Yardley family

Does anyone have any info/photos of the original Turks Head Pub in Silver Street? Just getting into this genealogy thing and seems my great great grandad was the landlord there around 1870. Every old photo of the area I have seen only ever shows the Grammar School on the Hales Street corner and not a view of Silver Street itself. Any info appreciated.

Quote from "The Character of Coventry" by John Ashby: [The name] was first recorded in an agreement dated 1699. The first name change is given as 1901 when it became the Tramway Inn and that was retained until circa 1934. It then reverted to the Turk's Head. It became the City Centre Pub in 1972 and then the Turk's Head again in 1980. At some intermediate stage it became Aztecs. In 1986 it became The Diplomat and at the time of publication in 2001 was known as The Pride of Coventry. The same book also contains a black & white photograph of the pub which is more-or-less the same view as the one Midland Red has already posted.

Thanks guys. I'm still around Cov so am aware of the state of the area now but I've not really seen any old photos of the original Silver Street. I'm sure you've probably seen this but George Yardley (Gramps!) is listed within this list of pubs.

Just a bump for this one - still not seen any photos of old Silver Street let alone The Turks Head? Anyone?

Town planning map of Silver Street 1888. Map has been scaled-down to fit forum width, click on image to open full-size in new window. NB: 'Tramway Inn' = 'Turks Head'

Hi Dutchman, are you saying that in 1888 the Turks Head was known as the Garibaldi as I have a Marriage Certificate for my Gr Grandfather which gives his address as Turks Head, 29 Silver Street? Once again regards.

Oops sorry, my mistake See my correction above. The Turks Head at 29 was officially known as the Tramway Inn for a time. The Garibaldi at 31 had actually closed by the time that map was published.

Thanks Dutchman as always! Amazing how many pubs are in that one small snapshot. Crete - are we related?!!!!!!

Hi, yes, I noticed that. Hate to have been around at 'chucking out time'. However, there was not much for folk to do in those days and corner pubs were absolutely everywhere according to Dutchman's maps.

I guess it was somewhere relatively safe and more importantly in those days (given the current climate!). Warm! I'm still yet to see a single photograph anywhere of Silver Street in past times for some reason?!

There was an enormous cull of pubs in Coventry in the years just before the First World War. Those pubs that did survive were probably saved by the new restrictions on opening hours, imposed as a 'temporary measure' at the outbreak of WW1 and not lifted until 70 years later! Shorter opening hours meant lower costs and more trade during the fewer hours they were allowed to open.

Taken from Rob's time machine section: Seems I'm right in thinking in past times Silver Street was little more that a narrow passageway.

That's an optical illusion created by the camera angle I believe? Photographs often compress perspective making distant buildings appear much closer than in real life. There's a tram wire visible in the top left corner of the picture making it no older than the 1888 map by which time the entrance to Silver Street was very wide indeed.

I couldn't have put it better myself! Your message, Dutchman, went on while I was looking through my postcards for a suitable image, so here it is.... and isn't it amazing how a different angle makes the apparently narrow Silver Street look so different! There's no way, from the photo above which is looking north, that you'd ever imagine a wide street entrance. Bishop Street, looking southwards towards the Burges, 1905

Great photo Rob, didn't Peeping Tom look out towards the Burges sometime ? Look at that dog running in the road, imagine it today Aaawww, just look at that couple walking hand in hand Then there is that clock, it keeps turning up all over. They must have been the good old days my grandma used to talk about. No TV and adverts then !!!!!