In 1986, Cyril Hobbins volunteered to restore the vandal wrecked, Tumbledown Stile (also known as a clattergate or clappergate stile). More of the restoration later.
The stile was once in place across the narrow entrance to the Abbey Gatehouse, next to a larger field gate, which closed-off the wider cart entrance. (see photo below.)
Stile just visable behind the man 1860s, courtesy of Warwickshire County Records Office.
ref. PH 652/1/113 img 7093
Cyril remembers as wicked Kenilworth kids, he and his mates would take unsuspecting visitors to go over the stile first, it would then collapse, with a loud clatter as they tumbled to the ground, it was great fun! Cyril also said, that the heavy hammer-shaped end pieces, could be used to crack nuts.
Other Tumbledown Stiles
Kenilworth’s stile, is one of only a few that still survive, the nearest is at Charlecote, located close to the Charlecote Garden Centre in the village. This is on the opposite side of the road to entrance of Charlecote Park. It’s a modern replacement, which doesn’t operate correctly. But at least it’s still there.
The Charlecote Stile – Both old (early 1900s) and present day (2022)
According to the Hungerford Virual Museum, there are less than 16 remaining in the country. A photo of the Kenilworth stile (and Cyril) are recorded on their website (in the street furniture/tumble stile section), together with the other remaining stiles from around the country.
https://www.hungerfordvirtualmuseum.co.uk/?view=article&id=877:tumble-stile&catid=8
This cleverly designed stile, kept farm animals from straying into St. Nicholas churchyard, which containing poisonous yews trees. The stile closed automatically, so was more efficient than a standard hinged-gate. The loud clatter could also warn-off intruders in a situation close to a farmhouse or cottage.
How Old is the Stile?
The stile’s age, and condition, has been a topic of conversation for a very long time. For example, a report appeared in the Kenilworth Advertiser, on 24th August 1918, stating;
‘This valuable old relic of by-gone days, which is under the archway of the ‘Tantara’ ruins, still remains in such a condition, that it positively invites a mischievous youngster to complete its destruction and in these times of fuel shortages, take home the remains. We called attention a few weeks ago to the fact that the slotted post was needed to be put into thorough repair but evidently no value is attached to this unique piece of work’.
But with no local History Society around in those days to care for it, plus the Kenilworth Urban District Council (KUDC) not seemingly interested, it looked like the stile was doomed. But somehow it has survived.
Before its restoration, the stile had been in situ for well over 100 years, If the Victorian photo at the top of this page is anything to go by, the stile is probably more than 160-years-old. But no one really knows its full age. Maybe dendro dating could establish an approximate age?
Vandalised – 1973
In late February 1973, due to concerns about the condition of the gate, the Kenilworth History & Archaeology Society, wrote to the KUDC suggesting that members of their Society remove and restore it. They also suggested it should be resited in a position where it could be seen, and operated without danger or misuse. But there were delays in granting permission, due to questions of ownership. The Parks & Cemetery Committee, finally granted permission but sadly, only a few weeks before it had been vandalised on the 16th June. Unfortunately during this period, the Society was deeply committed to work at Little Virginia, so the stile wasn’t retrieved before the vandalism occured. The remaining parts were salvaged, and placed in the ‘Barn’. And there the shattered stile lay, for more than a decade ……….
The Restoration – 1986
To restore it, Cyril had to source good old but sound oak fence posts from the local council, it took almost a month of spare time, to splice bits together, and to get it fully functioning again. Because the bottoms of the posts had rotted, they could never go in the ground again; so he devised the ‘low castored truck’, so the whole contraption could be hauled back into its original place, if required.
There is no doubt, that if Cyril had not stepped in to rescue the stile when he did, then it could have disappeared forever. It could never have been put back in situ at the gatehouse. There it would certainly have been vandalised again, then what? So, ‘Nice One Cyril’
Present Day
Abbey Museum & Heritage Centre – Abbey Fields
The restored stile, is kept on the upper floor of the Abbey Museum & Heritage Centre (The ‘Barn’), in the Abbey Fields, which is open during Bank Holidays and Sunday afternoons, from Easter to September. The custodians of ‘Barn’ are the Kenilworth History & Archaeology Society.
Look closely at the 1986 photograph, you will see a much younger version of Cyril. This was on the day that he handed it back. I wonder how many locals remember it, and whether they too had fun with it?
Cyril Hobbins died in September 2025, aged 87.
