Former resident John Winterburn was prompted to send in the sepia shot of his relatives by the recent furore over the future over changes to the farm – believed to be the town's oldest building.

The picture dates from around 1900 and shows the farm's then owner, a man named Reading, posing proudly with his wife Sarah and children.

Mr Winterburn said: "He looks like a typical Victorian pater familias."
The family may have somewhat stern countenances but Mr Winterburn believes this was part of the ethos of the period.

Hard graft was part of life, and he believes most of the children would have worked on the farm from an early age.

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The mother of the family Sarah Reading was the sister of Mr Winterburn's grandmother, who told him Mr Reading had a curious – and thrifty – notion of schooling.

Mr Winterburn explained: "He would pay for some of the boys to go for private education a term at a time, taking turns.

"It seems ridiculous now but times were different."
He also recalls the two daughters later emigrated – one to Canada and one to Australia, while one of the sons later became a hairdresser in Birmingham.

Call the newsroom on 457720 if you have historic pictures and unusual stories of Warwickshire relatives.