Hertford Street

If that picture were taken today, there would be an official investigation following an Unusual Incident Report. There is a policeman on duty in public.

In fact I see TWO!

There's more than two. Can't you see the plain clothes policemen? Actually, I'd only seen one till you said two - and the one I'd missed was the closest one to the camera! Old age, eh!

MR, you're still a youngster yet. Even now you have memories of policeman on the street.

The current work outside the post office has uncovered the foundations for the buildings that were on the east side of Hertford Street. Together with the concrete foundation for the steps up to the cinema? Peter.

Thanks for those photos. Up near Broadgate they might even find the foundations of buildings that came before Hertford Street. There were several substantial buildings and long courts that were removed to build the road. Anything in brick is likely to be Hertford Street but the area was wealthy so it's not impossible that there were brick structures before the road was built. Any stone foundations are probably pre Hertford Street. The land is possibly littered with demolition rubble.

What are they actually doing there Peter?

In 1812 Hertford Street was formed under an Act of Parliament. In 1820 there were about 21,000 people in Coventry. On the corner of Hertford Street and Smithford Street was Ladbury, linen maker, then an engraving showed a tradesman looking out at a couple kissing in the passage under Peeping Tom, adjoining the Kings Head, kept by Thomas Sharpe, Down by the Red Lion in 1824 there had been a peep show, showing the murder of Mr Weare, the brother of Alderman Weare of Cross Cheaping, which the Mayor ordered out of town. Adams riders' show were in the Bull and Anchor yard, Batty's circus stood on waste ground in Union Street. The Marquis of Hertford leased the Cheylesmore Estate in 1788 for 31 years from the Crown, but it was said he won it from Prince George in a gambling 'stake' but it has no proof, but he did buy it. In 1850 on the site of the old Corn Exchange that stood between Hertford Street and Vicar Lane several houses and stables were built, the owner was one of the first to introduce large coaches as a sort of taxis in Coventry.

I'm not sure, but I think it is the completion of the "Public Realm" works associated with the removal of the Nationwide. They are installing new tubes and junction boxes for electric power lines (Western Power were on site today) and possibly phone/data as well. They have a pile of manhole covers so I presume there will be access points for pop-up stalls to plug themselves in. Hopefully the whole area will be re-surfaced as it was in a poor state before and is even worse now. The trenches are less than a metre deep so not much chance of seeing anything pre-Hertford Street. Peter.

The Public Realm 'Vision' is described here. It seems they can't resist adding water features at every opportunity.

Another cracker from my friend Cliff Berwick - dated 1907. Coventry Ribbon House anyone?

A nice view around the turn of 1900 of the upper part. Note the clock of the newspaper offices.

Yes the clock survived, and up to the Empire, from the bombing, although where the white pole was opposite took a direct hit and a lot of fire.

This colourised image has just appeared on FB with the Blitz anniversary and I have just realised it's Hertford St. You can just see the Post Office building on the left - the stonework and that section is still there today -

Building next door to the Empire perhaps?