Smithford Street (inc. Ram Bridge)

Rob, that 1807 map is magnificent, and one can see how the city developed with White Street, Ford Street, Fairfax Street to come later. Really interesting, Thank you!

Thank you so much Prof, you're very kind. I've always found maps fascinating from a young age, and I love the way they pull so many aspects of our city together geographically and historically.

Prof, you should remember the photo on 226, the tatty eyesore scene was there for over twenty years.

In those distant days it seemed to take a considerable time for the development of the Precinct. Around 1955 they seemed to be making progress then it seemed to stop - two shops down from Woolworth's new shop on the one side, on the other the Leofric was built and open, but from there down were heaps of rubble and derelict buildings, held in by a wire fence. Then the wire was replaced by wooden hoarding - was it because diplomats from other countries were to visit? Then M&S was built, and time went by. I believe the pub mentioned was dingy, tatty and had waterlogged basements, as did other shops in the lower half of the Precinct. But no one was going to waste money on them - they should have been bulldozed and made safe.

Here's the demolition of the building Anne showed us in post 197 - the clipping that Anne had stated this was 1934

More sadness!

How do my old photo's seem to end up on here, before I've even had chance to finish posting them everywhere for all to see myself? I've even got Facebook users "CAROLINE WRIGHT" and "STEVE QUINN" etc. copying and posting them elsewhere!!! I honestly don't mind them or anyone else doing it, just as long as I am credited for the photo belonging to my own personal collection! ("ANNOYANCE" & "FRUSTRATION" ended then!). From now on though, I think I shall either have to put a "DO NOT COPY" over the front of them (which obviously will spoil the look of the photo?), or just not bother to post any old photo's altogether, which would be a shame to every innocent party on here (and beyond), as there are still plenty more to see and I do enjoy reading the comments and any feedback full stop that I get back from them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is a problem and I understand your frustration. I try to link to wherever I find pictures and don't upload them. Often I advise people to visit the link if I think the picture belongs to the person who hosts them and don't display the picture at all. I sometimes end up writing a confusing screed about a picture I haven't shown. At least if we publish a link then the owner can trace them back and object to the original posting. The disadvantage for future readers is that pictures might then be removed and the link here vanishes leaving a gap. Tough. You have an absolute right to control your pictures, which is why I also advise people to enjoy linked pictures while they can. The problem of an image being copied many times is that it's hard to work out who is the originator. The problem of being pipped to posting the image, I'm probably guilty of that. Neil, I and several others are on permanent trawl for new pictures. Sorry if I've trodden on your toes.

You're OK Helen F and not a problem, it's just that it's so frustrating at times, but I guess it's inevitable for these things to happen from time to time? Anyway, not to worry hey!!!!!! Xxx

Thanks CKV.

CKV - I tend to highlight images on here from Facebook as not many Historic Coventry members have access or use FB. The very nature of the internet is that is it open-world so sharing is really how the web works in effect. Apols if you say this was your image though I have to say I have seen it before on several other sites some time ago and even in a book. The two users you mention are not on here.

Personally the pictures I post, I hope a million people download them and put them on a million websites to ensure they continue to exist for the knowledge of future generations. No website is safe from the owner shutting down, hacking, viruses etc. so the more places a picture is on the longer it will exist. And there is the concept of when history is erased the bad things will be repeated. The fact that people are unhappy about past destruction by the council and it is well known that people are unhappy because of the internet may mean the difference between, for example, Spon Street being demolished to build student flats and Spon Street being preserved. I hope Spon Street is safe forever, but after everything the council has done in the past I don't think for one second it is guaranteed. So keep the knowledge alive as much as possible.

I absolutely agree Osmiroid, the internet at its best is a great way to keep our history "out there" for all to see and appreciate. I do, however, feel that it is bad manners / lazy / fraudulent (delete as appropriate!) to not credit the source of the image. If someone, for instance, on Facebook has gone to the trouble of copying a photo from, for instance, our forum, it shouldn't be much extra trouble to type a brief credit along the lines of "Image by thingy from the Historic Coventry Forum" (and preferably a link back to the page where it belongs). This would not only be more polite, but would also alert Facebook members to our site and many thousands of other images that they probably weren't aware of. I've personally found many of my own photos & postcard images on Facebook - almost none with a link or credit. You can tell from the responses, like "Great picture, where is it?" (only usually far less literate with no punctuation on FB!) - that nobody looking had a clue where the image came from. It's kind of flattering, but frustrating at the same time. Whereas if they'd have been supplied with a link, they could visit our forum and learn all about it from our fabulous membership!

I'd be nowhere if the images weren't online. Three cheers for all those willing to share their collections.

I have sent a few our way with a link or two to here, Rob