Coventry Co-operative Societies

I thought it would be a good reference book, would be handy to get the newer edition as well to corroborate details. Hopefully, one will turn up. The Co-op seemed to have an eye for a property bargain and maybe moved further down in Gosford Street, don't forget this edition was an early one. My husband remembers a garage in Gosford Street. it was approximately opposite Astleys and was a Reliant dealer and it was his first car in about 1964/5 (you can tell that I didn't marry him for his money)

The move is mentioned in the book but I'd still love to know the exact location of the original stores. I'm probably the last living person able to envisage it as nothing remains of that section of Gosford Street. There wasn't an awful lot left when I lived there. Light Cars Ltd, part of Bob Aston's empire, actually in Far Gosford Street and built on the site of war-destroyed houses: Pictures of Coventry The only garage I know of in Gosford Street itself was the Alpha motor works.

Yes, my husband agrees, definitely Light Cars Ltd. Oh by the way, somewhere along the line today, I did note that there is a Co-operative Society website with a new archive section, I'll try and find it for tomorrow, got a bit tired and punchy with my researching so I shall call it a day. They should be useful for more photographs and literature. They should be able to confirm your Gosford Street location, there was definitely an e-mail contact.

It's archive@co-op.ac.uk Link. I think they even have videos. Nite.

Okay, here's one mystery cleared up, 'Britannia Buildings' were not the same as 'Britannia Music Hall' although they were very close: A few maps or diagrams like this in the book would have made reading it much easier: old-maps.co.uk

They don't appear to have anything relating to Coventry, Foxcote, but thanks for trying.

Hello all. I'm having trouble finding the book you are talking about on the website. Where do you go after you arrive at the page? Thanks very much

In the search box, just type in your question. i.e. Coventry Co-operative. LINK

Thanks very much Adrian, think I was putting too much info in the search box.

I was finding it hard to imagine the site of the music hall, the map was very helpful thanks. It was numbered 38 Fleet Street which help sometimes as a guide to other properties. I had a look in my cupboards and found the original Co-op publication that we can all access for free, I was hoping it would have been the 1861-1961 publication, which is harder to find, so I was a bit disappointed. I do pay for access to some of the census sites so if you do want to pin-point a specific address, I will always attempt to find it for you.

What about 'THE CHRISTMAS GROTTO' in Corporation Street, my dad-in-law worked there and before it opened to the public one day we had a go it, no Father Christmas but it was magic, loved it, about 1978 I think. Wonder what has happened to it, does it still run?

Yes, and the Co-op staff are the first to try it each year!

My children loved the magic of riding on Rudolph's sleigh - they thought they had travelled miles. A trip to the Co-op, dinner in Woolworths and then off to the Belgrade Panto was the start of Christmas for my family.

Hi Tricia (54995). That number is engraved on Pam & I.