SLHS: Cox’s Yard & Wharf

History

It seems that once William James had extended the canal from Kingswood to the outskirts of Stratford at the brewery and then pushed further on to the river which he eventually bought, making the river navigable would have been a priority. The bridge across the Avon for his tramway, built in 1826, therefore enclosed a triangular piece of land owned by the canal company. In 1831 Richard Greaves leased this land.

In 1825 Edward Flower visited Stratford and saw a thriving market town and in 1827 he bought a house in Payton Street. His family were successful brewers in Hertford.

Also living in Payton Street was James Cox (1799-1882). Edward went into business with him to provide cooperage his proposed new business and so they leased the canal wharf behind the One Elm Pub. As time progressed this was used as the base for many splendid projects including the construction of the Baptist Church in that same street in 1832.

The land there, however, was cramped and so in 1839 Cox sub-let the wharf on the Avon from Richard Greaves (above). The toll house there had fallen out of use and so he leased this as well for his office.

This was an ideal place to operate from as it adjoined road, rail, canal and river. James was both a superb craftsman and businessman. Slowly but surely more buildings were erected to cope with the work. In fact such was the demand that in 1873 he decided to upgrade the logging shop to a full-blown mill powered by steam (see chimney right). the timber was brought by canal as that passed through Henley Forest.

The broadgauge railway didn’t arrive in Stratford until 1859 and so until this time the canal had no competition. Business was so good that a second basin was required at the terminus of the canal company. All of these businesses required secure wooden buildings adjoining the waterway.

In order to season large quantities of wood it would have needed to be stored carefully for several years over a large area. If you look at the map of the Canal Basins one can see that it’s likely that land upstream of Clopton Bridge was used.

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Bridgefoot, by the river

Cox’s Yard in 1910 and James Cox’s son James b1824.

James Cox Decendents (from Ancestry)

James married Ann Butwell (1792-1871) and they had a son also called James (1824-1909) who took over the running of the yard. They also had a son and called him James Bernard Butwell Cox (1852-1914) and a daughter, Laura Margaret (1862-1952). Aged 48 (1900) he built new house at 6 Rother Street to his own design.

Continuing Success

The business remained successful throughout the 20th century making it the oldest family firm in existence. In 1991 it was time to down tools and it remained a museum. In 1996 the site was preserved as a pub/restaurant and later an upstairs theatre.

The main yard in 2020.

Arrival Of Timber - pulled by horse 1931

Timber Unloaded.  Notice the rails of the tramway had been lifted by this time.

As the area is today August 2023

The yard used the land both sides of the tramway right up to the river lock (bridge in foreground). After these nearby buildings were demolished a circular rose garden was planted there. The roses grew very old and craggy. This area was then replaced, after the fire at Atherstone Grain Store, by a more modern circular memorial to the firefighters who sadly lost their lives.

Merchant’s Buildings from the first timber bridge across the lock (nolonger extant)

Cox’s Wharf  Oct 2023

As it is winter notice

the significantly well

founded flood protection.

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Dec2023

A clearer view of the logs piled up next to the toll house.

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