Swanswell Pool, White Street

Helen, I am not very good with this computer, I have no idea what the chat means.

Hi Millie, Around 1830-40 the neighbourhood of Swanswell and Hillfields was greatly changed, the making of the new road from Cook Street to Red Lane and the many streets connected with that road and Ford Street were not yet laid out on the spittle-moor. They caused an entirely new town to spring up. An old mill stood at the bottom of Cox Street, the house connected was outside the walls near Mill Lane gate, which was known as Hob's Hole. From Mill Lane gate a track-way extended outside the walls along Spinney Lane, so named from a small wood on the bank of the deep brook that led into the Swanswell pool, which was named 'Catchems Corner' - now the junction of Primrose Hill Street and Swanswell Street. Paynes Lane was only a cart-road to Harnall brook, a few houses existed, its track so deplorable that the miller's wagons often stuck in the ruts up to their hubs. Here in 1880 stood the Brewer and Baker pub.

Thanks to Celia Clare on FB we finally have a photo of the Crimean cannon that was at Swanswell! Celia's great grandfather was a very early member of the Coventry and Midland Photographic Society - an early photographic group! I think Rob has mentioned she has joined us here as well so welcome and thanks again Celia! Been searching for this one for a while.

I had never heard of this! Where did it go/end up?

Guilty.

Could this be the same that once stood on Greyfriars Green?

I agree, it looks very similar Prof. It could be the same one but in a different place.

No the Greyfriars one was on a different stand (thanks to Osmiroid)

You can see the cannon marked here at the north end of the pool.

From issues of the Telegraph, in 1942 there is an article commenting on the destruction of the Greyfriars Green cannon by bombing. In a 1948 article the council decide to dispose of the three Swanswell cannon as there are complaints that they are a hazard to children. The museum declines to accept them when offered.

Can someone remind me the dates your talking of. The one in Swanswell was there in the 1930s, so was the tank near the Navi. The one in Greyfriars I don't believe was there, not sure, or about the tank.

Thank you argon. Why dates are important to me: In the 1920s the people had guns and tanks on display as reminders of war. In the 1950s the people wanted a peaceful island in the centre of the city.