Canley (inc. Sir Henry Parkes School)

Hello all Please can anyone provide any info about the owners of this business card? Or, any info about whether there was a shop or whatever?

Hi Philip, the names on the card mean nothing to me, but there certainly wouldn't be a shop premises at that address. It appears it was sold in 2000 for £26,000 and for £88,000 in 2006.

Hi & thank you Tony

Wouldn't need a shop for "delivering to your door" though!

Even a mobile, say van, lorry or horse & cart.

I realise this should more accurately be in the post for Coventry Pubs but does anyone remember the old Dolphin pub in Prior Deram Walk? The one I'm referring to was on the same site as the current one but was a low single storey timber building, painted green with one main central entrance in the middle at the front and another at one end for an Off-Licence, I think. In the late fifties, many nights my brother and I were given packets of Smiths crisps and a bottle of pop to consume in the car in the front car park, with mum often popping out to see we were o.k. (bored and cold really!) No, we were never attacked by anyone and my dad never collided with anything on the drive home just a few streets away

Hi Les, Yes I also recall the original Dolphin pub. I walked passed it almost every day on my way to/from Sir Henry Parkes School. Never went in as my parents spent most of their "social" life up at "Canley Club"

Hello And all the main supermarkets are now selling this to us as a new idea. Delivery to your door!! How things go in circles Paula

I remember the old Dolphin - looked more like a large green shed than a pub. My girlfriend lived just round the corner in Mayor's Croft circa 1956-61.

During the 50s I used to help my Dad on his Co-op butchers van. He travelled all over the Canley and Tile Hill estates and also Willenhall. I had to knock on the doors to let the housewives know that we were nearby. I suppose that, following the war, there was a mad effort to get the houses built and the shops came later so most shopping was done at mobiles. Our very young family lived in Whoberley hostels in the late 40s but were given a new council house at Empire Road in Tile Hill. I vividly remember the tarmac being laid on the new roads because the priority was to get people housed while all the other amenities came later.

Just found this photo of the Cov Rad factory..

Yes I worked there for 15 years, George Anderson was works convenor, I believe the pub across the road has closed down.

Hi Folks , You may have seen the planning application for new houses on the old Henry Parkes school fields. At the moment the councils planning website is not working but there is a link to the plans here. The link above discusses how the new development is "fenced in" and raises a couple of possible paths. Does anyone have any memories of walking in this area? I agree with the link that fencing this development in is a bad idea (it does nothing for community integration) and am wondering whether we can get something done about that: Can you remember using or seeing this footpath diagonal across the playing fields and emerging on Queen Margaret's Road (between number 60 and 62)? I know it dates back a long time as it is visible on a 1945-1950 aerial image. Please let me know if you can remember seeing or using it. OpenStreetMap Thanks, Rob

Hi Rob, and welcome to our Historic Coventry Forum I've tried to locate the planning application but not had any luck as yet. I'll try again later. A couple of questions:- Can I ask what you mean by "fenced in"? and are you trying to ascertain whether this "footpath" is a public one? I can certainly recall it being used for many years, but whether it is an "official" public footpath is another matter. Do we know whether a bid has been successful yet? It isn't clear from the Coventry Council website as to whether they have yet accepted any of the bids (and what those bids were?)

Hi Tony, Thanks for the kind welcome. I've been a silent observer for a few years now - fantastic website. By "fenced in" I mean that this new development makes little attempt to integrate with its neighbours. There is a proposed fence along the north western edge (up against Henry Parkes Community woodland - planted in 1992?), and the plans aren't particularly clear as to whether pedestrian access will be provided through this fence into the woodland (and the rest of the Canley corridor) or the site of the old youth centre. Access to Queen Margaret's Road was definitely proposed to be blocked by a new house and garden (plot 183). What this meant was that residents living in the new houses in the north west part who want to access the woodland or Queen Margaret's Road, could have to walk all the way round three and 3/4 sides of a square. Clearly you can tell I wasn't a fan of this. Mainly because it does nothing for community relations, but also promotes car use over walking. So yes, I was in the process of applying for this to be designated as an official public footpath (to ensure access). It would appear that the planners have listened / realised there is a strong case for a public right of way, and I am told a new plan is on its way In terms of bids for the land, it looks like Taylor Wimpey will be taking this on - they are the agent for the planning application. I doubt the council will reveal the value of any bids due to the confidential nature of business transactions. It does look like a lot of work has been done in regards to this development, and any land sale would have to go in front of a cabinet meeting, so I'm sure CCC have worked to get the best bid.