Coventry Pubs

In Jordan Well on the North side there was a pub called The Warwick Arms. There are several pubs of that name in the city but none listed on that side of the street in the sources I've seen. I know the pub existed because it appears in a Dr Troughton drawing. Anybody any ideas what number it was? One guess is that it is an early name for the Mattock and Spade but the drawing is hard to compare to photos of the area at a later date.

According to real ale rambles the address of the Warwick Arms was 47 Jordan Well hope this helps

It was in Earl Street according to a report in the Coventry Standard in 1850.

Both good answers thanks but don't really help. 47 was on the south side of Jordan Well and doesn't fit with the picture. Potentially it might be on Earl Street but only if Jordan Well once finished further east than Much Park Street and Bayley lane. To the left there is a break in the pavement and another a bit further on to the right. I can't see anything resembling the Dun Cow but in the middle ground but I can see the entrance to Cox street. Neither side of the road looks to have enough buildings for the viewpoint to be between Much Park Street and Bayley Lane but buildings may be invisible due to obstructions from other buildings. The building looks like it's next door to a barber shop with a bay window which in turn is next to a three storey jetted building. I could post the photo of the drawing but I'm not sure I'm allowed to.

In September 1862 John Thurman of The Warwick Arms Jordan Well advertised, he begged to inform his friends that in making great alterations in fitting up his large room he will give a case of specimens of natural history to his friends on every Saturday night until Christmas. His advertising did not do him much good as in 1863 The Warwick Arms in Jordan Well an old established public House was advertised to let. In November 1863 the license was transferred to David Smith. unfortunately I cannot find either of them on the census to help with the number. In December 1863 David Smith respectfully informed his friends that he has moved from Little Park Street to the Vampire Tavern where he will continue to be a preserver of animals, reptiles and Insects. Th book "Character of Coventry puts the Vampire at 47 Jordan Well but there is a note that says that due to buildings being added the street was renumbered, the site of the Vampire " was on the earlier site of the "Cock" which was 45. Under the listing for "The Cock" it is listed as 48 with a footnote which says "In records there is a gap regarding the "Dun Cow" in Jordan Well at the time the Cock appears and it would be easy to assume that the Cock was the Dun Cow for some 40 years but there was according to my research some six buildings between the two sites. However the Dun Cow could have closed and was then rebuilt on its site later, thereby having no relationship to the Cock. There is a record of this being called the "gamecock" see Vampire" Helen I don't know if any of this makes sense to you !

Thanks Anne, it does make sense and I've already encountered the Cock and the Vampire and they were a few doors from each other... on the south side sadly. The date on the picture is 18 squiggle 3. Should I post the picture for a few hours?

I think it should be OK Helen

For one night only. I know the picture says Far Gosford Street but it doesn't seem to fit that either.

The view from the opposite direction The opening on the right is Cox street.

Helen, if you look at a link Dutchman has put under the catagory Postcards of Coventry 7 of 25 there is a picture that looks like your first picture

Yes, that's the area I was thinking of but maybe Dr Troughton was stood a little further west? I keep going round in circles.

Do you mean this one Anne? The barber's pole is the only real similarity.

The pole isn't the same one I think because I'm thinking the three storey jetted building isn't the one immediately to the left of the sketch but the next one further down the street. The three storey jetted building on the right would have matched the one directly opposite Cox Street. There are also similarities with the buildings after Cox street with the sketch. It's the buildings in the foreground that don't seem to match with where I thought it might be. And it might be Far Gosford.

Great photo Dutchman, full of character, sorry if I have missed it before.

This was the one I meant Jordan Well