The Berkswell Museum

A collection of various exhibits, all relating to the Parish of Berkswell, are  housed in a sixteenth century cottage which is situated at the rear of the Almshouses in the centre of the village. The cottage was until recently the house of the local district nurse.
The Museum is open on Sunday afternoons 2.30 -5.30 p.m. at Easter, and then from 1st May to the first weekend in October.

The Berkswell Windmill is now open to the public on the FIRST Saturday of every month, May-Oct , 12 noon-6pm. Light refreshments are available.
It may also be  opened at other times  for Group Visits by contacting:
Jeanette McGarry Tel 01676 530085

The collection has been built up over the years since it was first opened in 1981 and consists of memorabilia, farm implements, tools and household items etc. together with Church and Parish documents. These have been loosely categorised in the four rooms. The collection also features three notable characters -Maud Watson, the Rectors daughter, who lived in what is now known as "The Well House', and was the first Ladies Singles Champion at Wimbledon; R.E.S. (Bob) Wyatt, England Cricket Captain for a number of years from 1934; and Jeremy Brett, actor son of Colonel and Mrs Huggins who lived at The Grange in Truggist Lane,  in film and on television, best known for his brilliant portrayal of Sherlock Holmes.

THE BERKSWELL SOCIETY LOCAL HISTORY GROUP has produced the third in its series of books relating to the history of the ancient parish of Berkswell.
Kiss Me Again ‘Arry, I Like It starts with the sad tale of Ivy, whose ’Arry turned out to be something of a rotter, when he found that Ivy was not the heiress that he had supposed.
KISS ME AGAIN ‘ARRY, I LIKE IT costs £4.50, and is available from local shops in Berkswell and Balsall Common, or by post (plus 75p. U. K. postage and packing) from Ted Inett (01564 739747).
The History Group’s two previous books, “In Flanders Fields The Poppies Blow” and “I Slept In Every Bed In Berkswell” are still available, priced at £3.75 each.
Further information from Ted Inett on 01564 739747.

Ted Inett tells the story of The Berkswell Association for the Prosecution of Felons, which still offers a reward of £10 for anybody informing on “Highway or Footpad Robbery”.  The Association dates back to before 1790, and is believed to have up-dated its list of offences only once – since 1991 it has offered £10 for information leading to the successful prosecution of litter louts.
The book includes some wonderful extracts from the Parish Magazine of 1906-8, including the story of the choir’s day out to Scarborough , which necessitated a special train and a return journey of 15 hours. The Rector reported that they “had spent a thoroughly happy day”.

Dee Tracey has investigated the 16 th century Court Rolls (Manorial Court records which were literally rolled up for storage) - "Henry Palmer shall remove his mother-in-law and one bastard from his house before the feast of St. John the Baptist next, on pain of 20 shillings”.  She has also looked at the 17 th century Quarter Sessions records, which show that Berkswell’s biggest villain of the time was Henry Matthews, a Justice of the Peace!

Linda Hickin looks at how the ladies of Berkswell provided “soldiers comforts” during the Second World War – the mind boggles – and husband Malcolm investigates the history of the long-defunct bedstead factory in Balsall Common.

There is plenty more, and undoubtedly something for anyone with even the slightest interest in Berkswell.  The book is very readably written, and fully illustrated with some 40 photographs, maps etc.
For further information contact
Richard Spears on 01676 534244