Catalogue

For those coming up the hill to Penkhull from Stoke, the question was where did Stoke end and Honeywall start?  In fact, the name of Honeywall, a rather strange name, did not start from the bottom as it does today. That area was originally called Castle Cliff- changed to Cliff Bank. The next higher section was called Upper Cliff Bank followed by Princess Street before being known the whole length by the name of Honeywall. The name of Castle Cliff is really important and yet there is no evidence to support this name of a castle at the top of the hill. Perhaps this explains why parts of what Honeywall is now went by the name of Castle Cliff. Food for thought! The area known as Honeywall commences from just about where the Beehive now stands to its junction with Penkhull Terrace and in fact refers to the hamlet of Honeywall and not the road name.

To add even further to the mystery in 1870, whilst digging near to the White Lion an ancient boulder pathway was found.  Could this have any connection with some form of early settlement? 

Rev.Aston, in his little book of 1942 suggests without any evidence to support his claim that it could mean Hole in the Wall, pointing to a possible wall around the ancient royal forest where a hole in the wall was used for game hunters!  But in saying this there is an argument presented to that part of Honeywall being the boundary of the once Iron Age Fort that capped the hill of Penkhull. Why? We have the name of Castle Cliff, and we have the evidence of a boulder pathway being uncovered outside the White Lion.  Also, the name of Honeywall could derive from the old English – ‘hill fortress’ and lastly, it’s the name given to a small hamlet not a road.  People would be known by the place where they lived (not a street name, but a district) and the name Hole in the Wall, the entrance area of the hill fort, could be just that place where a group of small traders resided. Lastly, it was recorded in the 19th century that beekeepers were resident in the area, so could the name originated from there? The Bee Hive Inn could be named following the known occupation of Bee Keepers in the area. A further conundrum. Two pages and photographs.

This beautiful building of Holy Trinity, Hartshill was opened on Monday, 10 October  1842. From an early hour Hartshill was crowded by of what were called at the time “respectable visitors” wishful to attend the ceremony of consecration.  At 11 o’clock, the Bishop of Hereford arrived by which time the clergy of the neighbourhood, and many from a distance had been in attendance to receive his Lordship. About fifty members of the clergy were present.

The arrival of the Bishop was the signal for a procession from the main road the church drive and into the church. The children of the infant’s school headed the procession, immediately followed by the bishop and clergy; after whom came a vast body of ladies and gentlemen who took an interest in the proceedings. The entire number was calculated at above 2000 people very many more than the church could contain. Notwithstanding the solemn nature of the ceremony, the great admiration excited by the architectural beauty of the building caused a sense of admiration by the gathered company. The consecration service was conducted impressively after which the Rev C. Leigh of Newcastle, preached the sermon from Romans “for whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe on him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach except they be sent?”. Sermon was considered most appropriate by the congregation and the greatest expression was shown by all to the benevolence of the worthy founder of the church Mr Herbert Minton.

Hopefully this account will prove to be welcomed by the current residents of the district as a reminder of just how Hioly Trinity Church, Hartshill was indeed a great asset to the district. One page