Earl Street (inc. Palace Yard)

Did there used to be a music shop in Earl Street, opposite the Council House? Or am I dreaming?

Yes Anne, on the corner of Much Park Street.

There aren't many images of Earl Street, east of the Palace Yard until you get to Much Park Street. However this video (hat tip Midland Red and Coventry Telegraph) shows a fuzzy but face on section that might offer somebody an idea of the area's appearance. Rare 1930s footage The section you can see is just beyond the pale jettied building in the distant right of this photo.

Am I going funny? I could have sworn I put this at the end of other comments that have now vanished. I don't even remember starting a new thread.

Don't remember seeing this view before (courtesy, Coventry Telegraph)

That is amazing footage Helen

Thanks then Cliff At what point does Earl Street 'officially' become Jordan Well? Is it at the Much Park Street junction? Agree I'd love to see more of that area in times past especially where Palace Yard exited on to. There only ever seems to be shots of that looking directly into or out of the yard.

I think it's up to Bayley Lane on the north side and Much Park Street on the south. There's only one decent image of the entrance to Palace Yard that I know of and it's a Bunney painting. It had been Georgianised. It centres on the gateway and there is a window either side on the ground floor and the first floor. Above the gateway there is a fancy window with an arch in the centre. To the left of the gateway there is a door. I was a tad disappointed when I saw it. There's a partial view on the far left a picture of Earl Street taken from St Michaels while they were demolishing the north side of Earl Street to build the Council House.

For those of you with directories, was there a barber shop at about number 14 Earl Street some time 1850 ish? Please ignore if that's a difficult request.

Hi, here's a couple of images that may help.

Hi, some census details. 1851 census, 17 Earl Street. Sarah Dalman age 61, head, Formerly straw bonnet maker, Warwickshire Knightlow? John Dalman age 33, son, Hairdresser employing 1 man and 1 apprentice, Cov. Charlotte Dalman age 26, dau, Shopwoman, Cov. William Collins Journeyman 19, Hairdresser, Leicester, Hinckley. Samuel Rowley (?) age 16, apprentice, Hairdresser, Cov.

Thanks Heathite. Number 15 in 1874 works for me because the numbering I was working to was from about 1897. The earlier census putting the Dalmans at number 17 might mean they moved or just the street numbering changed. Or maybe the shop was at 15 and they lived a few doors down. I'm trying to identify where the barber's pole was that I can see in one of Dr Troughton's drawings of Earl Street. The Cross Keys pub was at number 16 and I don't think I can see any part of that in the picture. Thanks

The 1850 Directory of Warwickshire on Google books includes Coventry starting at page 542. They also have the 1830 Directory, Coventry starts on page 765.

That's handy mcsporran. Now should I try and digitise it.