Coventry Pubs

Wow, that was quick! Thanks Dutchman, it's good to know where it was. Martin.

What else do you expect from the Dutchman,

The sad thing is that section of Much Park Street had already been destroyed before I moved into the area so I never got to see any of it in real life. Likewise St John Street

I believe next door to the White Hart was a general store run by the Howes. A couple of doors further on was a butchers shop over which my grandma lived in a flat. No electricity, just gas lamps with mantles, an open fire with a range which had a permanently boiling kettle and a gas accumulator type battery to power the wireless. This battery was taken over the road to a shop next to the Admiral Lord Rodney to be recharged. There was also a cafe called the Dew Drop Inn which was the favourite haunt of cyclists going to Stokes the cycle shop.

Thanks for sharing that Tekmelf, very interesting

Yes, Tekmelf-fascinating! Thankyou

I have found details of the sale of The Star and Raven in 1837 with other properties being sold at the same time in the city, I like reading such details because it gives descriptions of the interiors and rental terms etc. There are various points relating to the linked article that I can't seem to fathom and hoped someone could help. The sale was the 'life interest' of Thomas Grimes Roberts, aged twenty six years? Misprint or what? I can't find much detail for him at all in the BMD's, obits in the papers, obviously not the census if he had died before 1837. I did find a marriage at St. Michael, 30th November 1836 to a Sarah Smart? Being a 'man of substance', I thought he would be easy to trace and just thought he would be an interesting person to learn about and his business interests in the City. It mentions a 'Grimes Court' as well. I wondered if anyone has heard of him before or could fill in some more information of him and buildings he owned.

Almost nothing is known about the exact location of the "Star and Raven", we can only assume it was renamed at some time? Am unable to find "Grime's Court" on any map either. The "Sign of the Harp" is almost certainly a reference to the Welch Harp at 24 Market Street. Few people could read in those days so pubs were identified by painted signs or unusual objects.

Thanks Dutchman, the Star and Raven seemed to be the 'Old Star' in the 1841 census and the 'Old Star' yard. The article states that Grimes Court was opposite the Star and Raven. I'll have a look at some more articles concerning licensees and see what comes up.

That one was in Earl Street Foxcote and is well documented.

I found a reference to the Grimes/Smithford Street interest of mine in an article. In 1819, one of the chief Coaching Offices was Grimes Liquor Shop in Smithford Street. One of the coaches, 'The Retaliator' stopped there at 6pm every evening. Mr Grimes would have had a good business.

The estate of Thomas Grimes Roberts mentions 'The Leopard' at 64 Smithford Street, I wonder if that had been the Star and Raven?

It's extremely likely Foxcote given that a) The Welsh (Welch) Harp is also mentioned as part of the same estate and b) The only wine & spirits merchants I could find in Smithford Street was directly opposite the Leopard at 8a and had a yard attached to it! (Most likely the eponymous "Grimes' Yard"). Good find Foxcote

There's a bit more Dutchman and it's mentioning an 'Ensor Yard' and I am getting a bit confused. The Herbert has some papers referring to the Star and Raven but they can't be accessed online. I've seen Thomas Grimes, Auctioneer, in the old papers, and discounted it but it is indeed him. According to a newpaper cutting, his auctioneer's office was next door to The Leopard in 1827.

It all points to it being the Leopard, it even mentions the malt house being at the back