Re: NBBC Papers

By Armchair vulture (Armchair Observer)5/11/2025 13:35Wed Nov 5 13:35:14 2025In response to Re: NBBC Papers

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The site was Haunchwood brick and tiles no2 clay hole situated on what was once the ancient Haunchwood. The clay hole was more or less worked out by the Great War and was latterly filled with household waste. This pit extracted Etruria marl which outcropped in a line from approx Brett’s Hall near Ansley common and running to Bedworth through Stockingford and Chilvers Coton.
The coal seams including the four foot, Two yard or Ryder, nine feet, seven foot and bench outcropped on the eastern edge of the thin outcrop at marl and they dipped towards Arley. Haunchwood did indeed sink very small shafts into the coal and they also worked other clays including fire clays. There were shafts in the vicinity of the main Haunchwood no1 works where Whittleford park now stands. As for a new ground on this land - probably not a problem with modern foundation/ raft techniques but foundations of complex can be expensive.
The clay pit was probably around 80 feet deep.
Totally correct though VOR about the need for a thorough investigation related to local mining activity in the local.
Haunchwood Nowells pit behind the miners arms and the Nuneaton new colliery sunk ( behind the Cherry tree pub) around 1864 were active in this locality. Haunchwood Nowells pit was probably the oldest pit in the Warwickshire coalfield being sunk in the 18th century - it closed in 1925 and became a pumping station for the Haunchwood tunnel pit at Galley common sunk around 1892 until the tunnel closed in 1967.
As for the vale view site
Right location.
Good amount of land and a barrier of a rail line and Whittleford park on its northern edge.
The only negatives for me are the potential costs and whether the locals will kick up a stink as it is bordered by Vale view and Haunchwood rd and access egress is constructed to flow onto Haunchwood rd.
The club need to do plenty of work with the LA and the locals with plenty of good will to get this site through I reckon but we’ll see.
And as you’ve said before VOR the plans needs to reflect the best future scnarip and I reckon that would be for a national league facility. No point in obtaining permission for a small southern league ground only to be screwed of it needed expanding for step 1 or 2 of they ever got there.