www.covenvillage.org.uk	index
	Introduction & History
part of the Brewood and Coven Parish Community Web Site

Welcome to the Coven Village Website. See also www.covenvillage.co.uk for lots more local history.

Entrance to the village from A449 Aerial Photo of Coven Entrance to the village from Brewood

We are so pleased to have the opportunity to introduce you to our village.

Those who may think that our village history is, in any way associated with witchcraft are heading for disappointment. Coven was originally a manor in the parish of Brewood. It is situated 2 miles south east of Brewood and on the western fringe of the Black Country. It is recorded that Coven was held by Ailric before the Conquest and by Alan de Coven, who held a knights fee under Robert Stafford. Such manorial rights still existed in 1956 and were held by Major R F Monkton.

Throughout the 1800’s Coven was known as a working village, with locksmiths, chain-making and iron smelting. On Brewood Road there is a William and Mary cottage dated 1679, which was the home for priests from Brewood, and in the 1930’s was a police station. The village also housed two bakeries, a blacksmiths and a wheelwright. Bricks were hand made at Light Ash and a water mill stood at Standeford. One mill in Coven village was burned down giving rise to the name Burnt Mill and nearby is Jackson’s Bridge, so called after a man named Jackson who hung himself beneath the bridge.

Jackson’s Bridge

As the foundry was laid out in 1860’s As the site looks today

In 1860 the Village Foundry was built on the corner of Brewood Road and Lawn Lane. The Smith family already had a cottage in Lawn Lane next to the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel. The new works occupied the land in-between the cottage and Brewood Road. The main building, known as the machine shop had 5 bays, at least two of which were fitted with large heavy sliding doors. Above the machine shop in the loft was the pattern shop, which was also used as a village Sunday school. Next to the machine shop was the foundry and the blacksmith’s shop. There was also a separate boiler shop near to the chapel. Mr John Smith, who was a local preacher, gave part of his garden in Lawn Lane for the building of a Methodist chapel in 1839. To get to the chapel the minister had to pass through Mr Smith’s cottage.

Interior of the Chapel The chapel as it looks today

In 1857 St. Paul’s Anglican church was built on land given by Mr George Monkton. The stones were provided by Mr Thomas Giffard, the descendant of whom lives in Chillington Manor in the grounds of which it is said a panther was once killed by a bow and arrow! The church of St Paul was designed by E. Banks of Wolverhampton. It was built on land given by George Monckton, who also donated towards the building costs. The 140th anniversary was recently marked with a re-dedication by the Bishop of Lichfield, following the re-ordering of the church interior. The building now permits easy access for those with mobility problems and has an induction loop installed for hearing aid users. There are now also meeting rooms, a small kitchen area and a W.C. Communion is celebrated every Sunday 9.30 a.m.

The old school in School Lane was used by the church St. Paul’s Church as it looks today
before St. Paul’s was built and was known as a chapel of ease

The first recorded population of the village was in 1851 when there were 800 but the population today is approximately 3,300, showing how the village has grown during that time with shops and local inns but still remains very rural and is surrounded by open countryside.

Three of the most recent housing development sites

Penkside Three Hammers Apartments Development at the rear of the Croft Garage

Coven is now very modern with new houses, bungalows, shops and businesses, but there are still several of the old houses, such as Grange Farm, where once King Charles stayed, on his way to Moseley Old Hall. Another old house in Coven is The Beeches, named after the large beech trees in its gardens. Land from this property was used to develop two further housing developments, namely East Beeches and West Beeches.

Grange Farm The Beeches (as it looks today)

The village is flanked by the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal and the river Penk runs through the village. The River Penk and the South Staffordshire Union Canal provide opportunities for a leisurely stroll or why not go on a boat trip from Calf Heath Marina.

Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal at Cross Green The River Penk as it flows through the Bront in Coven

Village Hair, Post Office, Ornate, Coopers Greengrocers, Coven Bakery Coven Fish Bar, Coven Pharmacy, Spar

The small shopping parade caters for most needs. There is a choice of three public houses; a golf complex with a recently refurbished bistro; and a popular village hall where dances and varied leisure activities take place. The village boasts a modern school, well-equipped playing field, tennis and basketball courts and football pitches, and a range of clubs catering for young and old alike. With its easy accessibility to the motorway network and the Wolverhampton conurbation, Coven has become a popular place to live, attracting many young families to the area. Although there has been new housing developments the village still remains essentially rural with a village outlook and friendly atmosphere.

The Harrows Inn, School Lane The Rainbow (due for refurb 2006) Fox & Anchor, Cross Green