Shops of yore

What a coincidence - I also bought my first new bike from City Pram in 1981 a few weeks after starting my apprenticeship at the GEC, once I'd saved a few weeks' wages! I still remember riding it home from Watch Close - a bit wobbly because I'd never ridden a full sized racing bike before. The joy was short-lived though - it was stolen from the bike-shed behind the Butts College three weeks later.

Hi Rob, & Hi all, City Pram also had a shop in Foleshill near to the General Wolf. My Pam had her 'Raleigh 531' from there about 1978. That was our local cycle shop.

Hello everyone. Remember the plough that was on the roof of Mattersons, they still have it on display at their Kingfield Road depot on the right as you go in

It was hard to ignore. I found out only recently it was because the showroom mainly stocked agricultural appliances when it first opened. It's hard to imagine there were that many farms in the Coventry area at the time.

It was called Matterson Huxley and Watson many years ago, they sold bits and pieces for loads of things. My father used to take me there but I cannot recall what he wanted, it was similar to Phillips but on a larger scale, and if they had not got what you wanted they would soon get it for you, not like the shops today, those days have gone forever

Not long before it closed, the Transport Museum used the side of the building with a canopy over it as their way in. There was a car on display in the glass box next to the doors of Matterson's. I can recall as you walked in to Matterson's on the left were gardening stuff, and ahead were things like drain pipes, greenhouse heaters, etc.

If my memory serves me right, as you walked up from Mattersons towards Bishop St and The Burges, there was a cafe on the same side that sold ice-cream from an opening in the front window. Further up past Bishop St, Well Street had a great outdoor and camping shop (Lynes Stores), think it closed about 5 years ago. Frettons had a motorcycle shop up near the top of Bishop St. And as one walked along Lamb Street and behind the old Salvation Army building, part of the old city wall was there I believe. Do any remember the monthly frog march with mum (or yourself) to the Gas and Electric shops to pay the bills ?

Morning Baz, Yes, Was there a 'tea room' in the gas showrooms as well?

Do you mean this Gas showrooms? I think there was a tea room, but not to sure, any helpers out there?

It looks quite an imposing building looking at that photo (year?). Mind you, I am remembering from eons ago also a wrought iron lift to the upper floors. Looking at the ladies' fashions would that have been in the 50's?

Hi all Not only was there a full waitress service restaurant on the upper floor, the iron clad lift had an attendant. I had been a good boy, if I was treated to a Saturday dinner there. The cafe, or tea room was on the ground floor to the left of the building. It is now 9.30am, & time that I was on my way out to make the most of the dry day forecasted, before another period of wet weather starting tomorrow is washing us away. No 56, here I come.

Fond memories for me too, Philip. My mother would sometimes take me to the upstairs restaurant and I remember loving the food there. It was a treat when we went there. It's probably the first 'proper' restaurant I ever went to, if you don't count Fishy Moores as such. We did sometimes go to the cafe downstairs too, where mother would have tea and I would have pop, plus a cake, of course. I was very disappointed when it closed, I recall.

Hi MisterD-Di, Great minds think alike, Hey! Food & Philip are never far apart as my trip today will bear out. Loved your reply

Does any one remember Shamballs Market. It was just up from Mattersons on the other side of the road. There was a small cafe to the rear that led into Palmer Lane. A little before my time, there was also The Rex Market. Does anyone remember where that was. I do have a pic of it and will post it in due course. And as I'm on about markets, there was Intershop, near to the Dome newsagents that was near to the Bull Ring. Does any one know any more ?

I believe it was known as "Shamble's Arcade" Baz? It was on the site of the Rex Cinema Baz. It is now the open-space by the Corporation Street entrance to Smithford Way opposite the Telegraph building. That would be "Bull Yard" Baz. Coventry Bull Ring was the area in front of what is now the Flying Standard pub. Barracks Market, now the Barracks car park. Fleet Street Market, just below where Woolworths is now. In the early 1930s there was also Smithfield meat market off Hales Street in what is now Trinity Street.