Bedworth - Features

Features

The most notable buildings in Bedworth are the Nicholas Chamberlaine Almshouses on All Saint’s Square in the town centre, which are built in Tudor style and date from 1840, having been funded by the local benefactor Nicholas Chamberlaine (1632–1715).

The main venue in Bedworth is the Bedworth Civic Hall which has an attached arts centre.

The Town centre is dominated by All Saint's Parish Church, (Church of England), Which was rebuilt in the late 19th century of Runcorn stone in the Decorated style. The church has a square bell tower from the original Church thought to date from 1450 which houses the Town Clock (1817), and a peal of eight bells, which are rung for Morning Services and for special occasions. The church has several fine stained glass windows; of particular note the north aisle window is a rare example of the work of Mr. H. Clarke depicting St Peter, St Paul, St Luke and St John. All Saint's has been recently reordered (2000) to include a narthex, in which is held a coffee Morning on Friday mornings. The church is open for visitors each morning (Monday – Friday 10am – 12 noon). Sunday Services are 9am Holy Communion, 11am Family Worship and 6pm Evening Worship. The St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church near Rye Piece Ringway is also a prominent building in the town centre. There are also, Bedworth Methodist Church, and the United Reformed Church in Mill Street in the town centre, and Bedworth Baptist Church on Coventry Road near the football ground. (See external links.)

The Bedworth water tower is probably the most noticeable landmark building in Bedworth, in the style of Edwin Lutyens, visible from miles around and built in the 19th century. It used to provide water for the houses and the mining facilities. It is also home to a pair of Peregrine Falcons.

Along Mill Street until recently were rows of former weavers' cottages which were once inhabited by Huguenot weavers. Some of these were still used as shops, although most had been allowed to become derelict. They have been demolished as part of the redevelopment of Tesco. The majority of the town centre was built in the postwar period, and has all the hallmarks of such a development. The town centre itself contains some of the usual high street retail names as well as many charity, card shops and banks.

Domestic appliance insurer Domestic & General has offices in the town centre and provides substantial employment for the community.

Several years ago Bedworth Kwik Save (a sixties steel re-enforced concrete building with drive-on roof parking, known locally as the Hypermarket - the original name), was redeveloped into a new Aldi store. Located next to it is a Home Bargains store. Also, the local Woolworths has been closed down because of the credit crunch, leaving some Bedworth residents unemployed. Clothes shop Store Twenty One replaced Woolworths. Bedworth Tesco which was a similar type of building to Kwik Save, but in a brick faced and arched windowed 1970s style, closed in January 2011 and was redeveloped into a steel framed Tesco Xtra store. Parking is at ground level, the store is on the first floor, with delivery access on the roof. It opened on 5 December 2011. It caused traffic jams in the town, and the re-routing of bus services.

Bedworth has a large range of pubs and working men's clubs. These include, but are not limited to: The Bear and Ragged Staff (a Wetherspoon pub), The White Horse, The Miners Arms, The Mountpleasent, The Black Horse, The Lord Raglan, The Black Bank, Saunders Hall, Collycroft Working Men's Club, The Bedworth Liberal Club, Bedworth Conservative Club, The Griffin Inn,The Newdigate Arms, The Cross Keys,The Collycroft Goose, The Royal Oak, The Prince Of Wales, JB'S, Littleworks (Re-Opened as Jack's Entertainment Club) and The Cricketers Arms in Collycroft. Although, The White Swan, The British Queen, The Navigation and The Corner Pin and others have closed, in line with national trends.

Bedworth also has a skate park built in the Miners Welfare Park in 2001 after campaigning by local youngsters. Previous to this, most youngsters would skate in the town centre, or in the market area, much to the annoyance of residents and the local police.

A new play area located within the park will be dedicated to Bedworth born Sergeant Simon 'VAL' Valentine a local Soldier of 2nd Btn Royal Regiment of Fusiliers who lost his life in August 2009 while serving his country in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.