Porto Bello Inn

[Trees]

Great find
My poor relation drowned from one of those boats in 1907
17 and 16 year old brothers hired one and the younger brother held on to a ring in the masonry under the viaduct to hold the boat while his brother tried to untie extentions to the steering ropes.The boat drifted from the wall and he didn't let go and consequently dropped to his death the older brother could not get control of the boat fast enough to save him.Men in their gardens ran to get a boat and got him to the shore at the Porto Bello the St John's Ambulance members gave artificial respiration for two hours when the Dr. pronounced the lad dead.
Then in 1910 their eldest brother was struck by lightening and killed on his way home from Preaching.  He was only 23. Their father was an Evangelist preacher with the Railway Mission
All together a very interesting branch
Many thanks for your interest and help
Da borch chi

[hanes teulu]

Just read the report in the Warwick and Warwickshire Advertiser, 15 Jun 1907. So the accident didn't occur at the landing stage but " ... when they reached the canal aqueduct ..." - which was where?

The report includes the inquest but the report seems to end somewhat abruptly.

cofion cynnes

[cath151]

Think it was possibly Avon Aqueduct which carries the Napton Canal over the Avon behind the "new" Tesco off Emscote Road.

Cathy

[hanes teulu]

Cath - thanks

Just read the coroner's inquest in the Leamington Spa Courier, 21 June 1907. Every effort was made but to no avail.

[Trees]

As I read it the accident happened under the Grand Union canal viaduct (its shown on your map Hanes) and the boy was worked on on the landing stage at the Porto Bello, his body was retrieved by a railway man who had been in his garden on the Emscote bank and resuscitation was attempted by members of the St John's Ambulance. The best reports were in the Leamington Spa Courier for  14 June 1907 and the inquest  in the same paper for 21 June 1907
oops sorry I see that was the inquest one you read. The 14th  June one named five men who tried to rescue him.
The death of the oldest brother is in Leamington Spa Courier 25 February 1910
Leamington man killed by lightening

[hanes teulu]

I'd read the Coroner's report on the 1910 death.
Two tragedies but reported in detail. Adds so much to the usual census/birth/marriage/death info that's available.

[Mansl]

In the 1960's it was used by Pottertons Social Club (I have played darts there). Pottertons foundry stood behind it along side the Avon. The pub was demolished in the early 1970's I think and the foundry a long time after and Avonside Medical Center is there now where the pub was. If you google Pottertons Social Club Warwick there are some pictures on there.

Alan