Books on Coventry

Thank you. The location was 16 Queens Road.

I think 16 was just west of the Baptist Chapel - same side.

There was and still is a semi building 14 and 15 directly next to the chapel and yes the school was next to that at 16. 14 and 15 are much changed but some of the styling is how the school would have looked.

I believe there was going to be a book coming out about old Bablake School? Does anybody know if it happened and how to get hold of a copy? I've got lots of bits about the school including exterior pictures but only a limited number from the inside. Most are of the street facing block. I've got two images of the roof of the Bridewell (gaol), the now empty block in the square and a few of the teacher's block against the city wall on the west (built in 1830 and demolished before the current block was built some time between 1887 and 1905).

Bablake book; "The Lion and The Stars" written by Peter Burden. First published 1990s, second edition published 2020. Price £15 and only available from the school.

Thank you for that

This one looks good.

Bargain alert . . . Benjamin Poole's 1870 Coventry History & Antiquities on eBay. Although it doesn't look like it in the photo, this is a large volume, close to A4 in size. Even in the condition described - "fair" with some wear and a few loose pages near the end - these usually go for hundreds, so it would be lovely to think that one of our members can pick this one up. To see some of the illustrations contained within, see this link to scans in my collection. In my opinion it's one of the best and most comprehensive antiquarian histories ever written about our city.

Not being quite myself yet, I had a senior moment and re-ordered this lovely book. I would be happy to donate to a Forum member. If anyone has the History of Coventry's Blue Coat School (I only saw Birmingham school) and would like to send to me as a swap, I'd be happy with that. If interested, send me your postal address in private message and I'll send it on.

Following on from the discussion on Wingrave, I acquired this book, which has 70 Wingrave plates, including several (Bayley Lane and Gosford Street) which appear in the Selves set. Selves are celluloid copies of original negs. The acknowledgements make for interesting reading: I'm also in touch with Tony, who acquired 10 Wingrave plates in 2016. Helen, you know this set because you commented on his fourtoes website. Tony has agreed to send me high resolution images of his ten. On the basis of the acknowledgements, I'll be getting into Cov Archives next week too. They have the negs somewhere.

That might have been the first book I bought, back when they were selling for a penny plus postage from Amazon. Tony's a great chap. I think we identified all the photos in the end, including the horse and owner near a porch - Whitley Stud Farm/Seven Stars Inn.

That's a smashing little book, Ben - I only wish the images in it were much larger! If any of my Wingrave photos are of any use to you, please have a look through these in my collection and let me know. I can let you have the high resolution scans I took of them - generally 6 to 10 megapixels in size - particularly the ones I mentioned getting two years ago.

Rob, that's wonderful. Did you scan these at the archives or from another source? I'd be delighted to put them into Cov Dig.

My offer to gift a copy of Rise & Fall of St. Michael's is in no way dependent on a swap with a copy of the History of the Blue Coat School. I'd post it to anyone interested in this beautifully produced informative volume.