Earlsdon is a suburb and electoral ward of Coventry

Coventry

Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...

. It lies approximately one mile to the southwest of Coventry City Centre

Coventry

Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...

. It is the birth place of aviation pioneer Frank Whittle

Frank Whittle

Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle, OM, KBE, CB, FRS, Hon FRAeS was a British Royal Air Force engineer officer. He is credited with independently inventing the turbojet engine Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle, OM, KBE, CB, FRS, Hon FRAeS (1 June 1907 – 9 August 1996) was a British Royal Air...

 There are shops and several restaurants on Earlsdon Street, the main street through Earlsdon. There is also Earlsdon Library, one of the larger branch libraries of Coventry library service. Earlsdon also hosts rugby, golf and tennis clubs.

History

In the mid-19th century Earlsdon was a hub of activity for the rising watch

Watch

A watch is a small timepiece, typically worn either on the wrist or attached on a chain and carried in a pocket, with wristwatches being the most common type of watch used today. They evolved in the 17th century from spring powered clocks, which appeared in the 15th century. The first watches were...

-making trade. Even as this industry began to decline, Earlsdon continued to grow, and was incorporated into the city of Coventry in 1890. The watch-making trade is represented by the clock on the roundabout at the bottom of the high street, where Earlsdon Avenue North and South join.

In 1897 the opening of Albany Road, named after HRH Princess Helena, Duchess of Albany

Princess Helena, Duchess of Albany

Princess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont was the daughter of George Victor, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont and his wife Princess Helena of Nassau , who became a member of the British Royal Family by marriage.-Family:She was born in Arolsen, capital of Waldeck...

, who visited Coventry in November the following year, allowed for far greater access to and from the rest of the city and development in Earlsdon quickly increased. By 1918 the area was fully developed as it is today but has seen some redevelopment in recent years.

Today, Earlsdon is a large high-density suburban residential area. Many students from both Coventry University

Coventry University

Coventry University is a post-1992 university in Coventry, West Midlands, England. Under the terms of the Further and Higher Education Act of 1992, the institution's name was changed from Coventry Polytechnic to Coventry University...

 and the University of Warwick

University of Warwick

The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...

 also live in the area.

In August 2006 following a torrential downpour of rain, the main street of Earlsdon suffered from serious flooding. Many businesses were affected, and some were forced to close for a time.

Places of interest

The hub of Earlsdon is what is locally referred to as the "Earlsdon High Street", in reality Earlsdon Street. This is a strip of commercial units that includes a number of restaurants and pubs. The area surrounding Earlsdon Street consists of rows of terraced houses and a few small shops. To the south the War Memorial Park

War Memorial Park, Coventry

The War Memorial Park is a large park of about 48.5 hectares situated in southern Coventry. The park was opened in July 1921 as a tribute to the 2,587 Coventrians who died between 1914 and 1918 fighting in the First World War...

, the north is Hearsall Common

Hearsall Common

Hearsall Common is located in Earlsdon, Coventry in the West Midlands, central England.The common consists of a large grassy area with a smaller partly tarmacadamed area on one side of Hearsall Common Road, and a wooded nature reserve on the other side...

, and west is Canley Ford.

Frank Whittle

Frank Whittle

Frank Whittle

Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle, OM, KBE, CB, FRS, Hon FRAeS was a British Royal Air Force engineer officer. He is credited with independently inventing the turbojet engine Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle, OM, KBE, CB, FRS, Hon FRAeS (1 June 1907 – 9 August 1996) was a British Royal Air...

 (1907–96), the jet engine pioneer, was born in Earlsdon in a terraced house on Newcombe Road, which is marked out by a small grey commemorative plaque. He attended a school in Earlsdon, and he was inspired to pursue a career in engineering after allegedly seeing an aircraft land on Hearsall Common

Hearsall Common

Hearsall Common is located in Earlsdon, Coventry in the West Midlands, central England.The common consists of a large grassy area with a smaller partly tarmacadamed area on one side of Hearsall Common Road, and a wooded nature reserve on the other side...

. At the age of nine he moved to Leamington Spa

Leamington Spa

Royal Leamington Spa, commonly known as Leamington Spa or Leamington or Leam to locals, is a spa town in central Warwickshire, England. Formerly known as Leamington Priors, its expansion began following the popularisation of the medicinal qualities of its water by Dr Kerr in 1784, and by Dr Lambe...

 with his family when his father started an engineering factory there.

Arts and culture

Earlsdon has its own theatre, the Criterion Theatre

Criterion Theatre (Coventry)

The Criterion Theatre is situated in Earlsdon, Coventry, England. It puts on about seven shows a year. The Company has won the Godiva Award for best theatre in the region several times....

, that puts on six main house performances a year, as well as numerous visiting companies and workshop productions. There is also an annual "Earlsdon Festival", that takes place on Hearsall Common

Hearsall Common

Hearsall Common is located in Earlsdon, Coventry in the West Midlands, central England.The common consists of a large grassy area with a smaller partly tarmacadamed area on one side of Hearsall Common Road, and a wooded nature reserve on the other side...

 during the May Day bank holiday. The annual Godiva Festival

Godiva Festival

The Godiva Festival is a free weekend long music festival held each year in the War Memorial Park, Coventry, England, named after the city's famous former inhabitant Lady Godiva. It first appeared as a day long event in 1997 and became a 3 day event the following year in 1998...

 takes place within the War Memorial Park

War Memorial Park, Coventry

The War Memorial Park is a large park of about 48.5 hectares situated in southern Coventry. The park was opened in July 1921 as a tribute to the 2,587 Coventrians who died between 1914 and 1918 fighting in the First World War...

 usually during one week-end in July.

Politics

Earlsdon Ward covers Canley Gardens and Styvechale

Styvechale

Stivichall or Styvechale is a mainly residential area of south Coventry. It includes Fenside which forms part of southeast Stivichall. To the north and northwest Stivichall has a shared border with the War Memorial Park, along Coat of Arms Bridge Road. The district of Cheylesmore is to the...

 in addition to area surrounding Earlsdon Street. Coventry's War Memorial Park falls within the boundaries of Earlsdon Ward.

As of December 2009 the ward is represented by 3 local councillors who sit on Coventry City Council. They are Allan Andrews

Allan Andrews

Allan Andrews may refer to:* Allan Andrews , member for Heathcote from 1988–1991* Allan Andrews , candidate for the Coventry City Council...

(Conservative), Ken Taylor (Conservative) and Andy Matchet (Conservative).

Parts of Earlsdon also fall under Whoberley Ward and St Michael's Ward.