Coventry Co-operative Societies

Help, please! My mother was given one of these calendars this year and we haven't stopped talking about it yet. None of the family can remember the location of the shop shown on March(?) page with "Lockhurst Lane (Industrial) Co-operative" on the front. I can't, being a mere youngster of 55, but Mother is 94 and lived in Foleshill/Holbrooks for a good 80 years. Was it actually in Lockhurst Lane ? or elsewhere ? Can anyone enlighten us? Thanks JB

Hi JB I think the building on the corner in the distance on this picture looks like the building on the calendar. LINK

Hi all, I do remember a Co-op double fronted store in Lockhurst Lane (now demolished) near to where the Co-operative hall is, opposite the junction of Kingfield Rd. I am looking for pics, but in the meantime this is a quote from Coventry's official history. "It is interesting to note that the Lockhurst Lane Co-operative Society was started in 1832 (twelve years before the Rochdale "pioneers") and is said to be the oldest surviving co-operative society in the country." ps. The slope on the pavement though may rule that theory out, in favour of the Foleshill Rd, but nearer to St Pauls church than Station St. There were the two Co-op shops near to each other in the fifties.

There is a shop on the corner of Foleshill Road and Holmsdale Road called Tahim Drapers which looks the same style as the one on the Heart of England Co-op site. I don't know that area Philip but if there were 2 Co-ops in the area maybe they were built in the same style.

Hi Anne This is exciting, hey! We bought a vacuum cleaner from the Co-op building nearest to St Pauls, in 1970. The Emporium food hall was still in use then.

Yes, opposite Kingfield Rd was suggested but someone else thought there was only the Co-op Hall there. That may explain why I can't remember it - being a Holbrook kid going "Up the Wolfe" was an exciting excursion into strange territory. But I do remember the wonderful pneumatic cash tubes in the Emporium! Fascinating for a 5 year old!

I worked for Lockhurst Lane Co-op for a few months in 1963 as a junior assistant / errand boy, firstly at the main grocery on the corner of Holmsdale Rd and was sent out to cover absence at various other branches. I was at the Lockhurst Lane branch pictured in the calendar for a few weeks. The shop was just along from the Station Rd West junction. I also worked at the shop opposite the Ritz and the one at Bell Green terminus. I also did a stint loading and unloading lorries at the warehouse which was just over the railway bridge. I loved working at the Co-op but the wages were terrible, even for senior staff.

Thanks Walrus, that put us in the right area, but does anybody know what's there now? It's such a distinctive bond (brickwork pattern) that it's surprising none of us can remember it - we must have passed it on the No. 3 bus often enough!

Here's an image from Britain From Above website showing Lockhurst Lane 1931. Plenty of shops along the road. Northey Road first left followed by Station Street West next junction up

I think Lockhurst Lane Co-op was actually on Holbrook Lane on the corner of Sunningdale Avenue. That bank of shops which nowadays I think includes a plasterer all used to be a Co-op store.

Co-op Foleshill Road picture via Mirrorpix website