Coventry's Markets

My mother's uncle Fred Curtis built the original roundabout in the indoor market.

I have been given a cutting from an old Darlington newspaper, unfortunately undated and wondered if anyone had any further information or could redirect me to possible research sources please on the man and his achievements in this city. Based on his birth records I am assuming he retired at age 65 in 1966. "A man who learnt his trade in Darlington and who helped pioneer fluorescent street lighting retired at the end of last year in Coventry where he planned, prepared and carried out the complete change from gas to electric street lighting. "The extent of his work in Coventry can be seen from the facts. When he arrived in 1951 there were 7,500 gas lamps and only 950 electrical ones. Now there are 20,000 electrical and only 250 gas. His one request for his services is that the Corporation give him the last gas lamp to be taken down in the city. 'I would consider it a great honour'. "He also helped pioneer road heating - the first scheme to have it installed in the British Isles was his, the ramp to Coventry Market car park. Bridge parapet lighting was also his idea. "Mr Shaw has also had a hand in many other improvements in Coventry, mainly to do with lighting, heating and automation car parks." Thank you JT

Just found this interesting image, not seen before which shows bomb damage after the blitz. It compares nicely with Rob's classic photo of Market Street (one of my favourite old Cov photos). Sorry its so small. It's actually taken from Vicar Lane but the aspect in the distance is the same as the pre-war shot with the Tower in the background.

Baz's fine photos of the City Arcade reminds me of two of the shops that were there before and after the blitz. Entering from Smithford Street, as shown in the photos, the first shop on the RH was Hurrell's pork butcher, the manager being a Mr. Cusworth, the next door neighbour of my grandparents in Malvern Road, Coundon, and after the blitz, with the shortage of materials, the window was boarded up with a small central pane of glass to enable customers to see what was for sale. At the opposite RH end of the Arcade, just before entering the Barracks Market, was Salmon, the opticians, where I had my first pair of spectacles, aged six. The manager there was a friendly Scot (though I forget his name) but I clearly remember that he held the door open for my mother when we left. There was also the Drinkwater Arcade in West Orchard, but I believe that disappeared in the blitz.

Just found a bigger version of the Vicar Lane image - makes it all the more sadder

Link to Coventry Telegraph photograph from 1957, showing construction of the Retail Market

Albert Norman at his stall in 1967

From another thread:

I know this photo has been shown before however not with such clarity (and colour-tinting?) I've found a little more info to my question about the Market Hall Tower which goes back to the start of this thread. Does anyone have access to the online Newspaper Archive site? In the Evening Despatch paper dated Tuesday 06 October 1942 (page 4!), there is an article which states: ... Clock tower to go - COVENTRY'S market hall clock tower, all that remains of the building which was destroyed in November, 1940, is to be demolished. This decision was reached by Coventry City Council to-day by a majority of 31 votes to 18 I always thought the tower survived until after 1945 but apparently not. I'm hoping that article will go on to mention details about the poor boy killed by falling masonry that Dutchman mentioned a while ago. Am I right in thinking this image would have been taken from Market Place looking West? Boots must have had several locations at that time - as per my recent image in the West Orchard thread their store on the corner of Broadgate and West Orchard was not far away but they obviously had another location here?

Neil, there is no more in the article you quote, I have looked all through all articles about the clock tower and can find no mention of the boy being killed. What I did find interesting were the shall we shouldn't we articles about knocking the clock tower down in 1942. Nothing changes when I read under the current categories on here about various current buildings like the circular cafe.

The Boots wasn't on the corner of West Orchard (sorry, should have picked that up before). It was on the corner of the street that went into the market (looking west) from Broadgate. The corner of West Orchard the street was the Talbot Inn. The tower was built roughly on the edge of the old market place. The Boots seemed to have several makeovers and the early appearance seemed to have been buried under brick.

The clock tower is one of my first memories and I was three in 1945. My grandad took me to town once or twice, on the bus, and I remember standing looking at the remains. I`m sure that only about 1/4 was damaged. That said, it was definitely there in 1945 and it could have been there in 1946.

Thanks all / Anne / Helen. Apols I should have noticed the Boots location. I did think it had quite a modern looking 'cladding' in that image though

What a fantastic image NeilsYard, it makes one feel you could walk down Market St to see it. Looks as if this was the side entrance to Boots which fronted onto Broadgate as seen in many photos, so this must be Market Street.

That first picture of the two Baz is just as I remember the City Arcade, looking from Smithford St towards the Barracks Market, complete with the clock. But I only knew it late in the war and after. The windows were boarded up with small panes of glass in the centre when it came into use after the bombing!