Walsgrave

Walsgrave-on-Sowe is a village located about 3 miles north-east of Coventry, West Midlands in England. Although it now sees very little flooding, it was built on marsh lands. However, due to urban growth, it is now an outer suburb of Coventry, near to Ansty and Shilton. Walsgrave-on-Sowe neighbours the Potters Green, Henley Green, Wyken, Coombe Fields and Mount Pleasant areas of Coventry and is in the Henley ward of the city, although Walsgrave-on-Sowe was formerly in the Wyken Ward prior to ward changes made in 2003 by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE).

History

Walsgrave has reputedly been in existence for approximately 1,000 years. The first mention of a chapel in Walsgrave-on-Sowe (then known as Sowe) was in 1221. It is likely that the chapel would have been built after 1086, as there is no reference in the Domesday Book of a priest serving the area. St Mary's Church currently stands on the site of the former chapel. The original graveyard for the church was covered over and now forms the slope in front of the church, facing onto the main road.