Peeping Tom

Excellent, Anne. We now know that the Woodcocks weren't in ownership when the building was rebuilt and we have a rough date for the road widening, 1775. By Reader I assume it means William Reader, not articles written by readers, although there were quite a few of those on Coventry history and buildings. From wikisource his works are: 1. 'An Authentic Record of the Lammas Grounds belonging to the City of Coventry, from the original record by Humphrey Wanley in the British Museum,' 1810, 12mo. 2. 'A Description of the Churches of St. Michael and the Holy Trinity, Coventry,' 1815, 8vo. 3. 'The Charter granted by James I to the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the City of Coventry in 1621,' 1816, 8vo. 4. 'New Coventry Guide, containing the History and Antiquities of that City,' Coventry [1824?], 12mo. 5. 'The History of Leofric, Earl of Mercia, and his Countess Godiva, from authentic records, with the Origin and Description of Coventry Show Fair,' Coventry, 1827, 18mo; 2nd edit., 1830, 12mo; 3rd edit., 1834, 8vo. 6. 'A Guide to St. Mary's Hall, Coventry,' Coventry, 1827, 12mo. 7. 'Persecutions at Coventry by the Roman Catholics from 1380 to 1557,' 1829, 8vo. 8. 'Description of St. Michael's Church, Coventry, with Inscriptions from the Monuments,' Coventry, 1830, 12mo. 9. 'Domesday Book for the County of Warwick, translated, with a brief Dissertation on Domesday Book, and Biographical Notices of the Ancient Possessors,' Coventry, 1835, 4to; 2nd edit., with brief introduction by Evelyn Philip Shirley, Warwick [1879], 4to. 10. 'A List of the Bailiffs, Sheriffs, and Mayors of Coventry.' Reader published in the 'Coventry Mercury' many articles on the ancient and modern history of the city; he was an occasional correspondent of the 'Gentleman's Magazine' from 1809 to 1852; and he also made some contributions to the 'Collectanea Topographica et Genealogica.' The records might be from a mix of these or there may have been others. A lot of old stuff has been lost over the years.

Another little snippet from the Coventry Herald, 24th January 1914, which gives a little more description of the house. Mention been made of the removal of a "tenement" in Grey Friars Lane in 1753, on account of "the many misfortunes which have happened in the Turning of Carriages" at this place. It is necessary to remember that Grey Friars Lane then extended only from Ford's Hospital to Cow Lane, the thoroughfare which opens into High Street being then (as it is now, really) a continuation of Warwick Lane. The advertisement proves that in 1753 the number vehicles entering the city from the south was so great that all could not proceed through Warwick Lane into High Street; some passed through Grey Friars Lane into Warwick Lane and so into High Street; others, no doubt, went through Cow Lane into Little Park Street. The tenement in question was probably a corner house. But, whatever it was, its removal did not lessen the congestion of Warwick Lane to any considerable extent. Accidents frequently occurred at the point Warwick Lane terminated in High Street Here coaches from Bristol, Stratford, and Warwick would collide with those passing through the city on their way from London to Birmingham. At the corner (the site is still vacant] stood, in 1775, a half-timbered house belonging to Alderman Owen. This house was bought and taken down in that year, apparently with the idea of widening the lane throughout its length; a purpose which was not proceeded with. What gives an interest to the fact is that the effigy of Peeping Tom occupied a niche in the upper storey of the house, and had probably occupied it ever since the "base churl" was introduced into the legend: that is ninety-seven years before. 'The house," said Wigstead, writing in 1797, "is said to be the very house from whence he attempted to gratify his curiosity (9!) The effigy was removed to a house next door (to the east) of the King's Heed Inn. where it remained until the conversion of that historical old inn into the King's Head Hotel, at the corner of Hertford Street in 1879: when what will probably prove a permanent home for it was found in that spacious and handsome structure. The advert it refers to is quoted at the beginning of the piece about coach transport and is about purchase of a tenement in the occupation of Mr Goodall.

So was the building removed in 1753 or 1775? There may have been more than one tenement demolished and the earlier date reflected that. There was at least one missing building on the west side of Greyfriars by 1807. Greyfriars extended at least one ancient building south of Ford's in 1749 but after that I'm not sure how many were still old. In 1610 the timber houses extended all the way to Cow Lane but there was only one building on the west side and it wasn't until the Civil War that the rest of Greyfriars and Warwick Lane were filled in. Many of them were dismantled and rebuilt buildings from outside the city walls. Moved for their occupants' protection and to clear areas beyond the gate lest they be used as barricades for the Cavalier forces shooting at the gates. It makes sense that the upper part of the road was originally Warwick Lane, not Greyfriars because it was the start of the Warwick Road.

It's not clear but I think Mr Goodall's was removed in 1753 and the other in 1775. Are they saying that they still had the problem so they knocked down another building?

As with some planning endeavours I think that they were buying up properties as they came available or the owners could be persuaded to sell. The first might have been Mr Goodall in 1753 but the gap in the map was about half way up Greyfriars from the bit where Greyfriars and Warwick Lane splits. I agree that they bought the one at the junction from Alderman Owen in 1775 and immediately widened the road but it had to have bollards to protect the remaining buildings on the corners. At some point someone thought 'hang on, why are we buying loads of buildings along an old road that joins a difficult junction, when we could just buy a small handful of homes and build an entirely new road with the right proportions and an opportunity to sell land for grand new houses?' A promise of the new houses might have been the decider for the critical property owners. Including the one in the Peeping Tom sketch.

This is the advert, Helen. Re-reading it, it does not say that it was demolished. They just mention an opportunity to purchase it "Willing to promote so good a design" - what does that mean? Plans for another building? While we have been talking about Greyfriars Lane, I realise that I don't think in all the time that I lived in Coventry I ever went down there. Most of the streets I used most in the 60's in my teenage years involved ones with shops - clothes shops, shoe shops, make up shops etc. so why would I need to go down there, no shops! It also occured to me that I did not know where Fords Hospital was, and considering we got married not far away in the register office (does it sound better if I say Cheylesmore Manor House?) then that is terrible.

From a 1908 Coventry Herald. Early Coventry Events. Goodall and Gulson were bankers. Their bank in High Street was taken over in 1839. They were Quakers. It's amazing, the information is all there if we look long enough!

Great stuff Anne but now I'm thoroughly confused. I get that they had a meeting at the Craven Arms to discuss widening the road and were raising money for it but I've lost track which properties were which.

You are confused? So am I and I am posting this stuff! I think the 1753 article means that they had raised the money and pulled down Mr Goodall's property and widened the road. Then the further property, Mr Cooke's, was pulled down in 1774. But I could be wrong I am going to lie down now!!

CliffB has come up trumps with the Kings Head Tom circa late 1890s - and possibly inside the Hotel!

Thank you and a very Merry Christmas to you and yours and to all the Mods and punters also.

Especially the Mods with Scooters !