: Old Coundon and New Coundon.
In 1891, a man named George Singer built a large house called Coundon Court. He was famous for making bicycles. The house was built in a style called Victorian Gothic. Today, this old house is part of Coundon Court Secondary School. People still call it 'The Old House'.
Famous Factories in Coundon
Coundon was once home to important factories. Alvis Motors opened its first factory here in 1919. They started by making engines and motor scooters. Later, they began building cars with four and six-cylinder engines.
Alvis built a bigger car factory on a large piece of land. During World War Two, the factory was badly damaged. German planes bombed Coventry in what was known as the Coventry Blitz. Car production stopped until 1946. Alvis employed about 2,400 people at its busiest time. In 1965, another company, Rover, took over Alvis. Production moved out of Coventry in 1999. The old factory site in Coundon is now a shopping area called Alvis Retail Park.
Another big factory in Coundon was the Jaguar car plant. It was located at Browns Lane from 1951 to 2005. For many years, this was Jaguar's only factory. When it closed in 2005, car production moved to other places. Most of the Browns Lane plant was taken down in 2008. However, some parts of the site are still owned by Jaguar. Other parts are used by a company that makes car interiors.
Entertainment and Local Spots
The Rialto picture house opened on Moseley Avenue in 1928. It showed silent films, which had no talking. A pianist and a small orchestra played music along with the film. The building also had a ballroom on another floor. The cinema was destroyed during the Coventry Blitz. But the ballroom survived and became the Rialto Bingo Club. Today, it's called the Rialto Plaza and hosts live music events.
Local pubs also have a history in Coundon. The Holyhead Pub started in 1929 on Holyhead Road. This road was once a main route from London to Holyhead. The Nugget Pub was built in 1938. It was expected that many new houses would be built nearby, but this did not happen.
What Coundon Offers
Coundon has several places for people to enjoy.
- Coundon Community Library: This library is open from Monday to Saturday.
- Coundon Community Peace Orchard: You can find this peaceful spot at Coundon Hall Park.
- Coundon Wedge: This is an open green space. It separates the built-up areas of Coundon from Allesley.
- The Old Hall Hotel: This building dates back to the 1840s. It was once a country house. Now, it's a place for weddings, with a restaurant and bar.
Learning in Coundon
Coundon is home to several schools for different age groups.
- Coundon Primary School
- Hollyfast Primary School
- Moseley Primary School
- Christ the King Infant and Junior Schools (these are in different locations)
- Coundon Court Secondary School
The playing fields for Bablake School are also located in Coundon. Bablake is an independent school.
