Spon End

One of the finest images of the Cock, that looks like it was just a domestic property by the time it was photographed but the court behind was still called Cock Court. Note the high archway, used I'm guessing to take horses if not coaches. I think I've heard somewhere that it was a coaching inn for less wealthy travellers. The lower storey and the ground floor are medieval but the date of the top floor is up for debate. The thinner wooden struts are most likely Elizabethan or more recent. Originally the walls would have been infilled with lath and plaster. The brick noggin is a much later addition. Post English Civil War I'm guessing as bricks were very expensive before that and only tended to be used in high class buildings. It stood where the Bethel Chapel was constructed. When that was excavated recently for redevelopment they hoped to find some clues about the Cock, but I don't think they found anything significant. Link to Bygone Spon - the houses between The Broomfield and the Cock pubs, as seen from the archway into the Cock Court also known as Court 1 on the later maps. At one point the building fronting Spon End was a school. There are several copies of Bunney paintings of those old buildings at the Bygone FB site. Click on the picture and then the onscreen left arrow to see them. Two good pictures of the Broomfield Tavern To the left of the first picture you can just see the Cock Court from the back.

Coventry-Nuneaton Railway was constructed in 1848/9, a bridge was built at Spon End. In January 1857 it fell down, causing a sensation in the city. The bridge was said to be unsafe for some time before the accident - made of red sandstone and not of great span. The contractor was asked about the security of the arches and abutments before the accident, and said "They will last as long as I live". He died the day before the accident. Re-erected of blue-brick and wider span.

There was a pub near the bridge called the 'Punch Bowl'. Some youths planned to rob it, the landlord a Mr Bobbet, caught them in the act. A neighbour came into the room and was knifed, A youth named Bradshaw (alias Duckfat) was caught with the knife in his hand. Before the judge at the Assizes, he was condemned to be hung. Awaiting in jail, they sent him on errands hoping he would run away, even telling him no one would look for him. He would not take the hint and was hung on Whitley Common before ten thousand people.

Kaga, thanks. This is well covered in the thread Edward 'Duckfat' Bradshaw. The victim was an ancestor of mine.

He is a terrific shot, though sadly of demolition, of Albion Street with what I think is the junction with Moat Street to the right. The Globe pub in its final days to the left, circa late 50's.

Might be one for Helen - apparently this is Spon End, 1902 - any idea where Helen? I'm always hoping to find a court image of Court No.7 behind the Black Horse - this couldn't be there, could it?

A nice image but it's Court 4 looking east on the south side of the road. There was a flurry of similar images about that time and I think it was just before demolition to create Melbourne Road. The Black Horse yard is a bit of a dark horse, pardon the pun. As is the cottage next door. You can see a bit of it from Britain From Above I think.

You are brilliant Helen!

That came out wrong, I'll try again. Happy Well I ought to have learned something over the last 8/9 years even if it's not dates. Thanks

I think this is taken somewhere around Sherbourne Street looking south over the newly diverted Sherbourne. You can see the Technical College in the distance.

Hi NeilsYard, I was just passing when I read your post so I thought I'd have a look. I think the photo is from the footbridge next to Spon Gate House, but it could possible have been taken from the old Upper Spon Street bridge with a bit of zoom (pre footbridge). The photo is from the footbridge. The vegetation has grown somewhat over the last sixty(?) years so it is difficult to get an exact angle. Peter.

Well spotted. Something that doesn't occur to us 21st century types is how much vegetation was controlled in the past. Land was nibbled, mowed, coppiced and harvested. Farming made way for parks departments. Now the land is rewilding.

Good work Peter Yes Helen - the early images of the Memorial Park looks sooo different to today with just saplings instead of the massive trees they have grown into now.

Prof, Is the chapel this ruin next to the bridge? There is quite a good likeness. Peter.