Gosford Street

I was recently told this picture is of shops my mum's uncles had in Gosford St on the east side of the road near where the Ring Road flyover now passes. I am not sure as I always thought that most of that side of the family lived in Rugby and the 1901 census records a George Andrews, Hairdresser, living in 21 William St, Rugby (it's just off Railway Terrace). It looks to me like it was taken sometime between 1900 and 1930. Anyone have any idea?

It's not impossible that this could be the Gosford area but it doesn't match anything I have for Gosford Street itself. There are a few blanks in my record but the styling of the building doesn't quite fit. If this is on an east side, it might be one of the courts, as Gosford Street has north and south sides as it runs east, west. If anyone can find a house number for it, I might be able to match it but I think your suspicion it might be Rugby could be right. There was a hairdressers at number 16, roughly where the ring road is but this isn't that building.

Running on from richu's query, which might be aided by those with access to records. On 6th Dec 1871 there was a murder in Gosford Street (see David McGrory book Foul Deed & Suspicious Deaths in Coventry) and there is a picture of the murder scene from a contemporary Penny Dreadful. The murder was outside an umbrella repair shop with what looks like the name Chamberlain. The name of the victim was John Millward who lived in a court with an entrance next door to the shop. Does anyone have access to census or directory that might help me work out which court/shop this was? Thanks in advance - even if you can't help.

Dear Helen F, We have an 1874 Coventry Directory and there was a T Chamberlain umbrella maker at no 47 Gosford Street. If the street numbering is correct then living at no 45 would have been William Webb, fitter or at no 49 John Henry Shilcock of the Fox and Vivian tavern. Hope that this helps you with your research. Victoria Coventry Archives.

That's excellent, thanks just what I needed to know! The poor man was going to be taken to the Fox and Vivian but he was too gravely injured. This identifies the building in the sketch and it's quite useful. The court behind the man is emerging from is number 19. It has no name on the Board of Health and had been demolished and turned into a low factory by the time aerial photography captured the area. I only have very angled photo view of the front of the building and one decent Bunney painting but even in that the lower walls had been boarded up.

Here's a page from the 1874 directory.

A possibility for G ANDREWS in Rugby 1896?

Thanks Heathite. The murderer was called Arthur Brown. The first witness was David Brown from number 86 on the other side of the road and they called a Dr Brown to care for Millward. Although his treatment consisted of a brandy. It would have been better poured on the wound. Have you got anything on Andrews hairdresser and/or tobacconist to help out our new member richu? You have

I think Railway Terrace hooks onto Church Street in Rugby. Also on the 1911 census there is a George Thomas ANDREWS, born 1872 Hillmorton, a hairdresser. His wife, Rose Fanny, born 1870 Buckthorne Yorkshire. Their address is 17 Gosford Street. George's father was born 1847, Suffolk, and he is a gardener, his wife - Emma born 1849 Princethorpe. Their address - in 1881 is 26 Cambridge Street Rugby. Seems to be correct. Spennell's 1912, everyone should download this - it's free.

North St runs into Church St then Clifton Rd. No 42 Church St is just before the corner of Gas St. Just before Railway Terrace. Sorry Heathite but that does not show up well on a map or Google. No offence intended.

No worries, corrections are good and constructive/instructive 1921 Coventry directory page 146 & 147, showing most of Gosford Street;

So thanks to Heathite we know that there was a hairdresser on the north side of Gosford Street at number 17. My image is dated 1916 and doesn't look like the old photo. It's an updated medieval building with different door positions. The one to the right of it is closer in appearance but is only a single property. To see an image - there is a copy in Sydney Bunney's Coventry - impressions of a graceful city. It's about half way through the book at Gosford Street. Bottom right on the left hand page. The photo looks more like those I've seen from the 18 hundreds.

Hi, I've looked at census records and deaths of John MILLWARD in 1871. John MILLWARD born 1853 buried 1871 Dec 11th London Road. Census 1861 living court 2, 6 Brickkiln Lane (Gulson Road?) age 8. Census 1871 living 19 court 11 Gosford Street age 18, he was born in Yorkshire. I don't claim to understand the house numbering system but '19 court 11' comes after 45 Gosford Street in the census listing (original doc). So does '19 court 11' mean court 19, and house number 11 in the court? To be pedantic I'm guessing - 19 is the court and 11 is the house number.