Coventry: Willenhall - Sowe Valley 3

[1] From Willenhall Primary Care Centre, facing Willenhall Community Library and Advice Centre, go right. Before crossing the pedestrian crossing turn to admire the paintings affixed to the wall at Willenhall Village Green (see Point of Interest A). Now cross over the pedestrian crossing and, with the Co-op Food Centre Willenhall on your left go straight on down St Bernards Walk. Continue into Montjoy Close. Cross over Tarquin Close and continue straight on along a path to pass under the railway bridge.

Note the plaque commemorating the coming of the railway , on the left side above head height, as you go under the viaduct - see Point of Interest B.   

In about 30 yards after the bridge take a path going diagonally right, to join a tarmacced path. Go right along this path to reach Langbank Avenue. Cross the road and walk up Princethorpe Way. After about 150 yards you will reach a group of three sycamore trees on your left.

You can take a shorter version of the walk from here, between Waypoints numbers [2] and [4]. To do this go down the tarmacced path to the left and continue with the school grounds on your right. Continue to where this path takes a 90º turn to the left, and go left, with a green metal fence to your right. Follow the path to the end (Ashdown Close) Here turn right along a track to arrive at a 'Sowe Valley Footpath' waymark post pointing right. This is Waypoint [4] on the map. Now follow directions from [4] below.  

[2] Continue along Princethorpe Way, passing Sowe Valley Primary School and Ernesford Grange Community School on your left, and New Tiger Moth pub on your right, until you see Bruntingthorpe Way on the right.

[3] Opposite Bruntingthorpe Way turn left along a pavement by a row of houses (numbered 24 - 34). Where the pavement turns sharp right, instead turn left following the 'Sowe Valley Footpath' waymarker. You will soon see the River Sowe on your right. Continue on the path, with a metal fence and school grounds on your left and the river on your right, to emerge into a large field. Here go left along two sides of the field to arrive at another 'Sowe Valley Footpath' waymarker, pointing  the way you have just come. The field could be a little squelchy underfoot . To avoid this turn right when you enter the field and walk the other way round with the edge on your right to arrive at the same waymarker.

[4] Turn right along a tarmacced path (the shorter version of the walk comes in along this path from the left) to go over a bridge over the River Sowe. Shortly after follow the path as it swings left and before reaching the road bridge turn left along a narrower path, waymarked 'Sowe Valley Footpath'. The path soon comes to the River Sowe and another road bridge. Follow the path under this bridge and you will come to a grassy area - Lindfield Park. Continue along the path with the River Sowe on your left, passing three rather defaced information boards (see Point of Interest C) and some picnic tables, with a children's play area to your right. Continue on the path with the river on your left and come to another 'Sowe Valley Footpath' waymarker. Go down 12 steps to pass under a road, keep left on a wide tarmacced path and go over the bridge with the River Sowe beneath.

[5] After about 100 yds you will arrive at another 'Sowe Valley Footpath' waymarker. Follow the waymarked path diagonally to the right.

(But if you continue for about 40 yards along the tarmacced path you will see Point of Interest D - a memorial stone half hidden in the undergrowth on your left).

Go through a gate to enter a wooded area. Continue on a path up a slight slope to pass under the railway viaduct. The path then veers left, rising uphill to open grassland around the 4-storey terrace of houses.

[6] Turn left, following the grassy path between the houses and the railway. This brings you to the route you walked earlier. Where the paths cross, turn right, cross Tarquin Close and continue straight on along St Bernards Walk to return to the starting point.

A. The paintings affixed to the wall at Willenhall Village Green.

The triangular section in the centre at the bottom explains the origin of the name 'Willenhall'. In 1195 the village was called 'Wilihale' or 'Wellighale', meaning Willow Corner. Then in 1260 the name became 'Wynhale' or 'Wylenhal', meaning Wells and Springs.

Surrounding this triangle are, on the left, 'The Journey of Willenhall's Proud History', with a picture of a locomotive of 1838 with Robert Stephenson, Chief Engineer of the London and Birmingham Railway and, on the right, a more modern steam locomotive, no. 4472 'Flying Scotsman', built in 1923 and now preserved.

The other paintings depict A) the old tollgate in the village of Willenhall - 'Not just passing through, but going to Willenhall'. B), a celebration of victory in World War II with Churchill and his trademark fat cigar - 'Footsteps led to Willenhall and it was all hands to the war effort'. C), Baginton Fields Hostel, initially built to receive large numbers of orphaned Dutch children, and then was home to World War II refugees from all corners of the world. There were as many as 16 such hostels in Coventry. And D) the coming of the railway, dividing the fields and the village - 'From making hay together to making way for progress'.

B. The plaque on the railway bridge commemorates the first passenger train to run from London to Birmingham, on 17 September 1838. George Stephenson and his son Robert were railway pioneers who, in 1830, were appointed jointly as Engineers to the fledgling London and Birmingham Railway.

C. The rather defaced information boards in Lindfield Park are dedicated to a) mammals that might be found here (otters, water voles, foxes, common shrews, brown rats and moles), b) birds, and c) insects. 

D. The memorial stone commemorates Flight Lieutenant RAF Peter Stacey, who was killed here when his Gloster Meteor T7 crashed and burst into flames at this spot during the Warwickshire Air Pageant on 30 May 1988. He was 38.