Coombe Abbey - Then and Now

This page shows all the Illustrations from the main chapters (plus a few others), and alongside each historic view is a modern photo from (as near as practical) the same viewpoint. By default, the page opens so that a pair of illustrations fits across the window. Use the drop down box below to select a different scale to suit your needs. In particular choose a size suitable for printing on the paper size and margin settings you use - drop down menu suggests likely "best" setting, but go up or down a step if that is better for your needs, or use "Fit 2" setting and adjust your window width to meet your exact requirements. Note that this page may take a long time to load the first time you try - if you have a slow modem you may have to refresh before all pictures are seen. On later attempts it should be much quicker, because the pictures will already be in your cache/temporary internet files folder. Be patient - I hope you find the wait worth while.

"Then"	"Now"
CHAPTER HOUSE DOORWAY : 1961	CHAPTER HOUSE DOORWAY : 2003 Note: A new cloister has now been constructed in front of the 12c wall. This is a composite picture of a wide-angle view from just inside the outer wall, and a view from further back.
SOUTHERN ASPECT : MID SEVENTEENTH CENTURY Drawn and engraved by Daniel King and published in 1656	SOUTHERN ASPECT : Nov-2003
COOMBE ABBEY : WEST FRONT 1684	WESTERN ASPECT : Dec-2003
NORTHERN ASPECT : 1684 William Winde's drawing for the new north-west wing (right) of Combe Abbey, c. 1684	NORTHERN ASPECT : Jan-2004 Peter Page panoramiic photo, but with geometry adjusted to show building at constant height
VIEW OF COMBE FROM THE NORTH WEST BY L. KNYFF AND J. KIP : c.1700 Comb Abby in Warwickshire one of the Seats of the Rt Hon William Lord Craven Barron Craven of Hampstead Marshall in the County of Berks	AIR VIEW FROM THE WEST : 1962 Photo by D.L. Motkin : (Note how the eastern end of Coombe Pool is silted up bottom centre of photo).
SOUTHERN ASPECT : 18th CENTURY Drawn from Nature & on Stone by Brandard source John Delaney photo No 1 in Coventry City Council leaflet c.1966	SOUTHERN ASPECT : Feb-2004
VIEW FROM SOUTH-WEST : 1797 Water colour by Maria Johnston : Dated 1797. William Winde's Classical West Wing overlooks the earlier buildings.	VIEW FROM SOUTH-WEST : Feb-2004
SOUTHERN ASPECT : 1810 Drawn by Davis and engraved by J Storer	SOUTHERN ASPECT : Dec-2003
SOUTHERN ASPECT : 1860 Photo by Wingrave, half of a stereo pair held by Coventry Libraries. Reproduced by permission	SOUTHERN ASPECT : Nov-2003
NESFIELD WING : 1860s An architect's drawing for the Victorian east wing of Coombe Abbey.	NO ORDINARY HOTEL EAST WING : Feb-2004 Note that the First Floor and Watergate are retained as Nesfield built them.
SOUTHERN ASPECT : 1923, SHOWING NESFIELD'S BUILDING	SOUTHERN ASPECT - Oct-2003, SHOWING NO ORDINARY HOTEL
EASTERN ASPECT : 1923, SHOWING NESFIELD'S BUILDING	EASTERN ASPECT : Dec-2003, SHOWING NO ORDINARY HOTEL
GATEWAY FROM BINLEY-BRINKLOW ROAD : 1960	RELOCATED GRIFFIN GATE : Feb-2004
SOUTHERN ASPECT : 1961	SOUTHERN ASPECT : Nov-2003
NESFIELD'S WESTERN GARDENS AND MOAT : 1961	NESFIELD'S WESTERN GARDENS AND MOAT : Nov-2003
COOMBE ABBEY : WEST FRONT 1961	COOMBE ABBEY : WEST FRONT Nov-2003