Radford Primary School and Coundon Court

Does anyone know where this school in Coventry was, at first I thought the little boy was Philip in his school cap

Hi all I was not born until 1947, so sorry not me. I do feel every vibe of the youngsters in the photo.

It's high up in the city wherever it is, by the hill it's on, looking at the slope of the houses opposite and the view in the distance.

It could be Radford Primary school which was destroyed in 1941. The present school is further back and I haven't found any pictures yet of the original position of the school. There are houses of that type opposite and the brickwork round the window of the damaged house next to the school looks like the end house next to the school on the Radford Road.

Thank you Annewiggy.

I have Anne, it's a perfect match

If you look on google street maps and look at the house next door to the school you can see on the right of the picture I think that will confirm it. The style of the houses opposite on the right look similar but obviously they have been repaired or rebuilt. I am not quite sure what it is you can see in the distance. I went to Radford Primary when it was rebuilt. Like Philip I was born in 1947 so not old enough to be in this picture.

Here they are, but at ground level the houses on the right of the picture are lot higher on the other side of the road from the school, but in Morgana 's link the houses are on same level as the school. Courtesy: www.britainfromabove.org.uk

Having said that, look at the chimney next door to the school

It is that school!!!!!! Look at the shape of the windows in my first photo from above

It was the brickwork round the window of the house next door that did it for me, bricks stood on end. Our house in Poole Road had a crack in the wall between the hall and the front room. Mum and dad always said they thought it was due to the bombing although they did not live there then.

Just been reading "The life of Riley" by Ron Critchlow on "Your memories" page. He says he attended Radford School in 1938 when he was 8 until it wasn't there Perhaps he is one of the boys in the picture or may have memories of it.

This picture from the book "The Development Plan Coventry 1951" just says one of the new schools completed in 1951 but I am pretty sure it is Radford Primary. On the left is a fish pond that probably health and safety would frown on now but as infants we were given the task of clearing the pond of mermaids hair. I also remember the climbing frame in the playground. I went home for dinner but used to rush back to get a corner, which were the best places. Tuck my skirt in my knickers and hang upside down for the rest of play time. I bet the climbing frames have gone now as well. When I started there in about 1952 I was not aware of what a new school it was or how lucky we were to have such a modern building which was light and airy. We even had a pottery room complete with potters' wheels! There was a lovely big hall and a very well stocked library. I don't remember ever being told about the history of the school and I was not aware of there having been an older building there that was demolished until I got interested in local history. This school was further back from the road and there was just grass where the old buildings would have been which we were only allowed to play on very nice days and sports days. I went from there to Coundon Court and again a building which had played its part in Coventry's history but the only thing I can remember being told was that George Singer had lived there, but I thought he was something to do with sewing machines. I don't remember ever being taught about him or anything about the car industry or any other of the industries in Coventry come to that. The school houses were also named after famous Coventry women but I have just had to Google them to find out what they did. I was in Margery Russell house. I hope that local history is more part of the school curriculum now.

Hi Annewiggy. I found this from the education website. Coundon Court was opened in 1953. 1878 rebuilt, 1893 became Radford DB school when probably moved to present site (Lawrence Saunders Road). All enlarged and joined by G from King Street BR school 1941 building destroyed, 1950 reopened new building. Hope this is a bit of history what you were looking for. Morgana

Mrs Winterton's form class 1965 at CC