Jordan Well

On the right hand side you can see the Mattock and Spade with a sign behind the cart, behind the woman in the dark skirt and white blouse. That was number 16. On the Board of Health map, it is located at number 17 and the Malt house that probably served both locations was at the back of 17.

This might be a little closer.... although I feel I should've been a bit closer to the middle of the road. (Story of my life! )

It's difficult for me to imagine it as anything but the modern version. I would get completely lost if I were to visit the original layout and streets. it would be great fun though.

If anything the old layout was far easier to understand, although everyone seems to have trouble with where roads changed their name eg Fleet Street to Smithford Street, High Street to Earl Street to Jordan Well. Half the pictures I've got are labelled wrong. One main east, west road. 3 main roads to the south. Most things end up at Broadgate. The north of the city is more complicated but there was only one main road north, south and you always had the churches to orientate yourself. It's the modern city that blocks natural flow. That's not a criticism, just a quirk of changing use.

Jordan Well - two images for comparison.

Helen F. No one was really interested where roads began or ended, from the bank steps to the Gaumont was the High Street, from the Forum to Gosford Green was Ball Hill etc. It was always "it's about three doors down from the Empire", or "just past the Gas showrooms", "it's in thingamy street", or "go just past what's-a-names" - simple and easy, never went wrong.

Looking at this one and the heavy bombardment that area took - I'm reminded about an article I read which stated that there is a belief that the Cathedral was deliberately targetted as an act of demoralization. This image certainly shows the surrounding area bore the scars.

Ye Olde pub on every corner used to be a good guide and that comes from one who has no sense of direction, what chance would I have, Helen.

And now, of course, you're upside down as well

Two great pics Heathite, but not from the same spot sadly. In the first picture on the north side of the road, Freeth Street and Cox Street are on either side of the middle line of the photo. On the right (south) side of the road, just beyond the two storey building, Whitefriars Street was built opposite Cox Street. In the second photo Bayley Lane is on the left and the first turning on the right is Much Park Street. Sadly I know of no early photo from that spot and only a Herbert Cox painting of the stretch beyond Bayley Lane looking north east. A few look the other way. As photogenic buildings were lost, the artists/photographers changed their favourite composition spots.

Dreamtime, I now know the names and locations of Coventry's pre war pubs better than the drunks who used to frequent them. They've been invaluable markers for the positions of things. They are often handily numbered and serve as a starting point to count up or down. eg I have a very old image of a row of buildings I think are on the south side of Jordan Well. I just found out that there was a substantial old cellar at number 47. When I locate the plot by comparing the Dun Cow 42 and the Cock 48 to the map, the cellar fits with where I thought this fancy house was. It's not cast iron proof but it helps.

Good on ya Helen. I think during my 'working years' at Herbert's most of the staff could tell you all the pubs around the Bell Green and surrounding areas. I think times have changed since then. I am amazed at what you find for us on the Forum so keep up the good work.

Pubs have always helped me Seriously though, it's amazing how many there were 'back in those days'. Fred's Real Ale Rambles site is invaluable for the pubs history, linking names and places etc.