Little Park Street

Don't know if he moved or they changed the house numbers but in 1945 he has placed an announcement about a lost dog at number 74 and in 1949 there is an article about sweet corn seeds he had in a delivery of frozen geese from Poland which had grown which is unusual in this country.

This is what confused me - 61 shows where the Boot shop is?

Yeah, they jiggled about with the numbering. I recon that the numbering was done before the hospital and the girl's reformatory were demolished. 62 and 61 were new buildings made up of part of the gap left by the hospital (62 old maps and the one above) and number 1 St John's Street (61 only on the new map). 74 was a 1914 new build on the site of the reformatory which would have been number 61 Little Park Street. The King's Head Inn would have been number 60. Because the reformatory was made up of several buildings (including ones on both LPS and St John's), they might have been given letters a, b, etc? So I think everything points to the south corner of LPS and St John's Street.

Hi all, a couple of images that may help.

Helpful as always Heathite I wonder what prompted them to think 'hey, I've an idea, instead of 61a Little Park Street, let's call it 74 St John's Street'? There was a lot of odd numbers around the city. 1a, 1i, etc as building plots were divided. Plus missing numbers as buildings were merged. I wonder if there was big renumbering or did it happen gradually?

You can see the St John's street side in this BFA picture Sharper view but only half of 74 visible

Kirby House and the Bird family are discussed along with the possible architect. Some may be reminded of my search for the location of Mr Wright's house. I don't think that it was built for the third Bird brother but I'm guessing they shared an architect. Great picture of number 7 LPS and the buildings either side.

Hi, I'm researching 94 Little Park Street. I lived there from 1946 to 1953. I'm writing a book for my grandchildren, I have a photo taken outside the house. I know the courtyard we played as kids (down an archway that led to a wooden building) looks like the picture you've shown. The buildings inside this area were converted to living accommodation, however, the only people I can recall, name wise, is Mrs and Mrs Docker (I can see them now) with their only child Lillian (our playmate, died on her honeymoon aged 21). The photo you show of 20 Little Park Street is familiar. I'd love more info about 94 Little Park Street and the bombed-out basements of largish houses. I'd be grateful for any info. Thanks Sylvia

Hi Sylvia, welcome to the forum. You probably know more than we do, though someone might be able to add something. I've only got a front view of 94 or those from Britain From Above. The building next door to the right was called the Little Palace Yard (with wooden building plonked in the garden). As a starter I'll post a few BFA links. Halfway down, right side (log in to zoom) Top half. centre.

Hi Sylvia - look back through this thread and you'll see some great info and photos. My grandfather's brother lived in Little Palace Yard (Court 20) just down from there. Ray and Wyn Yardley who lived at number 7. PS. Would love to see that photo?! Rosemary on here (Member coventry49) is kind of related as Wyn was her aunt.

Hi Sylvia The name Linda (not Lillian) Docker rings a bell for me in relation to Little Palace Yard. My grandmother (Smith) lived there & my Aunt Win & Uncle Ray Yardley next door. I spent a lot of time down there visiting them. The wooden building you mentioned was Bushills at the end of the yard beyond the stables. I think the Dockers lived near the entrance to the Yard from Little Park Street, maybe next to my grandmother. Rosemary

My grandad, Jack Wheatley, kept the Chequers pub in Little Park Street during the war. Mum, Jean May, told the story of the night they were bombed out in the Blitz and she and her sister Betty (Dalton) then walked to Longford to stay with other members of the family in wellies and their pyjamas. Little else survived. Grandad also kept the Samson & Lion in Swanswell Terrace around this time.

There's a book you may have read. Provided here in PDF form by our host Rob A Night in Little Park Street by J B Shelton A little further south than the Chequers and on the other side of the road.

Don't think we've had this one before. Apparently the morning after the Blitz. Heathite might be able to help us with the directories. Someone on FB reckons La Brasseur was somewhere by the Corporation Street/Burges junction but the scene does not seem to suit to me - anyone? Post copied from topic Wartime mystery scene on 25th Nov 2020 6:27 pm

I don't know where that one is Neil but Le Brasseur was in Ford Street and later in the same row as Lynes and the Oliver Twist in Well Street. It looks like they had second hand furniture outside in this pic, I believe the one on Well Street sold surgical appliances and condoms