four cottages

CLOSE		Box framed cottages This picture of three box framed cottages was taken about 1920 prior to their conversion by Colonel Holbrook into a single house in 1924. This is the best approximation we have for the cottages that stood here in 1851. The box framing dates back to their construction in the 17th century, the brick infill probably replaced wattle and daub at some time. In 1851 these three cottages, and one more at the rear, were occupied by William Luck. In the 1851 census William is noted as employing 10 labourers on the 350 acre farm he rented. It seems likely that some of them lived in these cottages. About 1880 the cottages were bought by John Bird Chirnside, a retired sheep farmer who earned his fortune in Australia. At the turn of the century Chirnside renovated and extended a farm off the Hillmorton Lane and called it the New Hall. It is not clear when these cottages became known as the Old Hall, but it most likely that it was after the work carried out by Colonel Holbrook in 1924. Colonel Holbrook lived in the Old Hall until 1946 when he moved to Hampshire. He was awarded a CBE for service during the first world war and Knighted in 1938 for political and public services to Warwickshire. He was Chairman of the Triumph Motor Company in Coventry.

Box framed cottages

This picture of three box framed cottages was taken about 1920 prior to their conversion by Colonel Holbrook into a single house in 1924. This is the best approximation we have for the cottages that stood here in 1851. The box framing dates back to their construction in the 17th century, the brick infill probably replaced wattle and daub at some time.

In 1851 these three cottages, and one more at the rear, were occupied by William Luck. In the 1851 census William is noted as employing 10 labourers on the 350 acre farm he rented. It seems likely that some of them lived in these cottages.

About 1880 the cottages were bought by John Bird Chirnside, a retired sheep farmer who earned his fortune in Australia. At the turn of the century Chirnside renovated and extended a farm off the Hillmorton Lane and called it the New Hall.

It is not clear when these cottages became known as the Old Hall, but it most likely that it was after the work carried out by Colonel Holbrook in 1924.

Colonel Holbrook lived in the Old Hall until 1946 when he moved to Hampshire. He was awarded a CBE for service during the first world war and Knighted in 1938 for political and public services to Warwickshire. He was Chairman of the Triumph Motor Company in Coventry.