Broadgate

Helen, I have come across an advert in the Coventry Standard 1849 for the sale of the lease of the City Hotel by Mrs Aston who is retiring from the business. Lot 1 is for the Wines and Spirits establishment which includes things like the dining room and chambers. Lot 2 is the lease of Warehouse, grainery, coach house, extensive stabling, brewhouse and front tenement situated in Greyfriars Lane near Mr Loveitt's Soda Water manufactury. Is it possible that this is the stabling for the City Hotel ?

That makes a very good fit Anne. Looking at it, I can see that there was a lot of stabling in that area. I can even see a few B.H. that I assumed was Boiler House Brew House makes a lot more sense.

Helen, Annewiggy, This was a horse world, stabling was in every backyard, drinking troughs by the score, the barracks alone had stabling for about a hundred horses. But those record breaking journeys were our Formula One, crowds would line the streets, teamsters were known throughout the land, the changing of horses were by experts in most places, a team of four could be changed in 47 seconds and with the clatter of hoofs, the roar of the crowd, hats in the air, trumpets blaring, parasols waved, they could cover thirty miles in two-hours, hoofs showering sparks of the cobbles. The reception in London would be much larger, upper-decks of the horse-buses would be packed. Money and prestige relied on these records. Annewiggy - cover of the race would be in the mercury, which was less than fifty yards from the City Hotel. Through Coventry it would be like the Sienna race.

In Rob's pics

Nice one of Burtons, Prof Kaga, I can well imagine the kinds of competitions there would be with the local officials issuing stern warnings each time not to race through the city but secretly putting a bet on.

Can I thank all contributors to this forum for your helpful and informed advice to identify the staging post Coaching Inn used by The Wonder in Coventry. Kindly accept my apologies for not responding sooner. I appreciate your time, willingness and efforts made to help me. The Wonder service spanned the years of 1830 and 1847. During this time minor variations were made to the route it followed as roads were being improved and the Coaching Inn staging posts would also on occasions change - this may be something to do with how well or poorly Inns served The Wonder. Thanks to your response for Coventry I have now identified and verified all of the coach staging posts from The Lion in Shrewsbury to Barnet. In the coming days the 'dots' will locate the precise location of all the staging posts used by The Wonder between London and Shrewsbury. Whilst The Wonder travelled between Shrewsbury and London in a day, my bicycle ride will be undertaken over 4 days during first week of July. Afterwards I will write and post my story on-line with a link on this forum for members to access and include the super photo of the once used City Hotel in Coventry. Once again, thank you Joe Patton Harlech North Wales

We like a good puzzle Joe

harlechjoe Joe at the top of the page where it says search type in 'old coaching roads' then click on titles then go and you get more info.

I've really enjoyed reading this today - thank goodness these books were written!

A very good book. I only bought it for the images but it contains some very unusual information too. Good luck with your ride.

This is a 1 minute clip of something you'll never see again taken from an old video I made a few years ago Cathedral Lanes.

A glimpse of the Coventry I never knew, Dougie

Due to the serious nature of Coronavirus I have decided to postpone this bicycle ride until the autumn. As previously promised I'll post a link to my cycling blog once the adventure has been completed and written up. I hope you all stay healthy and happy - with best wishes, Joe

Another image of that short-lived Pru building from my friend Cliff Berwick - first one I have seen with the sign displayed. IIRC it was only open for 8 months, from Anne's research.

.... and more lovely detail and great resolution for the era here -