Upper Foleshill (New Inn Bridge to The Parting of the Heaths)

The hardware store on the opposite corner of Elmsdale Ave from Starkey's was W. Izzard (Always thought it was Wizzard) It did become a laundrette (I had forgotten that : It must have gone CLEAN out of my mind) The cycle shop was almost opposite Jill's Barbecue and was next door to The Wheatsheaf and was Dodd's.

Shows how our memories let us down. Was there also an old boy who repaired motor-cycles, I seem to remember him working on the field behind the shops.

Johnwright, reading through this topic,and your post 126 I wondered if he took his pan and brush to the rumour surrounding the unveiling of the statue in Broadgate in 49.?

johnwright, My wife has just informed me, that at the age of twelve she took her first dancing lesson in the Foleshill Social Club opposite Parkstone road, that would be about 56 time, went quite often with her parents for some years. Regards kaga.

Norman Q and K, Talking yesterday to an old boy about the Thomas Inch dumbbell, reminded me of, Lockhurst Lane, just before the railway, almost opposite Livingstone road there was a small Bric-a-brac shop, in the window the guy displayed a photo of himself as a strong -arm guy, he sold books and things of Charles Atlas and Thomas Inch, he also sold old photo's and postcards of Coventry and it's people, you could get about fifty for a threepenny bit, or was it a Joey? Wondered if you knew the shop? Kaga.

Just found this link, Tricia that you might like. It's about Nuneaton industries, but this page about Sterling Metals in Coventry caught my eye.

Hi Philip, Thank you for the info on Sterling Metals, I was interested to read how the company started. It looked an awful dirty place, just as dad described it. I met someone recently who had worked for a short time at the Sterling. He had also worked down the mines and said that there was little difference between the two. This explained why my dad used to come home from work very very tired and filthy.

Hi all, been looking for ages to see if any former Albion drop workers are still about. I started there in 1955 aged 15 as a clipper on the board hammers and went stamping when I was about sixteen and a half. I left just before it closed and got married to the wages clerk. We have been together since 1964. I remember the nurse was Mrs Duffy. I ended up on the friction hammers in no.8, very hard graft but good money. Joe Gilliver

I worked at Albion Drop Forging in 1961 I worked on inspection next to the grinding shop, one of the chaps I worked with was Roy Elkin he was at school Windmill Rd at the same time as me. He was a England schoolboy international at football.

Does anyone know what year the Old Church Road canal bridge was widened/ strengthened? It has been suggested about 1964/65 but I feel it was a bit later.

I can confirm that the present bridge was built in 1973. Obviously Old Church Road was shut during this time so to get to somewhere like Lythalls Lane from Bell Green involved a diversion via Hall Green Rd and Windmill Rd or a trip down to Cross Rd and back up Foleshill Rd.

Went past the RAOB Club (Buffs) (formerly Foleshill Social Club) today. A very sad sight. I worked behind the bar there and it formed a large slice of my youth.

Derrickarthur. Thankyou for putting those photos on showing the demolishing of the old Buffs club. As you say it is a very sad sight to see. I grew up in Parkstone Road and have so many fond memories of when it was the Foleshill Social Club. I suppose this is what they call progress. Any idea what they are going to build there?

John Wright. The large Ramgahria Gurdwara Sikh Temple is next door and they are always short of parking on special religious occasions. They have bought the site and erected new fencing and gates with Sikh designs [see photos] The available parking is huge so I don't know if they will build or leave for parking.

1956 and my wife learnt to dance in that building, and my parents lived in the canal house. Sterling Metals had now been moved to Nuneaton, and long gone was the fire station. And Courtaulds had been spinning nylon since 1941, its gates down by the canal in Old Church Road. The road outside the tram depot had been torn up by a bomb, a 6-7 foot piece of tram-line hurled down by the canal. Yep I knew the area well, but long lost names.