How Old is That Building?

Actually, I've gone the wrong way with the house numbering. The empty plot was to the south of banner house 29, 30. 27 would have been the old property with bay fronts. That would fit the descriptions and might have been mistaken for Bridgeman's House. That did have a courtyard behind and I think I have a Troughton sketch of it. Now that is interesting! Anne you're a genius. 26 looks like a two story timber building.

So below is one of the articles/letters I think Anne was referring to. They don't have definitive proof that Banner House was the Georgian building in the paintings, they're just trying to work it out. Banner House didn't resemble the Georgian House in the paintings by the time Sydney Bunney painted it. It had three full storeys, squatter windows. Different door and door location... and so on. Coventry Standard 28th Apr 1916 The next letter remembers the rear of the house next door to Banner House but not the very distinctive front of Bridgeman's. This fits with what I think was behind number 27. Coventry Standard 12th May 1916

I think you might have to shift some if this to Little Park Street Helen ! I find it very strange that there does not seem to be a picture if Banner House considering it is mentioned so many times. Looking through the newspaper again it seems to have a lit if connection to the Bowling Green and looking at the 1749 map under map scans I think it helps to work out the layout of the buildings. An article in a 1941 CET says that Banner House was built in 1765. There was a bowling green on the site then, There was also evidence that a 14th century sandstone building had existed on the site as traces still remain. It had some connection with the parish council of Holy Trinity. At some time the council had complained because a south facing wall had been pulled down and a Thomas Clay was given permission to build up the wall and erect a house on the plot. The parochial council must have been pleased with it as they described it as a fine house ( I am quoting the newspaper so I don't) know where they got their info ) I have lso now found the 1891 census. Number 31 was Purcell Licensed victualler 30 and 29 pulled diwn 28 William Goate. His wife was mentioned in another article as being at Banner House 27 paper box maker The ruins of the Bowling Green after the bombing From the 1749 map Could the house with the recess and the gardenby the word Street be Bridgemans and the one by P in Park with a garden in front of the Bowling Green be Banner House with our missing house numbers between them. Helen you know what should be there better than me

Yes, you've got the locations correct. 1765 would fit my theory that Banner House was a later design than the recessed building in the Bridgeman's House pictures. I estimate the design on that to be from very early 1700, like Kirby House. I agree that this stuff is LPS related but it's quite in depth stuff that fits with the How Old is That Building topic. The only pictures of Banner House that I've seen were by Sydney Bunney. For some reason he was the sole artist who was interested in the Georgian buildings. His is also the only image of the front of Palace Yard, despite countless artists and photographers capturing the internal yard. I think it was a case of - you don't know what you've got till it's gone. More cracking stuff Anne

I've never noticed the bowling green on LPS before - I think you can see on this BFA image