Coventry Pubs

Hi, I was wondering if anyone knew anything about the Old Half Moon, I believe it was in Spon End. I am working my way through an MA in Local History and one of the topics I am on at the moment is Crime. I am led to believe that the Old Half Moon was the site of shootings in 1880 by Oliver Styles (recently portrayed in a book 'The Watchmaker's Revenge'). If anyone has any more details, would love to know them!

According to the 1888 map and the excellent section on pubs (see button to the left) The Old Half Moon pub was on Hertford Place. Old Half Moon I'd have guessed that it was number 26 or 27 but the pesky things moved about, and/or the numbering changed.

Of course! I have just connected the dots and realised that the page lists the licensee of that time as Mrs Maria Feltham who was one of Oliver Styles' victims.

Looking at the directories it does look like it was number 27 and a J Feltham (watch index maker) is living at number 27 in 1874.

Old Half Moon, Hertford Place #27. 1912 Directory. Here's a bit more info, the newspaper link may be useful to others. The Weekly Mail, The Coventry Shooting Case. Saturday July 3 1880 THE COVENTRY SHOOTING CASE. At Coventry police court, on Thursday, Oliver Styles, watchmaker of that city. was charged on remand with having, on the 27th of May last, feloniously shot at his wife Harriet, with intent to murder. The greatest interest was manifested in the hearing of the case, the court and its approaches being densely crowded. The evidence showed that prisoner and his wife had lived on very unhappy terms, prisoner being jealous of her. Shortly before the outrage she left home and refused to return. In a little time afterwards prisoner purchased a six chambered revolver, with which be shot at six persons, his wife among the rest. The latter ran out of the house thinking to elude him, but he followed her and caught her, and fired at her twice, the first shot striking her in the shoulder, and the other coming in contact with the steel of her stays, causing a wound under the left breast. Prisoner subsequently threw away the revolver, and was apprehended the same night. The various witnesses were cross-examined by the prisoner, who was remanded until Thursday next. The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3BU.

That's a great rare shot of The Plough, Cliff. Cheers

One pub we don't seem to have a direct photo of is the Unicorn near the corner of Well Street, but you can just see the sign in the middle of far left of this fine photo of the back of the grammar school: :which turns out to be this more familiar building, W H Crofts.

Interesting "then and now" image posted today on FB by Debbie Dean Nelson

Yes, it's very hard to believe every time I see the old views of the Navi. My daughter was born in the bedroom on the far left. A nice old pub in its day, and nicer still, the old locals and their tales they shared.

Get your final pics of it now whilst you can. The Council's Planning Committee voted yesterday by a narrow 4-3 margin to approve the plan to demolish the former Black Horse pub in Spon End as part of the road widening scheme related to the Local Air Quality Action Plan.

Could someone please help me remember the name of a Coventry pub now gone. I left Coventry 60 years ago and at the time was living in Watery Lane, Keresley. At the bottom of the lane by Penny Park Lane and opposite the catholic church was a pub; I see from google earth the site is now housing. After three weeks of puzzling over this I turn to you for help.

It was The Convoy.

From Rob's Coventry Pubs page Convoy

My photo from 2013. Pub demolished in 2016.

Nice one MR.... I've just updated the pub page with your "demolished" information, thank you!