Born in 1815, a few weeks after Waterloo, Henry Parkes grew up in Warwickshire, the son of a tenant farmer on the Stoneleigh Estate who was evicted and jailed for debt. Nevertheless, he rose to become one of the most important men in the history of the British Empire: after emigrating to Australia in 1839 he became a leading politician there who fulfilled the role of Premier of New South Wales no fewer than five times and is known as the Father of the Australian Federation.
CovSoc member Shelia Woolf will tell us this fascinating Coventry story at a time when Sir Henry’s childhood home is at risk of demolition.
Join us for our February meeting, combined with a final chance to see inside the Litten Tree Building.
Monday 13th February at 7.30 p.m. at the LTB (Litten Tree Building), Warwick Road. Free for CovSoc members, visitors are invited to make a £2 donation to the Society.
Sheila Woolf was Head of English at King Henry VIII School for many years, and after retirement became Chair of Stoneleigh History Society. She has researched and written extensively on local history as well as on Philip Larkin and George Eliot; she regularly gives talks on local subjects and is a tour guide at both Stoneleigh Abbey and Arbury Hall.
In addition, CovSoc Chair, Peter Walters, will talk about the history of the area around where Sir Henry lived, which is now the home of the University of Warwick.