Stoke Green

I have found in 'The Coventry we have lost' page 75 another b & w photo looking away from town up Binley Road, Bulls Head (right) and site of the later Empress Buildings with which looks like what became Duckhams and the Post Office on the left. This might suggest that the Smithy was after all where the Empress Buildings later were built. But the map uploaded by Rob might suggest the Smithy stood where the service road in front of Empress Buildings was - perhaps no more today. Anyone have a present day photo or could upload one mentioned here?

Like this?

Yes, Midland Red. Many thanks. I had not seen before what replaced the Co-op grocery where my father-in-law was once manager for many years. The butchery was I think just around the corner. I can't see whether the small arcade with a blind end is still there. It looks as if it may have gone. I think it was in the centre of the Buildings.

Here is another view Between Freshest (by postbox) and Gift City (yellow sign) are shutters across what I think you may be referring to - I think it's a small arcade area, though I may be wrong

MR, you are correct, there is/was an Irish shop amongst others in the arcade where you could buy Irish newspapers and magazines. They used to sell allsorts of Irish foods, soda breads come to mind and my favourite Donnellys pork sausages, if you havent tasted one you,ve never lived

Thank you Midland Red and Matchle55. It was in the centre as I recall so that must be it. As children you could run around and shout out to hear an echo! So amazing that the Fish & Chip Bar is still in the exact same place!

this is a old postcard dated 1905.

Link to another I've seen how popular this has become since it opened Time to bring back the birch?

Does anyone have memories of Stoke National School? I started school there in 1943 and left in1948 to move to Folly Lane as boys were only accepted to the age of eight. First teacher was Miss Grindrod, tall and slim (and bespectacled?) Then Miss Moon in the next class who married and became Mrs Smith (?) finally in Miss Portlock's class. Miss Portlock had taught my father and his twin sister before me. To us she seemed very old but was probably no more than 40. Miss Steel was the headmistress and before her Miss Garlick. They were happy days and one of my memories is the announcement of the death of President Roosevelt in Washington DC. We had little idea who he was or what contribution he had made in bringing America into the war. The rector's daughter, Rosemary Ashcroft was in my class. The Rector would come into Miss Portlock's class and we were taught to show we knew the ten commandments learned by rote. My friend at the time was John Watts, who also moved to Folly Lane when I did. He and I joined Stoke library on the same day, and passed his house en route to the corner of Walsgrave Road. Anyone in the Forum who was there during wartime too?

Although I don't have any personal information about the school, I can contribute this lovely old picture, which I scanned from Blyth's "History of Stoke" published in 1898.

Here is a more recent view

Thank you Rob and Midland Red. What memories the b & w photo evokes! The younger children used the left hand entrance which led to two classrooms, one larger; one smaller. The right hand cloakroom (complete with coathooks, known by some as chapel hatpegs) led to the classroom of Miss Portlock. The 'offices' were round the side to the left and the headmistress occupied a wooden hut reached by going to the right hand end of the building and turning left behind the front that is showing. The right hand corner of the playground, where the boundary hedge met behind railings, had a low branch which served as a seat on which generations of children must have sat. Discipline was strict in those days "Thumbs in prison" was one of Miss Portlock's specialities. It meant putting your hands behind your back and linking thumbs. I doubt if anyone below the age of 60 has ever heard of such a thing. One had to greet the teacher when greeted with "Good Morning....." or of course any visitor or the headmistress who came into the classroom. Times Tables and poetry and parts of the Bible were learned by rote, speaking with one voice at the same time. In winter two boys would be chosen to carry the milk crates filled with 1/3 pint bottles of frozen milk into the classroom where the crates were placed by the tortoise stove to melt. The milk tasted horrible on those freezing days and even had ice left in it.

Good news for once - a £34,700 Lottery Grant awarded

NEIGHBOURS in the Stoke area of Coventry are celebrating winning a £34,700 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore the historic Joseph Levi Memorial Clock. The friends, led by Corinne Spencer of Hugh Road, Stoke, have been campaigning for about 15 months to get the four metre-high clock restored and erected in Stoke Green, and have raised £6,000 themselves through a number of community events. The clock was known to generations of Coventry families. It was erected back in 1934, paid for by public subscription to honour the work of philanthropic societies led by businessman Joseph Levi. It stood next to the children's paddling pool in Stoke Green Park, alongside Binley Road, until 2011. Having fallen into disrepair, the clock was taken down by the city council and put into storage when a children's play area was built on the site, but local residents were determined to rescue it. Corinne explained: "It was erected over 80 years ago when the community came together to honour the societies which had helped the poor and destitute in Coventry, and it seems right and fitting for the community to come together again to restore it. "It's an important part of the history of the area and of the city, and it should not be allowed to rot away." The restored clock will stand in a prominent landscaped spot alongside Stoke Green park, called Godcake Island, visible to everyone entering and leaving the city via Binley Road. But the restoration is just part of the project. An information board on the site will explain its significance, and Corinne's team is also producing information packs for primary schools to help with the local history part of the national curriculum. The schools are already interested in the idea and their backing for the project was a key factor in persuading the Heritage Lottery Fund to award the grant. "We're really excited by the project," said Corinne. "We want the clock back not just for itself, but also as a symbol of the community working together to bring alive the history of our area. "Once again generations of Coventry people will see the clock and know what it represents."

Hi, I was most amused to read your post quoting that 'midgets' occupied the cottages. I can confirm that having lived in one of them for 21 years and my parents living there for over 60 years that this is not correct. If there is anything specific you would like to know I am sure I can help as I have known these cottages and the neighbours all my life.