History of 'The CHACE'
Dr Charles Webb Iliffe 1844-1921

Charles Webb Iliffe was christened on the 4th December 1843 at St Michael's church Coventry, the son of Charles who made his living working as a Master Draper in Coventry, with a Joseph Hands, a ribbon manufacturer.

Charles married Mary Ann [Nee Soden] in the same church on the 7th July 1829. The family had close connections with many of the leading city dignitaries, including two that were former Lord Mayors, Mr Thomas and Mr Henry Soden. 

In 1863 his elder brother Robert and wife Elizabeth both died, lost at sea.

Charles Webb attended Coventry Grammar School before going on to Oxford, and then studying medicine at Middlesex Hospital. After qualifying he made a three-year tour of Canada, North & West British Columbia, California and South America. He enjoyed sport in the Rockies where he learnt native languages from the American Indians.

On his return to Coventry and in 1866 began practicing whilst living in Warwick Row Coventry. After working his way up through the profession, he was appointed Deputy Coroner for Warwick [Northern District] in 1882, and moved to the larger property of the 'Park House' Warwick Road in 1890. He married Mary Ann in Birmingham, December 1869.

During the many years as County Coroner his conduct in court was well known, sympathy in cases which required it, but scathing criticism in cases of contributory neglect. Having spent his childhood in the countryside he looked for a place to build a large county manor for his home and a place to entertain his many guests.

Not too far away from Coventry or Warwick, land just above the river Sowe at Willenhall, on the main Turnpike road from London, part of the lands owed by James Wyatt Esq. fitted these requirements. Sir Richard Lee owned the land after the reformation, instituted by King Henry V111 with the dissolution of the Monasteries. After passing into the hands of several other wealthy landowners, it passed to the Duke of Montague in 1534.

James Wyatt sold the land in 1809. The 'Chace' was built in a gabled half-timbered style in 1897, as the county home of Doctor Charles Webb Iliffe and was used on many occasions to accommodate his many hunting friends and their staff. Fox hunting took place regularly and there are many drawings of this period showing this taking place locally.

In 1899 he retired from his medical practice to concentrate on Municipal services and became firmly seated in the Council to the extent that the Liberals did not oppose him in the 1910 elections for St Mary's Ward due the huge majority he held in past elections. Dr Iliffe held the position of Medical Officer to the Coventry Rural District Council since its forming, and worked tirelessly for the poor of the city as Medical Officer for the Workhouse and on the Board of Guardians. With the help of Thomas Soden and Webb Fowler, he formed the 'Coventry Public Medical Service', which made health care available to those earning less than £2 per week for a contribution of just 1d.

In 1900 his address was noted incorrectly in the Kelly's Directory as 'The Grange' Willenhall. He is remembered locally for driving his governess cart drawn by a white pony. Many also remember his blunt but jovial character. Widely known for his expert eye for judging horses, he officiated at most of the important competitions, including the annual Warwickshire Agricultural Society's show.

During his long life he was actively involving in the business community and became Chairman of S. & B. Gorton, cycle-manufacturer. He also acquired lands in St Michael's Parish, Gosford Green, and the Stoke Green areas of Coventry, collecting tithe rent charges periodically.

For forty years he served the County as Coroner and later as a Justice of the Peace.Charles Webb Iliffe died at his residence 'The Woodlands', Kenilworth Road on the 1st March 1921, after a short illness, and was buried in the family grave in Old London Road Cemetery Coventry on the, 9th March 1921. His son Charles Walter succeeded him immediately and remained coroner until his death in 1964.

The 'Chace' built by C.W. Iliffe became in 1930 an independently run hotel, after being purchased and renovated by Gertrude Patience Williams and Mr Hartop of Leicester.

A planning application for an extension was submitted to the 'Foleshill Rural District Council' in April 1932, but this was not granted until May of 1932, after Willenhall became part of Coventry City Council, with the boundary changes of that year. About the same period [1932] Mrs William's 15-year-old niece, Ethel May Richards came to live with her aunty, until she married Edward Bloomfield [later Chief Inspector of Coventry Police] on the 20th October 1934 at St Michael's Yardley. Mrs Williams remained the licensee of the 'Chace' until her death in 1967, when her son Alfred Eric Williams took over the running of the hotel for the next two years.

The hotel was refurbished and reopened in 1969 as 'The Crest Hotel', with an extra block of bedrooms being added in 1972. A further renovation in 1987 saw the addition of a business centre and the hotel being renamed back to its original name of 'The Chace'. The present hotel is owned by Corus Hotels, and is a pleasant mixture of much of the original old timbered building and modern extensions containing 66 bedrooms with all the modern amenities, such as conference facilities and ample parking.

The hotel follows the tradition of Willenhall warmly welcoming travelers, which can be traced back prior to the first Turnpiked roads of 1750 from London to Holyhead and the Crown Inn, which stood not many metres away at the corner of the London Road and St James Lane. The name Willenhall derives from the Anglo-Saxon name of 'Winnall', which appear to have to similar meanings; 'Willow Corner', from Welegn =Willow, + Hale = Corner, or 'Small valley where willows grow' = Willgen + Hath. The first mention of the name appears in a deed of Gregory of Stivichall [DR10/258] dated 1183. In which protection is given to the chapel of Wilenhala [Willenhall] by the bishop of Coventry.