Coventry's Markets

There was also a "Market Arcade" which ran sideways across the entrance to the Market Hall, the second picture may be of that? I'm pretty sure though the first one is a view from the City Arcade looking towards the Barracks Market.

You're absolutely right about the first picture, Dutchman, I remember the City Arcade very clearly - and as you say the stalls at the edge of the Barracks Market are visible at the bottom end. The arcade was quite elegant with, as I recall, the floor and shop frontages of grey marble and a fine glass canopy.

Market Street: this is what cities should look like. Proper streets.

Dutchman do you have any further info regarding the incident with the lad being killed by masonry which brought about the demolition of the Clock Tower? I've been in contact with Peter from the Coventry Watch Museum. He had a letter in the Telegraph last night about the clock mechanism in Broadgate House and I linked him in to this thread. He was not aware of the incident. Any info that references the tragedy?

Afraid not Neil, I forget where I read it? Have since discovered the clock tower was also part of the arcade which filled the gap between the market hall and the fish market.

This is Bill Duffin, he runs a shoe stall in Coventry Retail Market, he has run his stall for a long time now and he also has a stall displaying some of Coventry history, as most of the people on this site are here because they show an interest in our City then his stall deserves a visit, it never fails to amaze me, some of the artefacts he as managed to amass for public perusal. I first met Bill many years ago during the time we were in the ATC together. It would appear that his passion for Coventry History has never waned, I think he does a great job . Well done Bill. Colin

That's a nice photo RKid. Perhaps you could show us around some more, owners permitting of course.

Don't often get into town much but I will ask him next time we visit. Thanks for the interest Dreamtime.

Dreamtime, type in COVENTRY MARKET THE MUSICAL. You will see a very interesting film on YouTube. Bill, the stall holder, does not look much different from his photo on the 8F squadron topic than he does now. I think me and Colin have altered a bit, lol.

Hello John (scrutiny) hope you are well and thanks for the response. Not sure I share your observation re us having altered, I have never altered, I think I even look younger now than before, I wish. lol. Only kidding. Yes Bill Duffin still looks the same, the day I took that photo he was about to go on his holiday, was a little busy and I met his wife for the first time albeit brief. I have to say he shows a real passion for Coventry's past and anything military. Good on you Bill. Colin.

My grandfather had a fruit and green grocers shop under the old market hall clock, the story goes that it was demolished during the blitz, his main concern was that he had just taken Christmas stock in of Lincan products, and the Germans blew it all up, I understand that the clock mechanism was accessed from within the shop.I would welcome any pics of the shop if anyone has any. After the war my father took a stall in the Barracks market at a rent of 10 shillings a week including a huge warehouse that used to be used for stabling the horses when the site was used as a barracks, the warehouses backed on to what used to be the Empire cinema but at a much lower level. Another stall holder called Albert Norman (a local artist) also had a warehouse where he would spend many hours producing some very off the wall art. He was a member of the Umbrella club in little park street and was assumed to be from the travelling fraternity. I spent all of my school holidays and after school hours at the market and the town centre was my playground in the fifties, I remember the Cooper brothers having a crock stall and when the deliveries of crockery would arrive from British rail they used to drop me inside the huge wooden barrels to hand out the crocks that were very carefully packed in straw. There is a photo of me somewhere sat on top of boxes of daffodils selling them for 3d a bunch, another pic shows mum behind the stall with potatoes in front that we're also 3d a pound, the old fella would turn in his grave if he saw the prices now. There was uproar when the new circular market opened and the Barracks stall holders were invited to move the rents for the new pitches was £3.00 per week with an additional ten shillings for the underground warehouses. I have many memories of market life if anyone would like me to relate, but being new to the site I don't want to be boring,

I have 3 pen and ink pictures done by a local artist who was I believe a market trader. There is no name on them, but each is 'signed' with 7 small birds.