Smithford Street (inc. Ram Bridge)

I seem to remember seeing one clock on a pole in a Getty photo in the "Broadgate" thread - 1942 I think. It looks pretty lonely and I don`t know whether it was a street light or tram electric support equipment. edit No 423

Regarding the mystery object/crane at the foot of Smithford St in the early 1930's. I think this photo might answer it. It looks to be involved in development adjacent to the Co-op. I tried to post this a while back, but could not get the photo inserted.

Hi all I have a special interest in Smithford St, as my mum was surgical boot maker for Charles Ager. It was her experience gained here that enabled her to run her own shoes businesses in several parts of our city. Smithford St (You-Tube)

Could be JRL - thanks - do you know what year that photo was? I've also not noticed the 'tram' wiring above the street before. And interesting to see Philip. I also had not realised Agers started off in Smithford Street. Was No.6 at the Broadgate end?

Hi Neils Yard, I always believed that it was at the Broadgate end, but that is what I am trying to verify now if I can. Thank you.

Hi all I think that this is what I was looking for. A quote from Agers history notes--: "The much bigger shop at 6 Smithford Street came next. The city's main hotel, the King's Head adjoined and not far away was Coventry's most recent development, the railway station. The line passed within a mile of the shop and, almost incredible to modern residents - there are now more than 300,000 of them - cattle grazed in the field between. Several craftmen worked long hours behind the shop, everything was done by hand and there was a Spring-time rush when Coventry children traditionally had new outfits for the Great Combined Sunday Schools procession." Charles Ager History The picture that greeted my mum, like so many Coventry workers after the bombing. She had her own shop at this point in time, very close by, which was also smashed to smithereens. Traders did pull together both before & after the war. They were not all cut-throat. She bought shoes for Agers, as well as her own shop. Even after I arrived, I recall my mum driving to Clarks in Somerset & returning with stock for both hers & Agers shops.

I'm pretty sure it's 1931 to 32, and that seems to match in with the traffic around.

Just seen this on the True Coventrian Facebook page. Taken from a slightly different angle the post looks closer to this end of the road and in the centre so it could be something to do with the trams. I read something the other day that said the tram down Smithford Street stopped running in 1932 so would be about that date.

As asked of Heathite, looking from the Precinct to Broadgate (with the Peeping Tom clock on your right) could it be the Coventry coat of arms with the elephant atop the pole. Can't remember the bus stop no.1 or 7 Stoke Heath or Sewall Highway

Any thoughts on the location of this plaque (between the 3 & BHS shops) for the Theatre Royal in Smithford Street? Where it is sited I estimate to be the middle of the City Arcade frontage. To the left of the arcade was Woolworth, to the left of that was the Theatre Vaults pub, with the Theatre Royal behind the pub accessed by a passageway?

Keep it up - it`s getting closer to the Elephant stick!!!!!

Could this be the unknown object again? - top rhd corner Enlarged as best I can

I can't actually spot the mystery pole but I did notice that both buses had a sun roof, a feature fitted to several buses just before the war. Maybe when the top deck was full of smokers it was a necessity.

OK, does this scan help...? I've found the original postcard and scanned that bit in at 2400 DPI. I now reckon it's simply a street-light (perhaps a double one?) looked at side-on - wot'cha reckon?