Court Houses

That building had gone by 1960, leaving just a row of cottages behind Lindon's grocery stall. Mr Lindon had gone too and I think his widow who took over the business lived in one of the cottages. The space to the right of the grocer's stall was replaced with an advertising hoarding behind which Mrs Lindon used to dump her old grocery boxes. That particular building was removed early in the 20th century as it created a bottleneck for traffic and the neighbouring street frontage completely remodelled. For a long time I mistook it for the New Inn which stuck out from the rest of Gosford Street in a similar manner.

I can honestly say, until this topic ran a bit I never knew the difference between a "court" and the "back-to-back", both similar but the court being smaller. Is there a name for the court yard that the back-to-back houses had? The houses were in separate streets with a brick court yard and shared toilet blocks because these are my recollection in memory? I just thought I would add, the people who I knew took pride in keeping the toilet block clean, always a supply of the Daily Mirror, cut into squares, hanging on string and ready to use. Unlike China. They had a roller towel, in a loop, where you had to find a clean part that had not been used. This is where I found what a handkerchief is really for!!!!!!

This one has an alley leading that says 'White Friars Lane' and there appears to be a plaque on the property to the left on the second floor? Gosford Street, Nos. 111-112

This one is supposed to be the 'timbered doorway' to the New Inn. Doorway to the New Inn

Yes, it was Court No 40. All three Tudor buildings in the picture were knocked down circa 1958 to make way for a version of the ring road was then suddenly abandoned. The space was then occupied by temporary buildings with a gap left for pedestrian-only access to Whitefriars Lane.

That's a view from the backyard of the archway through which freight wagons used to pass. The pubs in Gosford Street were especially attractive to freight wagon drivers and often had stables in the yard.

Thanks for all the details regarding the photos, Dutchman. On the 1911 census, I can see all the Courts and the numbering. I found a public house at the opposite end to the 'Mermaid', it was called 'The Newborn'. I wondered whether it was shortened to the 'New Inn'? Or is it a different pub?

I've not come across it before Foxcote but census returns are notorious for getting names wrong.

Just come across an article about the Irish in Coventry by Thomas Predergast. There are some photos that I had not seen, particularly one of Court 17 Much Park St on page 138. The Irish in Coventry.

Good find argon - thats one heck of a PDF! Have you seen those before Helen?

I have skimmed all the way through it Neil and I have seen all the photos unless I've missed some. Most of them here! However it looks a fantastic document that will require careful reading. Many thinks Argon.

The man who did this pointed out this man, Fr Placid Rea to me and came last year and visited his grave in the London Road Cemetery. Derek.

Wonderful to find this for my Irish forebears who came to Coventry from Dublin in the 1840s. Thank you, Argon.

Prof, my lot came from Ireland to Stone, then Birmingham, then Coventry. Itchy feet, no doubt.

My grandfather lived in a court in Thomas Street. He had no running water and shared a washing area with all the other people in the court. His name was David John Charley.