Wyken
Wyken is an ancient parish in Warwickshire that forms a suburb of Coventry. It is situated between the areas of Stoke and Walsgrave, three miles north-east of Coventry city centre. The population of the ward taken at the 2011 census was 16,818.[1] It is a fairly large ward spreading as far as the Binley area. The majority of the houses in Wyken are terraced houses.
The ancient parish runs close to the River Sowe and is mainly flat except for Wyken Heath and Wyken Knob near Stoke Heath.
History
The oldest building within Wyken is Saint Mary Magdalene's Church, located within Wyken Croft, which dates to the early 11th century. The village developed opposite the church and remained a small settlement until the 18th century at which point it began to expand. This original layout has since evolved as Wyken was incorporated into Coventry in 1932.
Local legends
The churchyard of St Mary Magdalene's church has been known to generations of residents as the site of a pirate grave dating to some time in the 19th century. The legend had it that to summon the spectre one had to run around the grave three times. This legend later evolved to running around the church itself three times followed by throwing a stone through the windows of the church, which led to the removal of the headstone by the vicar of the parish in the 1960s.[2] It is also said to be the birthplace of St George in Caludon Castle, of which only one wall remains.
Churches and schools
St Mary Magdalene's church is the oldest church in Coventry, being 900 years old; along with The Church of the Risen Christ only a few yards away, it forms one ministry (two buildings one church).[3] Both are part of a group of Anglican parishes: the group also includes two other churches, The Church of the Holy Cross in Wyken and St. Michael's in Stoke.[4]
The secondary schools for the area are Caludon Castle School and Lyng Hall School.
Notable residents
- Professional footballer Luke McCormick grew up in the district attending St John Fisher Catholic Primary School.
- Professional footballer Ian Evatt grew up in the area attending Caludon Castle.
- Actor Ron Cook grew up in the area attending Caludon Castle.
- MotoGP rider Cal Crutchlow grew up in Wyken.
- Professional darts player Mark McGeeney born in Wyken.
- Retired professional basketball player and owner of the Coventry Crusaders Robert Donaldson previously lived in Wyken.
References
- ↑ "Coventry Ward population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=13689740&c=Wyken&d=14&e=62&g=6364067&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1450366283054&enc=1. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
- ↑ McGrory, David (2005). Haunted Coventry. NPI Media Group. ISBN 0-7524-3708-9.
- ↑ http://www.risenchrist.online
- ↑ "Caludon Team Ministry". Achurchnearyou. http://www.achurchnearyou.com/wyken-st-mary-magdalene/. Retrieved 14 December 2010.