Little Park Street

Fred'n'Rob's Pub section has the address as 43 Earl Street which looking at this map was next door but one, though it's a post-war one so guessing the numbering may have changed?

The fire insurance maps are best. Sheet number 11. The Palace Yard was 40. The Herald Newspaper was 41 and then there was a long thin passage/court. Then number 42 and another passageway between that and 43. The passage was the route to the Sword and Mace that was a separate block divided from the front range by a small courtyard. Another passage running through the east side of the pub took you into Court 3 or the Sword and Mace yard. This arrangement dated back to at least 1850. So while the sign for the pub might have been number 43 Earl Street, there's no indication that it was the pub.

Thank you, Rosemary, Thank you for answering, sorry, it's taken so long to reply, it's been hectic, a whole different world. You were right it was Linda Lillian, I remember her mother correcting me that I had to say her name properly. I recently found a photo of me, my sister and Linda Lillian, in capitals to remind me never to forget again, taken outside on the waste ground opposite and the name was on the back. They did, we lived in the cottage near the pub, well I say cottage, it was a small house, mum always called it the groom's cottage. I do remember the Yardleys by name, but not by face. Thanks, its taken some figuring how to reply, but got there in the end. Apologies for taking so long to answer. Sylvia

Further to my earlier post #182 - this is the same view of what was the Coventry Machinists Company but post Blitz and taken from the Cheylesmore side. As can be seen it was well bombed out sadly although interesting to see its later use of part of it as the 'Swift Roller Skating Rink!"

The Chequers, Little Park Street.

This is the rebuilt pub. Next door but one to the left is where I'm fairly sure that Bridgeman's was located.

Hi Neil, did you know that this was also the site of one of the 1939 IRA S-Plan bombs, report below. I don't know if it's ok to post this photo, hopefully it is as it's clearly marked, please educate me. On 23rd March 1939 Coventry was rocked by four bombs. Picture shows: The scenes showing the damage caused after the first blast outside a Roller Skating rink and dance school. A bomb was attached to a lamppost in the street outside the buildings, causing the windows to be shattered over a 200 yard radius and blowing large hole in the base of the pavement. Fortunately, nobody was hurt in the attack as the bomb exploded before the morning rush.

Prof, that's a good picture to demonstrate how much the scale of buildings has changed. 200 years ago The Castle on Little Park Street would have been big.

Possibly the best yet of the old Registry Office. (c) Coventry Culture

Kirby House looks a mess, Neil