Coventry Trams

Broadgate in the 1900's. I can't make out the tram no. But I do like the drinking fountain in the middle of the road. And the two very well to do ladies not looking left or right as they cross the tracks.

What a great photo Baz. You can almost imagine that coming alive and hear the conversations and thoughts of the people involved. The cabbie, the two ladies and is that a water fountain or a fire hydrant? Any more photos like this Baz ? It makes you wonder if there were many accidents in those days as the zebra crossings were not even thought of.

Yes I do. A nice lady lent me some very old newspapers she had and I've taken my own photos of the pictures as the papers were so old. I try and add them to topics when I can. I also take photos that people have got in places like nursing homes and alike. These tend to be of the High Street or area nearby for memory recall by the residents. I try not to infringe on copyrights, but by taking my own photo's of them (as most are old or cannot find owner) I don't think I'm breaking any law. Plus the fact that this site is for history. And these pics help us relive it. I have another photo from the other side of the road. Watch this space.

Not directly connected to Coventry, but I caught the last half of a program on BBC3 last night called "The Golden Age of Trams". There isn't a repeat listed in the program guide but members may be able to catch it on iPlayer (don't wait too long as I think the BBC removes most stuff after 7 days) It showed a lot of video from the early 1900's as well as extensive views of restored trams in museums and well worth a look

Thanks for the tip on the Tram programme TonyS I found it but it seemed to be BBC4. I always seem to forget to use iPlayer, it's a handy tool.

Hi all & thank you, Tony I have just watched it via Iplayer.

I thought you might be interested in this page from "Coventry Up-to-date Views and Reviews" dated about 1896

There was a tram depot on the Foleshill/Longford Rd.

Just wondering where exactly is the photo, is it old Courtaulds where the police use now?????

I asked the same question a while back, the depot was between Old Church Road island and the Ribbon Island, and is now a van hire place

It's about 50 yards past the junction of Lythalls Lane / Foleshill Road, there is a brick wall built across the track and hire vehicles parked on the site. This takes me back to early 1940 before the blitz, I stood on this spot watching the trams being shunted in the yard, I was 6 years old, it seems like only last week, happy days!

Many years ago a man called 'Arthur' told me he cried during the the Blitz because he instinctively knew the trams would not be coming back afterwards. (An official decision had not yet been made at that point).

Hello Dutchman, The Arthur you knew, did he work on the trams as an electrician, if so, it is the same Arthur that worked as an electrician on the buses at Watery Lane. He told me many stories about the trams as I was interested in them from when my dad was a conductor on them. Arthur gave me some tram spanners when he retired.

I don't think he was old enough Colin, his father may have though? The 'Arthur' I knew worked at Rolls-Royce.

Thanks for your reply Dutchman, no connection but worth a try.