Broadgate

If that was a, I think, 1930 photo??? They would be finishing the building of it.

That scaffold looks comprehensive and major. They used to be wood rather than iron poles in those days didn`t they - no mechanical hoist-horses? When was the bank constructed, and when was the photograph taken? If asked I would say it could be the original builder`s scaffold - the vehicles in the street look pretty old. Mind you I don`t think John Hanson would have been singing "Desert Song" at the time

There is mention of it being built in the Coventry Evening Telegraph in 1930.

I don't know why the date 1938 came into my head when I first posted the photo, but anyway, I've now edited my post accordingly. I did dig the tram hut photo back out afterwards and unfortunately there is no date written on the back of it! It's obviously like you say though, taken sometime up until 1936 and mainly due to the fact that the shops are still standing and are clearly visible in the background! Regarding the City Jewellers shop later being called something else from 1935 up until its demolition in 1936 (and it beginning with the letters "R E"), I've had a look through lots of my old Broadgate photo's and annoyingly, the shop is still seen in the photo's as the City Jewellers! A couple of photo's are taken during 1935-36, but sadly the identity of this newly named shop is hidden because of either a bus or tram being in the way! I did notice an advert on the side of one of the trams, which was advertising "READ'S EXPRESS POWDERS" (For Headaches, Flu & Chills) and I started to wonder then if there was ever a shop in town called "READ'S", or was that just the name of a product and that's basically it? I've looked closely at the photo of what I can partly see of this newly named shop, but I can't quite work out what is on display in its front window (due to it being too dark to see inside!), but I do know that the sign stuck on the glass says "? OFFERS"! Be nice if we can find out the name of this store eventually, but I think I'd possibly rule out the name "READ'S"!!! lol.

It reminds me of a record shop in Derby called R. E. CORDS. I don't think it would be record shop though. R Gilbert City Jeweller moved to The Burges or already had another shop there, and were there until 1970. They had also been in High Street, earlier times rather than later, I think.

Regina Costumiers, 12 Broadgate 1936 Telephone Directory

Osmiroid. The first time I looked at the picture of the Royal Vaults I thought there is no way trams passed behind that shelter and in front of the the Vaults, but later thought of course they did - every northbound tram passed down and swerved left down the Burges, to and fro. Now I seem to remember when you came up the Burges and swung left towards the Vaults there was a Peeping Tom above the shoe shop. I also think there was a tram from Broadgate swept across and down Smithford Street, stopped and came back up to Broadgate, I don't think there was a tram from Hertford Street went down Smithford Street. You know we kids used to play last across the road with those trams, madness and foolish, but you could stand close to the track and let them pass by. But people had to alight in most cases in the middle of the road causing trouble for cyclists and horses. Your second picture with the keep left sign may have been taken later, and I believe was Broadgate's first island. but it's been a long time ago and brought back a lot of memories for me so a big 'Thank You' from me.

Kaga, Thanks for all these interesting memories

The tram hut outside the Royal Vaults, looking towards Cross Cheaping

"THANK YOU" ever so much "MIDLAND RED" for being able to find out the name of that store in Broadgate, as it's very much appreciated and is great to now have the answer to that! Seems a shame that they were only in that particular store for such a short period of time? Do you know at all please, whether "Regina Costumiers" relocated to another part of Cov city centre after their shop was knocked down and if so, any idea at all where they relocated to???

Can't find anything from the telephone directories

All the information that I have ever come across says that The National Provincial was completed in 1929.

What was Joe Stalin doing in Coventry before the war? Long way from Russia on a bike

A nice view here of the "H. Samuel" store in Broadgate, with "Manfield & Sons" visible next to it as well. Next to Manfield's (behind the tram!) was the "Astley's" store, which is where the bicycle stood in August 1939, that sadly had an "IRA" bomb left in its front basket! <

Almost all this stuff is a repeat of Coventry Trams topic. The most interesting to me Is Annewiggy's photo on 159, to relay tramlines in the Burges - must have created one hell of a holdup. They had no other route. We also have discussed before that at no time did the trams go down Trinity Street (sorry I forget who with). Someone in the council foresaw that the trams were on their way out in 1936 and new transport would take over and so for the trams to get from the top of Trinity Street to the bottom they still went down the Burges and Hales Street.