Burges and Cross Cheaping

I notice the difference in the clocks above Samuel's Anne, your pic dated in the 20's and then MR's also above Samuel's dated 1937 although in the square casing. Great pics, folks

It's possibly an early Morgan, the model is a "runabout". This is after consulting a few friends, past and present Morgan owners.

The Burges, also known as the bottom of Broadgate, was one of the most popular and busiest shopping streets in Coventry until 1936. It was a colourful and fascinating spectacle for a boy. I loved to browse those shop windows hungry to discover something unexpected, to press my face against sticky panes of glass and peer in through the window. There were two traditions in those days, boys left school at 14 could now wear long trousers, you had to wait until you were 21 before you were a man, and generally given a wrist watch or fob watch for a coming of age present. With our family both came from the Burges. After the war and the strikes of 26/27 only a handful of people could afford to buy watches. But in those days everything ran to time, trams, buses, shops, factories, so the clocks in the streets played a big part in people's lives. Few people had watches. Only one shop sold rubber boots that laced up and had a wide tongue, that was suitable for farm work. The cobbler's shop sold the old elastic boot laces, a little stronger than elastic bands, they were good for shooting pieces of paper in the classroom. Another shop sold the old cut-throat razors with bone handles and the leather 'strops' for them. I hated the day when I would have to use one. But time and technology was on my side. Around 1936 they built the new Trinity Street and with it lopped off half of the Burges to build the ugly Owen Owen's. From that time on the Burges lost trade and went downhill.

Here's something from the archives. Coventry Evening Telegraph 20th August 1957 Death of a Coventry Jeweller. Mr Arthur Gilbert, one of the principles of R. Gilbert & Sons Ltd., the Coventry jewellers, with premises in the Burges, has died in a Coventry nursing home at the age of 85. Mr Gilbert whose home was at 12 St Patrick's Road Coventry was the fourth son of the firm's founder, the late Mr R. Gilbert, who started the business with a shop in Dalton-in-Furness in 1861. Only one son now remains - Mr. Oliver Gilbert aged 87 who is still an active member of the firm. Active Interest. Mr Arthur Gilbert started his career as a jeweller when still a boy. He served an apprenticeship under his father and was manager of one of the northern shops before he came to Coventry in the early part of this century. He retained an active interest in the business until he was taken ill a few months ago. He was Secretary of the firm up to the time of his death. Mr Gilbert was a member of the Stoneleigh Lodge of Freemasons. The funeral service will be at Holy Trinity Church on Thursday afternoon, and internment will follow in the Stoke churchyard. Post copied from topic High Street on 1st May 2018 9:07 pm

Coventry Evening Telegraph 28th September 1964 Big haul by jewel thieves in Coventry shop raid. Thieves forced their way through three doors at the Coventry jeweller's shop of R. Gilbert and Sons Ltd., during the night and made off with a large quantity of jewellery from display cases. The shop at the bottom of the Burges was closed this morning while detectives, insurance assessors and staff took stock of the various items missing. A spokesman for the firm said is too early to give any accurate estimates of values but it is certain that a mixture of various types of jewellery worth several hundreds of pounds has been stolen. A large quantity of jewellery was stolen from Gilbert's 18 months ago when thieves sawed through iron bars in a window in the roof. This time entry was gained through the back of the premises and police believe that a break in next door at the Burges Pram Company's premises was probably also the work of the jewel thieves. "As far as we can tell nothing was taken from here," said a representative of the pram shop.

I have to say it: I would have used the pram to carry the jewellery!

This I think is the carnival coming down the Burges and it turns into Hales Street, circa 1931. That clock is a big help in recognizing the Burges.

That's R Gilbert's other shop at 21 Burges, with the clock (Just checking through this thread I saw it's already been mentioned. When I did a search for R Gilbert a few days ago there were no results)

The doorstep name is going to be there a long time. It is brass lettering in granite.

Good illustration, I've been meaning to get there myself to take a couple of pictures

Oh well spotted Heathite!

Yes Helen, it may be superfluous to say "It's been there for ages", but it has, I bet thousands of feet have crossed that thresh-hold. I've always admired the skill put into making that doorstep. Here's a better image.

This may become the most photographed spot in Coventry for a while

I remember it when it was referred to as the Bunny Run. Forgive me if this has been mentioned before.

Dreamtime, now how would you know that? LOL