Coventry Pubs

I heard a rather different story to that RLC. The Half Sovereign was built by Thornley's Brewery before they were taken over by Davenports. The spare land was given to the Methodist Hall by the brewery - not sold. It was still a Methodist Hall when I left Canley in 1962. But I suppose that the shake-up in the non-Conformist churches over the intervening years it now bears the 'Evangelical' tag. The Half Sovereign itself became 'The Woodman' in 1991 and on reverting back later they may have found inflation had taken its toll so called it the Sovereign.

Thanks for this Pixrobin. History always has different versions and it's good to know what they all are. I've some documents that say the land was sold not given including something from the Cov Telegraph. But most of these rely on people's memories ultimately so I guess a trip to the archives might be required in the end. I thought the Methodist hall was down at Prior Deram Walk? I always thought it was the Gospel Hall in my day which might have been after '62. The interesting thing for me is that the pubs and the Canley Club came before the churches and Canley was once described by a Bishop (or someone similar) as a 'godless' estate with many lost souls drifting aimlessly.....

RLC suggests "Canley was once described by a Bishop (or someone similar) as a 'godless' estate with many lost souls drifting aimlessly..... " That could have been said in most eras of Canley's long history. In the 14th century Abbot Pype of Stoneleigh was trying to grab land from Robert de Canley. But I guess further discussion along these lines is more appropriate in the Westwood Parish or Canley threads.

I'd be interested in any info on the Royal Vaults at the top of Cross Cheaping. (Before demolition)

Osmiroid: I assume you've seen this

Thanks, yes a good site. I also know that one of the landlords WF Lane was a hero who died in the Boer war trying to rescue an injured soldier.

Again apologies if these are rights to someone but the wordpress site has just published this amazingly clear image of the Vaults.

Yes, a great informative clear picture. Sad that such a distinctive individual pub was destroyed. As we can see here it was not just the often mentioned 1936 destruction of Butcher Row etc. but also the partial destruction of Broadgate and Cross Cheaping.

Hi all Walsgrave pub closure

Heaven's above more flats, flats, flats, flats, flats and more flats.

What's wrong with that?

We also have a shortage of housing, and a surplus of pubs. So this strikes me as a good idea. It's either that or it gets demolished.

I have to agree with you, Flapdoodle. I remember that now-derelict pub as a fairly depressing place with little going for it even back in the 70s. I doubt anyone will miss it. As you rightly say, there are plenty of pubs but we are desperate for housing. Seems a sound plan to me.

Dreamtime, yes to me our Rob he is a genius, and there's a few more close to him as well, I can't get past this typing bit, several times I have wrote posts and lost them, but I fear it is a young mans game. So I hope he won't mind when I stray from the topic. Like now. Now let me try my mind out a little more. The Navigation stood back a few yards from the road, just a tarmac square in front, a wooden post, black and white with a square Navigation sign, the first world war tank, enclosed with railings stood directly opposite. Canal on the left, Eden St on the right, the house on the corner came up to the pavement, but Paradise Row stood back half a dozen steps with very small gardens and wooden rails about a foot high. Eden Street front doors were on the pavement. Believe 'Navi' had a black beam somewhere on the front. We had a rhyme, about navigating your way around Eden Street, along Paradise Row to get to . . was it Adam and Eve pub? [Mods note: Yes, of course, you're right - you have strayed (never mind). Your post is now safely here in "Coventry pubs" and there's many references to the "Navi" within this thread. And if you type "Navigation" in the seachbox, top left (or bottom left), it will bring up a number of other threads which mention the pub, including one about Pensioners' Dinners there in the 60s! Happy reading, Kaga ]

Neils yard, I keep looking at the picture on post 932, I feel just to the right of the picture was the original 'Peeping Tom', wonder if someone can help out here? Mods that was quick, but thank you, and once again I have no idea where I should have put this question, it seemed to fit in with the photo? I suppose Broadgate would be the obvious, but then again I seem to think it could have been Spicerstoke.