Styvechale or Stivichall?

[dutchman]

Styvechale or Stivichall? That is the question.

The spelling of one of Coventry’s most sought-after residential areas has long been the subject of debate.

Bus company National Express is hoping to settle the issue by letting the public to decide which of the two alternatives it will use on the buses.

National Express says the need for a decision has become apparent as it invests £3.5 million on a fleet of 23 new buses. Eight of these will display the public’s favourite version on the number 9 and 9a buses.

According to Wikipedia, the Styvechale variant is often deemed more aesthetically pleasing and is said to be ‘‘in fitting with the Olde English tradition of the district’s name’’.

It is thought that the name comes from the old English word ‘styfic’, meaning ‘tree stumps’ and ‘healh’, meaning ‘nook’ or ‘corner’.

Since 1945 the Stivichall version has been the official spelling shown on most road signs and the primary school also uses this version.

But a local post office uses the ‘y’ version as does the Styvechale Grange Residents Association.

One road is known as Styvechale Avenue, although another is Stivichall Croft. A local pub is called the Styvechale Arms.

Jack Kelly, National Express spokesman, said: “We asked some of two of our employees to decide what spelling they deemed most appropriate and they came back with the two different versions.

“We’re curious to know how the majority of people spell the area and use that version on our buses.

“It’s a fun way to get people involved - the two versions are both valid and there is no wrong answer for either one.”

The area was once owned largely by one family who lived at the Stivichall Estate from the 16th century until the early part of the 20th century when it was bought by the old Coventry Corporation.

The estate passed into the hands of the Gregory family, starting with Thomas Gregory, a lawyer who arrived in Coventry in 1529 to take up the post of town clerk.

When the last of the Gregorys died and the land passed to a cousin, Alexander Gregory-Hood.

Stivichall Hall itself was demolished after the Second World War and the grounds and estate were built over in the 1960s.

[dutchman]

Public chose Styvechale spelling to use on Coventry buses

Styvechale has won our public vote as the city’s favourite spelling of the Coventry area.

The spelling of the residential area has been the subject of debate for decades and bus company National Express wanted to settle the issue by letting the public decide which version they preferred – Styvechale or Stivichall.

The Telegraph found a whopping 84 per cent preferred Styvechale compared to 16 per cent for Stivichall after launching the vote last week.

Jack Kelly, National Express spokesman, said: “We are delighted that Telegraph readers have voted in such numbers and have decisively chosen a winner.

“At the start we didn’t know which would come out on top but it became very clear early in the voting that Styvechale was the most popular.