High Street

Perhaps it was the door on the left of the bank? In which case, it still exists. Yes, looking at the 1914 map the left most section of the bank building was a small unit. Proviso - the building changed between those two pictures, not sure if it was rebuilt or just had a face lift.

Thanks Helen for the info. Shame I'm not there now but I happened to take this photo a few weeks ago! P.s. The Yorkshire Bank is listed as 7-11 High Street.

A man walked into the bank on the corner of the High Street and Pepper Lane, produced a gun, demanded a large sum of money. Money was handed over, the alarm was raised, the police station was quite near. About half an hour later the gunman walked into the police station and said "I'll save you some time, I just robbed the bank". The money was never recovered. 1950's time.

Here is a picture of R Gilbert & Sons, Bank Buildings, High Street, as it was referred to here, rather than 7 1/2 High Street. Maybe they had a display facade and the small unit was the shop?

Gilberts is the box on the left with a passage way to the right and behind it on the map. The dimple in the front is the door. The central passageway was behind the pillars in the photo and originally went all the way to Pepper Lane. The City Jewellers is the block to the right of the passage (another business or part of Gilberts?). A third building with a central bay window was to the right of that. I think all three became the site of the bank now.

Yes, Gilbert was called The City Jewellers in Broadgate and Burges. I went there today, around the back as well, there is hardly any depth to the building so it looks like the bank area at the back was demolished. In this first photo you can see part of the side in white.

Hi, does anybody know or remember what the colourful sign on the side of Martin's Bank in High Street was for? I remember seeing it as a child but can't remember what it was, any help would be greatly appreciated.

The Coventry Provident Building Society (a rival of the Coventry Economic Building Society) had, I'm fairly certain, an office in that building. That massive illuminated sign (neon/argon in those days) used to advertise the Prov.

Made by Moseley Neon - still operating (I believe) out of Russell Street.

You are spot on, VDBN. Their signs used to be everywhere, with a little nameplate with their name on it. Plus the mandatory red fireman's switch to the side at low level. They are now called Moseley Signs. The city centre used to look like Piccadilly (London) at night, with all the neon (and argon). It's very expensive now, and LED technology has all but replaced neon.

Thank you so much!

May be useful for the pubs thread as I know its been mentioned on there but not seen this one before recently shared on one of the Coventry Facebook pages - The Bear just before demolition in 1980ish. Today the lot where it was located is Barclays Bank.

Especially for nexusicon - (c)Larry Arnold.

Is this High St corner in the foreground?

Yes, Prof - that's Little Park Street on the extreme left