Lower Ford Street

Was looking on the 1897 plans, found 10 Lower Ford Street, looks very similar to now - seems weird to me to think that things have been sold in that shop for more than 117 years - ("S" stands for shop, "D" stands for dwelling, "P.H"= Public House, small circles = Slate, yellow = wooden structure): (Red arrow= number 10) Luke

Very interesting Luke, did you get this off the internet, if so where? As you know I lived in East Street in what we believe was a bakery in a past life so would like to check the theory out and this could be very helpful. Cheers, Mick

Hi Mickw, Found the link through this site - in the useful links - it's from old fire insurance maps of coventry July 1897:- here's the link: British Library Online Gallery I tried looking for East street and I don't think it covers that area (but I may be wrong - it's a bit difficult to use ) But I did look in Spennell's Annual Directory of Coventry & District, 1912-13 where I found 3 bakers in the street (page 484? of directory): Number 22. Windridge F. And A., Bakers,etc. Number 42. Carvell David., Baker (in Court 1???) Number 89,90. Embling W.E., "Brewer & Baker". Hope one of these was your old house - it's always good to prove a theory. Luke.

Looked at the Census for the 3 in 1911: 22 East Street = Florence Carter, Baker (assistant = Ada Windridge) 42 East Street= David Carvell, Baker 89, 90 East Street = Think I misread/understood it as the "Brewer and Baker" was/still is a pub So just Number 22 and 42.

Fantastic! Memories of a wonderful childhood and great people. I used to go into this shop all the time as a child and teenager, the very first item I purchased was a red devil mask (I think the mask can be seen in the bottom of there window in the first picture) The shop had such a nice feeling and I was nearly always served by the pleasant lady in the photo, it made a great impression on me when I was young and when it sadly closed I opened my own shop in the city called Merlins Ltd and am still trading today. Thank you Garlands!

Hello & welcome to you merlinsltd Thank you for your post. Please enjoy your time with us.

Hi Merlinsltd, thanks for your post it's always nice to hear how loved the shop was (I'll be sure to pass on your post to my Gran (the lady in the photograph)). My Gran will be pleased that the shop helped to partly inspire you to open a mask/ gadget shop (we often look at the gadgets and gizmos when in town). Luke

I remember Bob Davenport who had a secondhand shop in Hillfields. I am pretty sure his ex-wife had a shop in Lower Ford Street.

I recall that the Lower Ford Street chapel was called Rehoboth or similar name. On the opposite side near a bus stop was the Welsh chapel with of course the notice board written in Welsh. I think this was nearer to the Art College, Ford Street.

Hi Wingy, Sorry its took me so long to reply. Yes, Mrs Davenport did have a shop a couple of doors down from my grandad's shop on Lower Ford Street, it sold jokes before Garland's Joke Shop did. After her shop closed down, my grandad started to sell jokes and tricks as well as second-hand clothes. Recently a family member has kindly sent me some photos of the wooden sign that used to hang outside the front of my grandparents' shop: (hard to believe that both sides of the sign were hand painted - traditional signwriting was a real skill)
A poor quality picture showing sign: Luke.

Lower Ford Street (21 February 1986).

Was that shop once owned by The Central School of Motoring? I remember a very rotund Irish man and his sister there.

Yes, that used to be where the red "picturesque" shop is on the photograph (far left). I'm told that it's the same shop where the Davenport Magic/trick shop was as well.
Also I believe "The Butts Grill" was later "Bang In Tunes" (record/ music shop).

Photo of the completed refurb, taken on Tuesday

Hi I have an interest in finding out where 107 Lower Ford Street stood in the early 1920's. Many years ago I can recall a Pork Batch Shop facing Hood Street / the "Spittlemoor" pub possibly in the 1970's? Could this shop be 107 Lower Ford Street?