Hertford Street

Thanks The sign was the bit that threw me. The Inn started on Warwick Lane and moves north in steps till it ends up at 64/65 on Greyfriars and then gets renamed as the Greyfriars Inn. I'm assuming that it's a lion over the top of the passageway. I'm guessing that he's the one that gets repainted in Kaga's story?

1862 Where the Red Lion staring o'er the way Invites each passing stranger that can pay Aug 20th Coventry Herald. Attempted raid on the Red Lion to paint it white again as of last year's raid - the proprietor caught them redhanded, took them to court, but the court said it would have been better if he had said nothing, there had been no offence. Proprietor (Mr Hunt) said he thought they should go and practice on someone else, they ought not to come twice on one person.

Helen, In the year 1860, the effigy was the White Lion in Smithford St, the owner went bankrupt, sold the Lion effigy to the inn (Mr Hunt) in Hertford St, who painted it red. It stood on the wall over the archway between the inn and the stables, the site of the old Queens Hotel. In '61 some funsters repainted it white. The owner, fearing the same thing the following year, set watch - the culprits were caught with the ladder propped inside the archway (above).

Yes Kaga, that ties in with the maps and the dates. My only issue would be that the lion in the photo marked 1874 is on the Warwick Lane end of the Red Lion Yard, not the Hertford Street side. The only map that shows the inn is the 1850 map and there was a building in the space in the photo. Was that demolished before 1861 when the lion was acquired? The inn at the time was to the left of the yard, whereas in the photo it is to the right. So it's possible that for a time this lion was at the Hertford Street end or were there two lions at some point? Once Hertford Street was built, the inn was accessed from that end (the rear) for ease of entry but originally it would have received people from the Warwick Lane end. CORRECTION The lion was actually halfway up the yard and the photo was looking south east not north west as I originally thought. So the Inn was on the right and the malt house on the left. This lion appears to have a child riding its back. Is there a story behind that?

Further to Kaga's story, articles in the newspaper 23rd August 1862. The gentlemen doing the painting were two members of the fire brigade. When they were caught that time they had a kettle of black paint. They promised at that time there would be no more practical jokes.

Helen, Clear photo for its age, but no, I don't think there's anything on the lion's back, but it has moved position again - wonder if photo was taken for any reason? Maybe they had just won the vote or something, or the oldest guys on the forum. If they want me to join their fire brigade they can think again. Last time I was with the brigade in Hertford Street, they threw a knotted rope over the shops, it snaked down, the knot came down and broke the window. They walked away, left me facing the shop owner. A guy in Hertford Street had two tea canisters, with a black background and Chinese figures in gold relief - he was very proud of them in his shop window. One morning he saw a scratch on them, and called lustily for Joe. When Joe appeared from the basement, he grabbed him by the ear and dragged him to the canisters. "Look, where's that scratch come from?" he yelled, giving the ear a tug. Joe looked. "It's not a scratch, sir, it's his fishing rod, sir".

It's mentioned on the cafes thread but as it was on Hertford Street - Pattisons in 1964

Neil, how wonderful to see Pattison's again! When in my last year at Woodlands in the first 6th Form, I cycled from there daily to have my lunch and cycled back again. No time to hang around though! Apart from the Geisha which our family knew well (my elder brother's wedding reception there) Pattison's was I think the most attractive cafe in Coventry post war. Interesting both survived the bombing.

Can you pinpoint its location Prof? I believe it was at the northern end up by the banks/High Street? BTW, thanks again must go to my friend Cliff Berwick on FB for the photo.

Actually I've just found the answer to my own question - it's the problem when you have probably too many photos sat on your laptop!

As daft as it sounds I hadn't actually realised that the Pattisons building is the China Red Cantonese restaurant still there today! A comparable (unbelievable as it is!) view today to the one I posted above - although it's changed again from this Google Maps image as Etna's next door has now been demolished as well. They really did mess up the street, didn't they? Must have had to bring in a lot of landfill to create that pedestrianised level under the covered walkway area up to Broadgate - what made them think to do that?!?

Hi NeilsYard, what an interesting photo of Hertford Street with all the bunting and crowd barriers. What year was it taken, and what was the event?

Demolition in Hertford Street

I would guess late 1960's and the Carnival Procession which would start at the Memorial Park and wind its way past Warwick Row and up to Broadgate via Hertford St, before going round the city centre, Corporation St, The Butts, Albany Rd, to Spencer Park. The Cub Scouts I assume would be on their way to the Memorial Park as the spectators are not that 'deep' when the picture was taken. The Carnival was also in June which would indicate the nice weather.

I suggest that the event is associated with the 1957 9th World Scout Jamboree which was held at Sutton Park. The banners across Hertford Street seem to have a Jamboree insignia at each end and this fits with the large numbers of Cubs and Scouts in the picture.