Coventry's Markets

Hi dutchman Memory wasn't far out, then! I had wondered if it might have been Robertson's, so I was even closer than I thought. Thanks for that. It wasn't a bad store, and my parents bought some really nice furniture from it, including a child's chair for me in matching brown moquette, with a box under the lift-up seat. And I think I must have used it all of twice....! I know they had the furniture for many years, not like the rubbish you get for an elevated price these days. You know, another thought struck me. Those temporary shops were very flimsy, and would have been a burglar's dream come true. Yet I don't remember any of them being broken into. I bet that wouldn't be the case today!!

Have a look at the 19th picture down, it says that it is a meat as well as fruit and veg shop! http://www.blackcountrygenealogyandfamilyhistory.co.uk/10826.html This photograph is dated around 1910 and is particularly interesting because it shows a market stall selling meat (not as we know it today!) as well as fruit, veg and other items. The stall was in Coventry but gives an insight into what market stalls were like at that time.

Market stallholders in the old days were a lot more 'vocal' than now and my husband wonders if anyone remembers a 'del-boy' type trader, he was in the market at the back of the George IV Public House and he reckons he was called 'Uncle Lou', he used to throw packets of razor blades about, fascinating to observe. 1950'-60's.

I can remember a salesman in one of the outside stalls close to the Shelton Square entrance juggling with crockery to demonstrate just how tough it was.

I can certainly remember a stall in Coventry market called Lou's (or possibly Lew's). The time would be right, about late 50s/early 60s when I was a lad. My mother always took me there and I have a feeling his stall may have been outside, and probably sold household goods. Memories are a bit vague after 50 years, but I seem to recall a vociferous, larger-than-life sort of character. I'm sure others will remember more.....

Yes, that's the one, it was outside, your are right.

Dutchman will be along in a minute but this is his photo from the Cov Message Board.

One of Robs from this site gives you a better impression: I'd be intrigued as to why it got knocked down - didn't it survive the war?

Yes but a lad was killed by falling masonry whilst exploring inside so it was decided to knock it down as a safety precaution. The clock is the same one used in Broadgate.

Thanks Dutchy - I do recall hearing about the clock being used in Broadgate. Looking at those images it really does look like it was a work of art. And a lot taller than I imagined. When did it go?

I vaguely remember reading it was 1946.

This helped me: Clock Tower

Well done for finding that set of pictures - I'd actually forgotten I'd done those! I think they were the first ever "now and thens" that I did for this site. As you can now see from those images, the first two Market Tower photos on this page were taken with the photographer's back to Broadgate - the spires obviously being farther behind. In fact if you look at the last large photo (showing a crowd looking at the aftermath of the 1939 IRA bomb) on this page, you can see the entrance to Market Place, next to Boots, where the photo was taken from.

Just found it! In Dave McGrory's lovely book "The City of Coventry, Images from the Past", page 147.... "the tower, which had stood since 1867, was demolished in December 1942, one week after a boy was killed by falling masonry."

Coventry Public Buildings I have ordered the book referred to, sounds a winner. I have linked the above, I use the site a lot as I am sure a lot of people do on here, it quotes the architect and height. (The Clock Tower, not the Architect) Fourth paragraph from bottom. Left all the rest on because it may interest people to read about the other public buildings. On another part of the same site under 'Watchmaking', it said the an Edward Losely was chosen to make the Market Hall Clock and is said to have initially been an apprentice at Rotherham's.