Aerial views of Coventry

When I left the UK to go live in Spain, I never really gave 'home' a thought. I was just glad to have a new experience ahead of me. It was less than a two day drive from home, and getting back for visits or re-acquainting myself with proper fish and chips was not exactly a world away. From Spain, I flew to Canada and didn't leave. Were I to take a two day drive now, I would get as far as Halifax, Nova Scotia, but it is the 3,500 mile swim after that which really separates me for home now. I would be like a little lost sheep were it not for the Internet and Google Maps streetview. Instead of integrating into alien surroundings, I have slowly become more staunchly British than ever I was when I lived in the UK, and have picked up numerous photos of Coventry, old and new, the buses, all of it. I even saved a video of West Midlands Police showing how to negotiate the Ring Road just to remind myself of how much fun it was.

Hi all A few more pictures.

Thank you Philip, spent many hours at Warwick Park by the river and Jephson Gardens, Leamington. All my memory bells are ringing, thanks again.

As a matter of fact Coventry after the war carried out little clearance under the Housing Acts ie clearance based solely on the condition of dwellings although this had started around 1900. It was largely carried out under Planning Powers for which the city had obtained Comprehensive Development powers which covered the city centre, Hillfields and Spon End. Individual Compulsory Purchase Orders within these areas were often accompanied by Unfitness Orders - the application of which was to limit compensation to site value only! Although further Comprehensive Development Areas were declared in the 1960s Development Plan the approaches to areas such as Eagle St and Longford were radically changed by the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 and wholesale clearance ceased. Isolated cases of clearance under Housing powers continued but did not always involve purchase unless owners served purchase notices on the council.

Great views from the top of One Friargate in this Telegraph article (which also includes photos of "Coventry buildings that are gone but not forgotten").

Aerial view of city in 1920

Nice photo of the floodlit city

Congratulations Rob and Helen. So much detail (thanks for tip Neil) buildings in West Orchard never seen before. I too noticed cranes could it be rebuild of Woolworth? The white building would seem to be the Co-op further down Smithford St to the right, in part of West Orchard? Boots stands out with its Art Deco frontage.

I've been itching to see a better version of the view since I saw Rob's copy. If anyone has David McGrory's book A History of Coventry (I recommend it highly) on page 234 there is a very similar painting view from 1838 albeit wider. Compare and contrast. * I think the cranes are working on Woolworths or the City Arcade. I reckon it's 1931 or slightly earlier. Britain From Above 1931 showing lower end of Smithford Street *That's a painting I'd love to see in reality to photo the colours and fine details. I've already edited my model model to correct some roof details. The photo indicates a few mistakes on the painting but I can handle them.

More so, it makes one realise just how much we lost in the Blitz, most of the central scene, I would think earlier than the thirties, but what a great photo to show people the old market, need to study this photo more.

Yes, it was the market that stood out for me

Any idea Annewiggy/ Helen what buildings on the RH side of West Orchard that stand out so clearly?

I don't know what it was in 1930 but in 1890 it was Matterson, Huxley & Watson Ltd plus the Lion Iron Foundry. Just beyond that was the New Centaur Cycle Co.

Thanks Helen. I only remember M H & W in Hales Street with the plough above the entrance!

Helen F, Rob, The amazing thing for me about the photo, of all the hundreds of times I wandered through that scene I was always looking up - this is the first time I have seen the market looking down, so this a very special photo for me, and I thank you both. Now on the corner of the Burges and West Orchard there were two small shops, then MHW premises including a foundry. I think it only stretched about six houses on the right hand side, so little is in the picture. About a week before the raid they had moved about twenty new tractors from West Orchard to Hales Street. WO branch was gutted, only a few baths standing by the back wall survived. Hales Street, the roof was badly damaged but the tractors had little damage. MHW had a team of twenty ARP/firemen on duty that night.