Railways around Coventry

Park Road certainly was cobbled, at one stage but I'm not sure it was post-WWII (and I don't think they will have removed the tarmac to uncover those in Peter's image) I spent much of my first 20 years living about 1/4 mile away and knew the area very well, and I think the cobbles in question were directly outside the old station building rather than in Park Road The line of Park Road didn't change much at all over the years, and you can see from the image above where it came out onto Eaton Road I remember there were bombed out remains of a couple of big houses in the area bordered by (the station side of) Park Road and Manor Road well into the 1950s - indeed, the high garden wall to one of them in Manor Road is still there today

Great postcard image Cliff but if you look at the NLS Comparison Map - the section in Peter's photo is exactly at that junction where it meets Eaton Road. Could they be the very same cobbles!

I did look and wasn't convinced! On a second viewing I have to say it does make a compelling case for being the "footprint" of Park Road I don't recall there being cobbles at the end of Park Road in the 1950/60s, so maybe they were covered over and later on uncovered? Whatever the case, it's a shame they have to go!

Wonder if you can buy some of the cobbles when they're lifted. Would love to do my paved garden area with some.

I guess I need to go and have a look myself now Cliff! The only thing may be the line the cobbles are in - the early map and your postcard show Park Road ran somewhat north-easterly at the time whereas now they appear to be more south-easterly only. I'll have a nosey! I just cannot believe I had never thought about them before - I take one of my lads to the station twice a week!

This 1920 BFA image shows the stretch - that must be the 'Kielder' property, Anne. They were lovely houses weren't they! The more I look at that actually I don't think today's cobbles could be the same given the width / line. Perhaps they just reused some?

Handy for the train!

As I said the house belonged to Mr Newsome Bushill. Looking on Ancestry he was a printer and stationer so he must be the owner of Bushill's we have discussed in Little Palace Yard. He died in 1925 leaving an estate of £47,469 which is over £2 million in today's money. I can take this back to the subject of railways as Newsome Bushill's mother who died in 1930 aged 96 was the daughter of Mr William James who surveyed the first railway in England and he and his sons were the first passengers to travel on it. Mr James employed George Stephenson who took over from him when he retired.

Mmm! It would seem that the line of Park Road never changed. The subject cobbles are not in line with the road, so it is likely that they were part of the "forecourt" outside the old Coventry station It's good to see the houses, some of which, as I mentioned earlier, remained into the 1950s as bombed out shells

There is a kink in Park Road, as shown in the map, but the cobbles are parallel to the platform edge and no part of Park Road is parallel to the tracks. Looking at Google satellite view the cobbles are ~60m from the platform edge and I think this would put them in the grounds of Kielder so I can only assume they were laid when the new station was built. The current platform one is partly the original platform and the brick face can still be seen if you stand on platform two. The "to Birmingham platform" would have been where the current platform 3 is, but the platform face would have been on the opposite side, roughly where the buildings start. The only other survivor is a brick building on the west side of Warwick Road with a sloping roof. Based on old plans I think this may have been the C&W (carriage & wagon) office/mess. I think it is now an electrical switch room. This should be retained. Peter.

Is that this one Peter? I think we have referenced them before as well but I'm sure the sections used as part of what is now Warwick Road Garage were once part of the Goods Yard?

Speaking of the Garage - whilst looking into this latest 'hunt' I referenced - and have mentioned before some excellent images on their own FB page (so again hopefully they won't mind me using them but (c) to them in case if here!). This is a very early image - there is another one more commonly shown which includes the cows but think it may be new to me - featuring the Stationmaster's house / Railway Hotel / Rocket pub etc. - signals on the earlier line visible - ...and for this one - I am guessing this must have been pre-Goods Yard offices as that is the same Stationmaster's house on Warwick Road in the background - ...and finally, again another similar one is shown on here somewhere but this one includes the 'WARWICK ROAD GOODS OFFICES' sign and what would become the Tax Office next door -

Yes NeilsYard, that's the one. I've found a photo of it on the Warwickshire Railways website. It is on the right of the photo. It isn't the C&W office. The plan linked to from the photo page does not label the building. Peter.

Morning all Another part of the walk home from school, then crossing Queen Vic Rd into Greyfriars Green, then on into Hertford St.

This is currently a display at Coventry Station called "Never Coming Home" commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. The names of those who did not make make the return journey are listed on the handrails of the pedestrian bridge. Very moving. Peter.