Bablake Excavations

July 1937

BABLAKE EXCAVATIONS

During the past two months excavations have again been taking place in the Bablake area, near the St. John's Church. This is at the corner of Corporation Street, and so near the Church that one's thoughts turn to Queen Isabella, the wife of Edward II., and mother of Edward III., who when in Coventry had her house in Cheylesmore, now "The Manor House," but at one time called the Cheylesmore Castle, built to take the place of the Earl's Castle, which was partly in ruins when King Stephen and Earl Ranulph had a quarrel on its site. The Queen Isabella gave the ground, as her "letter patent" shows; this was written in French on May 7th, 1344, at "Castle Rising," and states - "To the good people of the Guild of St. John Baptist in the Town of Coventry, a piece of land called Babbelack in the same town, in order that they may build a Chapel in honour of God and of St. John Baptist and have there two chaplains daily chanting masses and other divine services for the good estate of the said Queen's dear son, the King, and of the said Queen Isabella, and of her daughter Queen Phillipa, and for the Prince of Wales, during their lives, and for their souls when they shall have died, and for the soul of the Queen's dear Lord, the late King of England.... and for the lives and souls of the Brethren of the said Guild," etc.

The dedication of the Church took place on May 5th, 1350. During some excavations in 1875 much of the old foundations were revealed, and also two altars of the 15th century, which were thought to be the altars of Holy Trinity and St. Katherine. For 200 years from the suppression in 1548 the Church was in the hands of the Corporation, and a rent of one penny per annum was paid for it.

Coming now to my story of excavations at the corner of Corporation Street. When digging the foundations, about twenty large holes were made, and the foundation stones of a mill were revealed, which were built on oak piles, extending about twenty yards. At a depth of about eight feet a lot of floor joists were found, and in the centre I believe were two large timbers for carrying the mill wheel, which would be an undershot one. Very little else came to light except a few boots and leather soles, with small pieces of 14th century pottery. One boot sole was apparently new, although the stitch holes were made round it; it appears to have never been used, and its condition is so good that it could be used to-day.

What the name of this mill was will never be known, nor when it was last used, or what it was used for. It may have been a flour mill, or for some other purpose such as a fuller's mill, like the Baginton mill. How Bablake got its name may never be known, but although many suggestions have been made, my own is that it is derived from the "Babbling Brook" of Radford, sometimes called the Naul's Mill brook, which flows under the Leigh Mills, and known to many as the River Albert.

Next month I will write about the excavations in Warwick Lane, on the site of the Grey Friars burial ground.

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