Boot and Shoe Repair Shops

Herbert's Lad, by the time that photo was taken all the houses at the southern end of Whitefriars Street had long been demolished while Brandish's showroom was extended and much altered compared to how you remember it. I had metal studs put in my shoes by that shop for a camping trip in 1965 so the picture must have been taken after that date.

There used to be a "Cobblers" shoe repair shop on the Foleshill Road almost opposite Elmsdale Avenue. The owner was, I believe, Mr Roberts. I do remember the lovely smell when entering the shop. The shop was next door to a small house where a good friend and classmate of mine lived. Does anyone else remember Mr Roberts, his shoe repair shop was two doors away from Mr Aubrey the barber.

Does anyone remember the Gibney, directly opposite the East window of St John's Church? Next door was the Catholic Repository, with statues, rosaries and other religious items, presumably much used by the worshippers at St Osburg's Church at the top of Hill Street, and possibly also the High Church members of St John's Church too.

Prof. If you enter "Gibney" into the search box, it will bring up some previous posts relating to the subject

Thank you Midland Red!

Here you go Prof - I know we've mentioned Gibney's before as they were on West Orchard prior but here's the factory in Hill Street.

Thanks Neil, and just as I remember it - though I can't see the RC repository (religious items) which I felt sure was next to it. Was not it a temporary shop as I recall. What is the large factory and chimney behind?

Leigh Mills Prof

Of course, thank you! How could I forget?

Heathite - sorry to bother again but can you see an H (Henry) Turner, Boot and Shoe Maker, listed in Spon Street at all?

I normally have zero success with directories but I have found an H Turner at 163 Spon Street in 1914. This is the back of 163. There are pictures of the front and plans because this one was dismantled and recorded.

Good find Helen, I haven't gone back that far yet but here's my offering.

It's a fluke Heathite. Normally I get nothing.

163 is at the very right of this image. It was possibly a jettied building originally that had the jetty removed, the front roof flattened (with slates rather than tiles because they needed less pitch) and a modern front added. It's hard to tell the age because poor Coventry continued to use timber framing quite late. The roadway/passage under the building is relatively modern. The nature of timber framing was such that entire rooms could be removed without damaging the upper floors. Originally there would have been few roads through to the backs because apart from coaching inns, there was no need for them. Everything went through the front and back doors, including animals. Because this was surveyed, there may be a lot more information out there.

Brill. Thanks Helen / Heathite - so was it the Bablake Wine Lodge one or the Lucas Taberer garage one?