Bayley Lane

Can anyone tell me where the location 26, 27, 28 Bayley Lane would have been in the period before 1900. It was the location of an engineer and gunsmith by the name of John Newark (1819-1893) who was married to Harriett Judd. They are shown at that location in each census from 1851 to 1891 (and earlier, in 1841, they were in Pepper Lane). They were part owners of property at 9 Broadgate as well as the site at Cheylesmore which later became the Swift Motor Works. In May 1861 James Starley (father of the bicycle industry) rented the Cheylesmore site from John Newark for the production of sewing machines. In April 1889 No.9 Broadgate was leased for 14 years by J.H. Blunt and Sons, Northampton Drug and General Supply Co.Ltd from Harry Price of Coventry, painter and decorator, John Newark of Coventry, gunsmith, and William H. Hughes of Coventry, banker's clerk (No.9 Broadgate was, in April 1889 at the time of the lease, in the occupation of Messrs. Freeman Hardy & Willis). I have looked at the great photos of historic Coventry on this site but cannot figure out the location of Nos 26, 27, 28 Bayley Lane. Perhaps the numbering was different in those days? Could the Court House on the corner of Cuckoo Lane opposite the Golden Cross have been the location (in the 1891 census George Warren, prisoner, is also shown at 26, 27, 28 Bayley Lane)? As a note of interest, firearms made by John Newark occasionally appear today on the collector's market. Any information would be most appreciated Michael Newark (not related to John Newark), Ontario, Canada

I can hear dutchmans footsteps approaching............... (Welcome to our forum )

Hi & morning to you both. Have you seen this from Rob's picture on our site here. Bayley Lane I am popping to Trinity St. this morning & just for the nose of it will have a walk along Bayley Lane. The archive room has had its opening hours cut so I will not be able to look this morning, I don't think.

I have looked again at the 1881 and 1891 census. The 1881 census shows 26, 27, 28 Bayley Lane next to the White Horse at number 29 Bayley Lane. Also, the 1891 census shows 26, 27, 28 Bayley Lane located between the County Hall (occupied by John S Wilson, Police Superintendent and his family) and the White Horse at number 29. Walter Ashbourne, licensed victualler, is shown at the White Horse, 29 Bayley Lane in both census. I am wondering if that part of present day Pepper Lane was known in those days as Bayley Lane? Looking at the area on Google Street View I can see a "Bayley Lane" street sign on the County Hall. I can also see there was once a building (from the outline on the end wall of the County Hall) where there is now an open space next to the County Hall. I notice also that the numbers on Bayley Lane increase from the old tudor building (no.22) towards Pepper Street (Bayleys Wine Bar is number 24) which would indicate numbers greater than 24 would logically be located along what is now Pepper Street. Anyway, is the location of the White Horse known? We known for sure that 26, 27, 28 Bayley Lane was next to it. Michael

Hello Thanks for your interest in my post. Yes, I did see the photo you mention plus I have "looked" at the area using Google street view. As you can see from my response to "Dutchman" I am focussed on the location next to the County Hall as the location of 26, 27, 28 Bayley Lane (even though it is situated on present day Pepper Lane). It is most kind of you to consider the archives. Michael

County Hall is No 37, No 26 is directly opposite, the building currently known as "The Mint" next to the Golden Cross. Nos 27-29 are now a car park.

Thank you very much for taking an interest in my question and for solving the location of John Newark's premises. Your map is conclusive in showing its whereabouts. Signing off from snowy Ontario Michael

Hi michael, please contact me regarding john newark, 28 bayley lane, coventry. many thanks, dave.

An update on John Newark the gun smith at Bayley Lane - he also operated an Iron and Brass Foundry. He ran this ad in Coventry papers in the 1850s. He was a long-time member of the Coventry Golden Cross Philanthropic Society and died in 1893 without children.

I have a recollection that this building in Bayley Lane was in existence until the 1970s and that it was a Solicitors office - probably Mander Hadley & co. It was demolished to make way for the extension to the Golden Cross and to create service areas for Hay Lane and High Street. Not a fair exchange I would say - particularly as the service area is used more by taxis. The work was done about the same time as Salt Lane was created on the south side of High Street following demolition of the old Sorting Office.

I wonder what the thoughts are from our Historic Coventry champions for the change of use to the wonderful Bayley House on Bayley Lane changing from offices to student accommodation . The planners have the 15th August showing as the end of public consultation period, search by address: 22 & 23 Bayley Lane Coventry CV1 5RJ or references: FUL/2012/2263 LB/2012/2267

If it helps to stop the building falling into disrepair, why not? A lot of people on here have either been students or have family members who are/have been students - they all need/needed accommodation....

Hi Woodford, Very true, myself included - personally I just don't think these particular properties are suitable for that particular purpose. There are plenty of other properties in the city centre that can be made into student flats and I have no problem with that since I think the city centre should be a place where people live. I'm sure you remember your student digs Woodford and the general goings on! This is a beautiful grade II listed building that (in my opinion) is in the most beautiful part of Cov, and as such would be better being used for something other than accommodation for students. I wouldn't object to a small b&b business to aid our tourism or even a restaurant, what a lovely setting!

That's true. I wonder if they would thrive, tho'. I suppose with student accommodation at least it's a steady income. How about you setting up a nice b&b, Tinklesprout?

This is all that's left to do with buildings in Coventry city centre - what should be a thriving area is a dead area. I sometimes wander up to the Cathedral area at the weekends to have a look around, and it strikes me how empty and desolate it feels. There are not enough tourists to support businesses, and the area is too cut off from the precinct and has no footfall through it. Priory place didn't work, and neither did Cathedral Lanes. So it's no wonder this building is struggling to find a use. Priory place is dead at the weekends. Most other Cathedral cities have brilliant settings for their cathedrals that are busy and lively. Can you imagine Chester having student halls in the old buildings around the Cathedral? Or Winchester? Or York? What do we have by our Cathedral? A dismal expanse of paving and some cheap 1960s buildings (And the paving has already started to fall apart.) I blame the council - their planning and architecture have made Coventry into a city that no one really cares to visit, and one in which businesses cannot thrive. The city centre might as well just be turned into a University campus. It is an irrelevancy for a lot of us who live here these days. Rather than listen, they continue to close down roads, create more empty squares, and slowly turn the whole centre into a series of dead streets. Most of the historic buildings in Coventry are stuck in weird places where no one can see them, and unlike somewhere like Chester no longer seem to be part of the city's 'streets' (Not that have many). These old buildings need to be brought back into use and have people flowing past them so businesses can use them. No one is going to set up in a dead area. Even the Coffee shop in the guild hall only opens for a few hours a day and doesn't even bother opening on a weekend - this is just about typical of Coventry: one of the UK's medieval gems, and they don't even seem to care much to have any facilities open at the weekend!