Priory Row

I was contacted the other day by a family friend who I have known for most of my life (we used to go on Cornwall Holidays together) who knew I was interested in Coventry History. This photograph had turned up in another relative of hers loft who told her it had been in the family for years and came in an envelope with her Grandmothers name written on it - but they had no idea who/where or why. She thought she would ask me if I knew who might know - but I recognised it straight away! We've had conversations about it before - thanks to this post and others on the forum. I don't think we've ever confirmed though why so many gatherings/presentations appear to have taken place and have been photographed behind number 11? For the record in relation to this one - Their family name is Mohan - which I've always found interesting as there are many Asian families with this surname but they were a large Irish family living in Earlsdon. When I was little in the 70s Earlsdon was always known for having a large Irish community (My Grandparents lived in Newcombe Road - the McMullan's). There is another image which came with this one but it's of another group in a field with nothing more to identify, so think it might be Ireland as it is labelled "United Irish League of Great Britain 1912, so not sure if that is any connection to this Priory Row one. I know they were a Nationalist party.

Does anyone have an idea of a date for this photo?

Hi Linda The lady who passed them on to me thought it was circa 1920 but I suspect it's earlier. The other pic mentioned was dated 1912 so perhaps just before then?

Articles in the newspapers call it the Priory Row Assembly Rooms, Neil. The first mention I can find sounds not to be missed ! Coventry shorthand writers Association held one of their successful socials. The property was put up for auction in 1936, owned at the time by the Coventry Benevolent Burial Collection Society. It failed to be sold at the auction but was later bought by a private purchaser who was going to turn it into offices while preserving the character of the building. There was 6 rooms and a bathroom on the top floor and the assembly room measured 37ft x 16ft with stables at the rear. It was sited on the burial grounds of the old Benedictine Priory, built in 1740, and passed through several owners until it was bought in 1826 by Dr Nathaniel Troughton. The extensive wine cellars were separated in 1878.

Another group image from No.11 -

The Coventry Graphic has loads of group photos, many of them from the back of no 11. Before 1914 there were some good sketches of bits of the city but they dry up during the First World War. After that there were a lot of shots of soldiers in their groups. Pals?

From an article (here) about the Bird Family, the information that the Priory Row house was built by a Mr David Wells. The article suggests that he was the builder but elsewhere here Mr Wells was deemed to be the owner of Briscoe's House (as it was called in 1727). So not one of the Bird brothers. Here is the article it referred to. It indicates that it was already complete in 1721.

Part of the evidence that the house had been built for David Wells a vintner was that vines were incorporated into the fence at the front.