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

Hi Kaga, When you say the old tram depot, do you mean the one next to the Foleshill fire station opposite the Old Church Road? I can remember the tram lines still embedded in the tarmac in the depot. We had one of my young nephews staying with us, round about the mid 1950s and he set fire to a pile of old tyres in the depot so that he could watch the fire engines come out. I have just realised I may have told this before! I Googled where this tram depot used to be but it appears to have been knocked down and another premises built, I wonder if any other member knows what it now is.

Yes john. The premises are now occupied by ABC van hire.

A photo here!

johnright, yes, opposite Old Church Rd. I remember it clearly, the trams going in and out, can't remember the name of the pole on top of the tram, but the driver would get out, pull the pole round to the other end, attach it to the overhead wire, with the little wheel, so he had a driving seat both ends of the tram, the back of the wooden passenger seats I believe slid back and forth, depending which way you wanted to face, now this was a long time ago, so I stand to be corrected, and would love someone to confirm if I have it right or not. What I do know for sure, there was a piece of tram line, about twenty feet long, from outside the depot that was blown almost down to the canal during the bombing, believe there was a photo of it in the Cov Evening Telegraph. Believe there was a pathway between the fire station and the depot, that led into the allotments. Several times in the early fifties, when the fire crew from that station went over the Old Church Rd canal bridge they would lose lengths of hose on that bridge, even the ladder on the big wheels used to come unhooked. Midland Red, thanks for those photo's of the tram depot, undid a few kinks in the brain cells.

100 yards from the tram depot (Bedworth side) was an old roadway lined with horse chestnut trees (still there) that led up to the Coventry Housing Club but before that it led to the Foleshill Workhouse. See attached map from circa 1897 which shows the tramway depot and Workhouse with its tree-lined entrance that was opposite Old Church Road which in those days was called Chapel Lane. Back then, Lythalls Lane was called Foleshill Hall Lane

Derrickarthur. Thanks for putting that old map of Little Heath up, I remember the Horse Chestnut [conker] trees well, we gathered many, many conkers from them as kids. At the back of the tram depot and the fire station was waste ground in our time, where we used to play. Behind the fire station there was an old aeroplane which the fire brigade would set fire to and practise putting it out. Opposite the fire station was a place called Chapel Square shown on the old map. I had an aunt who lived there and I remember visiting. It was demolished many years ago. Where did you get the old map from? I have been trying to get hold of a Coventry street map for about the mid 1950s for ages.

Is this one any use on my Old Map Scans page?

Derrickarthur, great map, now we can see where we are. I thought the tree lined path was more opposite the Wheatsheaf pub,I also thought the wasteland was once allotments. Behind the tram depot on the corner of Lythalls lane where it bends down to the Foleshill rd, two guys started a partnership of a small factory, plus the old buildings on the opposite side of the road, think that may have been the early fifties.but even though I lived two miles away as a boy. there where a couple of amusing incidents in that area that opened my eyes to a wider world.

I remember the old buildings you mentioned,one of them was a blacksmith, I think there was path by the side which led too the Riley car works.The buildings on the opposite corner was a timber yard.

There used to be a row of houses that ran from Lythalls Lane towards the Foleshill Road, just by where the junction of Bedlam Lane is. The houses ran behind Elmsdale Avenue and you could walk down to the 3 Horseshoes I think. It was about where The Cherry Tree is now, though that used to ba a working man's club in those days. I think it might have been called Bates Field, or something like it.

Disorganised1 The way from Lythalls Lane to Foleshill Road actually came out opposite the Wheatsheaf pub (and still does) rather than the 3 Horseshoes which is further up, between King George's Avenue and Old Church Road. Between Lythalls Lane & Barton Road the row of houses is called Booth's Fields and from Barton Road to Foleshill Road & past the William IV pub yhe path is Bacon's Yard. Between Booth's Fields & the Cherry Tree Club was another old row of cottages called Alexandra Terrace

Yes Derrickarthur. You are 100% correct with your description of Booths Fields from Lythalls Lane to Foleshill Road and past the William IV public house. The Wheatsheaf Inn was dead opposite the William pub on the other side of the Foleshill Road. Did you know any of the Wootton family who lived in Booths Fields? Also you are correct about Alexandra Terrace, I had a friend called Leslie Poole who lived there and went to Windmill Road school same time as me. I remember the Cherry Tree Club as well, watched the FA Cup Final there a couple of times, and on a Saturday night they used to have a cabaret and dance night which we used to go to. The wood yard on the bend in Lythalls Lane you referred to in a previous thread was Kelly's Woodyard, we played in there as kids and the grounds led down to the railway track.

My dad lived in Alexander Terrace, his name was Bill Poole. My grandma was named Winifred Poole/Stokes and my grandad was Ernie Stokes. I started my life in Booths Field, my mum went to Windmill Rd school, her name was Janet Collins.

Hi SkyBlueRocker, It would be a coincidence if there were two families living in Alexandra Terrace with the same name as Poole. My old schoolmate was named Les Poole, being the same age as myself he would have been born about 1944 and went to Windmill Road school from about 1949 to 1960. I did not know a Bill Poole but he could have been Les Poole's brother or other relation. I cannot remember a Janet Collins, your mum, who went to Windmill Road school, but she could have been in a different year to me or is Collins not her maiden name? I mentioned the Wootton family who lived in Booths Field. My schoolmate was Micky Wootton, he had a sister Ennis and a brother Dennis, I believe there was another brother but I have forgotten his name. They lived in the second house on the left as you went up Booths Field from Barton Road. I did know others who lived in Booths Field but just can't remember names [it's an age thing]. Please let me know if any of this rings a bell with you.

Les Poole is my dad's relation, I think it's his cousin. My dad passed away a few years ago. I recognise the name Ennis Wootton, but I'm not sure where from. Tom Stokes and Susan Stokes are my aunt and uncle. Collins was my mum's maiden name. She was one of eight brothers and sisters, Jean, June, John, Frank, Alan, Margaret and Cynthia all with the surname Collins. I only lived in Booths Field till I was 4. But spent a lot of time at my grandma's, they lived at 2 Alexander Terrace for her whole life.