Hi
My Joseph ancestors lived on Coalway Lane, Coleford, near Venetian House. In the 1881 census, they were living at "Dwelling No 15 Coalway Road. Census Place Newland, Gloucester, England". The person who gave me this information says that their dwelling was just to the west of Venetian House towards the centre of Coleford.
Could someone please tell me what Venetian House was and why it had that name? Is it still standing, and if so, can you supply its street address?
I should have followed this up at the time I received the information, but lack of time etc etc...
Thank you very much for any assistance. John
Location of Venetian House, Coleford
by slowhands , proud of his ancient Dean Forest roots, Sunday, March 25, 2007, 22:18 (6454 days ago) @ jhopkins
Location of Venetian House on Lords Hill ( Coalway Road, Coalway, Coleford, GL16 7HL)
http://www.old-maps.co.uk/
co-ords 357881,210670
Location of Venetian House, Coleford
by jhopkins , Sunday, March 25, 2007, 23:00 (6454 days ago) @ slowhands
Thanks slowhands. I knew where it was, but not WHAT it was! I wondered if it was a private house, or something else, and how it got its name, and whether it is still there or not.
Thanks
John
Venetian House, Coleford
by slowhands , proud of his ancient Dean Forest roots, Sunday, March 25, 2007, 23:27 (6454 days ago) @ jhopkins
Sorry, because it is identified on the map and in the Directories
( Kelly's 1902 http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~cbennett/coleford1902.htm ,
Morris 1876 http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~cbennett/coleford1876.htm ),
I think its safe to assume it was a substantial private dwelling.
Venetian House, Coleford
by jhopkins , Monday, March 26, 2007, 00:00 (6454 days ago) @ slowhands
Thanks again slowhands. I didn't think of looking there - I have only ever looked at those lists for names!
I notice that John Hullett is listed as the owner, under Gentry (etc), and later in the list there is a "HULLETT John, solicitor, commissioner in Chancery and Common Law, and clerk to the Local Board of Health, Gloucester road". So I guess it was a solicitor's private home at that stage anyway.
I wonder how it got its name? Some romantic connection? Or perhaps the design was based on some Venetian notion? I guess we will never know.
Thanks for your help. John
Venetian House, Coleford
by slowhands , proud of his ancient Dean Forest roots, Monday, March 26, 2007, 01:18 (6454 days ago) @ jhopkins
The "aspiring" Victorians were keen to name properties, i.e. xxxx Villa, which may be a property in a terrace, not necessarily a "2 up 2 down" .
It this case it is a substantial property - and it may have a known / recorded history.
Venetian House, Coleford
by jhopkins , Monday, March 26, 2007, 11:54 (6454 days ago) @ slowhands
Thanks slowhands. That makes sense. They even did that in the antipodes - for example the houses Katherine Mansfield lived in as a child have names - her Beauchamp family were what passed for Victorian gentry out here in Godzone!
John
Venetian House, Coleford
by Bill Nash, Wednesday, April 11, 2007, 19:16 (6437 days ago) @ jhopkins
Not only do I know Venitian House on Lords Hill I visited it on many occasions.
It is a rambling type of house which has had many additions over the years and was in a substantial walled Garden.
It was until the early 1980's to my knowledge owned by Ken Prisk and his wife Vera
Ken was the manager of the Coleford Community Centre and before that the Town Hall.
He was ( with my mother Joyce Nash) among the leading lights of the Coleford Amateur Dramatic Society. Ken co-wrote / adapted with Keith Morgan many of the famous Coleford Pantomimes and Music Halls- especially the music and song which he arranged.
He played the piano.. mostly by ear... and with such luminaries as Jim Blanch ( Still living at Cherry Brook Farm Nr Newland) provided the music
Venetian House used regularly to vibrate from the singing and festivities of post production parties.
My contribution was small, despite being volunteered by my mother.. Charlie Bayliss and I used to work the lights and do other stage hand duties building and striking sets... although I was occasionally found singing in the chorus of the odd Music Hall
rgds
Bill Nash
Sydney Australia
Venetian House, Coleford
by jhopkins , Thursday, April 19, 2007, 20:01 (6429 days ago) @ Bill Nash
Good grief, what wonderful information, and probably memories for you too Bill.
I don't suppose you remember the number of the house on Coalway Lane? We visited the Lane on a brief trip to the Forest in 2004 (I live across the ditch from you), but couldn't find the house. There is a new subdivision where we thought the house must have been.
Do you have any photos of the house or Coalway Lane that you would be willing to share? All expenses paid by me of course.
Thanks again.
John
Venetian House, Coleford - Photos
by admin , Forest of Dean, Saturday, April 21, 2007, 01:44 (6428 days ago) @ Bill Nash
Bill
Like John, I also found reading the memories you have of Venetian House of great interest.
If you or anyone else has any photos of the establishment we would certainly like to add them to our Photo Gallery.
Venetian House, Coleford - Photos
by djt, Monday, April 23, 2007, 05:01 (6426 days ago) @ admin
Unfortunately I don't have any photographs of Venetian House which was at 43 Lords Hill, but I was lucky enough to live there from 1982 to 1987. As an earlier post says, it was owned by Mr and Mrs Prisk, who occupied about half of the ground floor. The rest of the house was let out. I had a large room at the front as a bed-sit, plus use of a small kitchen. Another room downstairs was let for bed and breakfast, while the whole of the upstairs was let as a self contained flat. It stood in a large garden, with a well at the bottom.
I can't say it was a beautiful house. It must have grown over several centuries, rather than been designed, as made clear by the number of different roofs it had. The walls were very thick, and there were several slightly different levels on the ground floor, separated by one or two steps. My room had a cupboard set into the front wall of the house,and there must have been a wooden beam above it with deathwatch beetle in, as at about this time of year I used to hear their tapping at night.
The house always needed a lot of maintenance, and very shortly after I moved out Mr and Mrs Prisk sold up and moved to a more modern house. I believe it was then used as a dental practice for some time, my room becoming the surgery. It then changed hands at least one more time before, rather sadly, being demolished. Its site and garden are now occupied by a small housing estate of, I think, five (good sized) houses, and I believe the well still exists in the back garden of one of them.
Venetian House, Coleford - Photos
by jhopkins , Tuesday, May 08, 2007, 20:49 (6410 days ago) @ djt
Quote: djt - "Its site and garden are now occupied by a small housing estate of, I think, five (good sized) houses, and I believe the well still exists in the back garden of one of them."
Thanks djt, that makes sense to me - I think we must have found the correct site when we visited in 2004, because what you refer to as a 'small housing estate' will be the 'subdivision' I mentioned in my post above. I assume that 'subdivision' is my Kiwi-speak for what you call a 'small housing estate'. My wife and I found that and could work out where my Joseph ancestors must have lived through proximity to that 'housing estate'.
It looked very new then, so we must have just missed out on seeing Venetian House. Thanks for all your information.
John