Street / road names and their origins

Another one that may not be so well known is Triumph Close which is off Harry Rose Rd. We also have Ordnance Road which is a reminder that it was once at the entrance to the Coventry Ordnance Works.

Alfred Herbert Close ( a new one to me, newish housing off Blackberry Lane at the back of Nuffield Rd). Stadium Close sits on the site of the old greyhound racing and speedway stadium at Foleshill. The 1960's housing estate was always known as the Stadium Estate.

Electric Wharf and Cable Yard are a recent housing development on the site of the East Midlands Electricity Board (EMEB) premises off Sandy Lane.

Not Local, I worked there when it was the EMEB !

There are are far more road names commemorating famous Coventry companies and people than we at first think. Some obvious ones: Cash's Lane - Silk weaving Rotherham Rd - Watch making Starley Rd - Bicycle manufacture A bit more obscure: Hotchkiss Way in Binley Industrial Estate - the armaments industry

I am surprised not to see Standard avenue listed ?

post 85

Mentioned in the "Old Coventry Firms" thread. Lant Close

Growing up in Canley, I travelled many of the local roads on my bike, but never took any notice of the names. There are John Rous Avenue. John Rous was a Chantry Priest of Guys Cliffe Sheriff Avenue Mayors Croft Charter Avenue Sir William Lyons Road Sir Henry Parkes Road Queen Margaret's Road There is also a Henry Boteler Road, but I cannot find a Coventry connection to him?

It is good to identify and recognise the origins of the roads and streets within Coventry. It is equally important for us, the generations who know what a Hillman or a Standard were, to pass that information on to the younger generations who otherwise will live and work in those same streets without any knowledge of why they were so named. Like Mick I travelled along the city's streets without taking any notice of the street names beyond finding a particular street or address. There are dozens of 'new build' streets around the city and mostly I don't have a clue why they are so named or who the people are when the street name is clearly someone's name. In Bedworth we have just renamed part of the ring road as 'Sergeant Simon Valentine Way' to commemorate the memory of a brave young soldier who gave his life for his country in far off Afghanistan. Everybody in Bedworth now knows that but future generations will need some explanation, assuming of course that they ask.

Does anyone know , where Sewall Highway came from? Also, why it was not completed until the mid 1950's. The bit between Dennis Road and BlackBerry lane. Where we lived 321, half way between the Devon and Dennis Road, was built about 1937 , I believe?

Slash, a couple of articles in the CET - In the 1930's the main road through the Wyken Grange Estate was to be termed Sewall Avenue. In the mediaeval tines the road from Coventry to Walsgrave was known as Sewall Pavement, and this title was to remain. It is thought to be named after the ancient Sewall family . Sewall Pavement was believed to be constructed to commemorate the mayoralty of Mr Henry Sewall. When the Americans arrived in Coventry in November 1941 a batch of donations was received and amongst them was one from Mr Loyal F Sewall. The town clerk Mr Smith told them that they were now in the city in which Mr Sewall's ancestor Henry Sewall was mayor in 1587, the time in which the country was awaiting the Spanish Armada. Henry Sewall was mayor when the Armada tried to deal with England but they were scattered before they reached the coast. I hope that will happen to our other "friends" declared the town clerk. There is another long article in the CET about the family and members who went to America , but this link tells you a bit more about him Henry Sewall

Sorry Mods, guilty as usual of only reading and writing part of an article. It just says it was a group of young American Army Officers. They seem to be welcomed and shown around the City by the mayor but it doesn't say if it was an official visit.