From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Whitley is a suburb of southern Coventry in the West Midlands of England, UK.

Whitley is the home of the Whitley plant, which is the Engineering Centre of Jaguar Cars Limited. The facility is a fully integrated design, research and development centre for all current and future Jaguar products.

Despite having a supermarket, Whitley has a number of small shops, takeaways and businesses including a hair salon and an in-car entertainment shop. Whitley also has an IBIS hotel and a large sports centre.

Contents 1 Abbey Road Bridge 2 Whitley Abbey 3 Schools 4 Coventry Zoo 5 References 6 External links

The bridge over the River Sherbourne at the bottom of Abbey Road is now blocked off to road vehicles, but before Thomas Telford built the current London Road, it formed part of the main London to Holyhead coaching route. The mill which stood next to the bridge had been unused since the 1880s, but remained occupied until it was demolished in the 1950s.

Until the turn of the 19th century, Whitley had its own identity based around a principal grand house which was built in the 14th century. Contrary to popular belief, it was this house which bore the name "Whitley Abbey" and not a monastic residence. Several changes and additions to the house took place over the following centuries until the entire estate was sold in 1924, and the house fell into disrepair. Planning permission was granted during the 1950s to build Whitley Abbey Comprehensive School, which was demolished to make way for Whitley Abbey Community School opening on 13 October 2000.

Whitley has three schools: Whitley Abbey Community School, Alice Stevens, and Whitley Primary. Whitley Abbey Community School is a secondary school and sixth form for boys and girls. The age range of the pupils is 11-18. Alice Stevens School is a special school (state sector) for boys and girls. The age range of the pupils is 11-19.

Whitley was once home to Coventry Zoo, which had a huge fibreglass Zulu holding a spear at its entrance and was a popular visitor attraction until it was demolished in 1979. The Warwickshire Racquet & Health Club (formally known as Esporta and the Coventry Racquet Centre), originally built in 1983, currently occupies the site.

• Albert Smith and David Fry: (1991). The Coventry We Have Lost. Vol 1. Simanda Press, Berkswell. ISBN 0-9513867-1-9
• Albert Smith and David Fry: (1993). The Coventry We Have Lost. Vol 2. Simanda Press, Berkswell. ISBN 0-9513867-2-7

• Map sources for Whitley, Coventry

Coordinates: 54.19298° N 1.46508° W