Humber Road

I live on Humber Road, and I'm interested in the history - the houses appear to have been renumbered at some point so I cant find out which number my house actually was. I do know the houses were built c1895, and in WW2 there was a bomb shelter somewhere on the road that got bombed; a little girl died. These houses have so much history but they've been taken over by Whitefriars Housing Association now who don't really look after them (problems with black damp, rats in lofts etc). Do photos exist of the houses on Humber Road, or does anyone have a list of residents from years ago?

You can get a list of residents from the online historical directories website, who have Spennell's Directory of Coventry 1912-13. Later directories can be consulted at the history centre, located within the Herbert Art Gallery. For photos, try www.BritainFromAbove.org.uk.

Hi Rebekah I`m not sure which houses you refer to but looking at google maps the houses next to Kukes car wash I recall stood derelict for many years they were completely gutted and revamped including being pebble dashed as they were bare brick previously this all took place just over 40 years ago I remember this as I passed them every morning going to work and nine times out ten got caught up in traffic from Chrysler as it was then so saw them through all their revamp to people moving in they could have been renumbered after their revamp assuming these are the houses you refer to

A daughter of my great-great-grandfather, Emma Beacham (Allesley family) lived with her daughter Dorothy at 119 Humber Road and appears in Spennell's Directory of Coventry 1915-17. She died in 1944. I wonder whether the house still stands?

Hi Prof, Why not look on Google Earth's street view. You can often see house numbers on there too.

Thanks Pixrobin. My apologies to everyone on checking I see the family were Humber Avenue, not Road! Still in area though and in former days 'over the iron bridge'. I think it is no longer there?

Prof, you are not even trying, are you. This is 119 Humber Ave (the one with the grey pebbledash)

On a lighter note - You couldn't miss that one next door could you, we can all see that one Downunder.

Does anybody have any pics of Pinley Green Cottage, Humber Road. It was down a long drive behind Whitley Hospital. It has been demolished now, courtesy of Coventry City Council. I lived there until 1970's. There was also the farmhouse adjoining it.

Hi Carol. My mum grew up at Pinley Farm on Humber Road. My grandparents lived there up until they demolished it to make way for the Seven Stars shopping/industrial estate. My mum recalls the farm house being called Pinley Lodge and my grandfather's driving licence states this too. She also says it was called Seven Stars Farm. So the house was called Pinley Lodge and the farm side of things was called Seven Stars. Hence I suppose the name of the new Seven Stars estate. We do have some pictures and I can remember playing at the building that was once the smallpox hospital. I only learnt the other day the outbuildings we used for pigs were where the incinerators were for the smallpox hospital (oh wow I used to play in those with my cousins). I don't have too many memories of this place as I was only little when they moved but I do remember the house being big and eerie. My grandparents lived there from 1960. My mum can't remember the cottage at all. Do you have any pictures? I remember having to go up a very long drive to get the farm itself but I only remember bits and pieces. My mum's family name was Mills, do you know them? Nikki

I understand that Pinley Lodge was once part of the Whitley Abbey estate and next to it was built Pinley Isolation Hospital and these buildings were subsequently used for agricultural purposes - the last tenant being Len Matthews, a local farmer. I think that Seven Stars Farm was actually on the London Road and took its name from an inn of that name. These buildings are those used by Folly Lane FC. This whole area was associated with 'water gathering' hence the waterworks on London Road. The Pinley Cottages were on the opposite side of Humber Road - as you say behind Whitley Hospital.

Hi My mum knew Len very well before my grandparents died. I'm slightly confused as I know Len did have the farm but my grandparents most certainly lived in the house upon that farm. He was younger than my grandparents by at least 10 years so I'm not sure where the connection comes in. I wonder did he have the farm and he rent them the house. I'm completely confused now .Time to ask my aunties I think! Can I ask how you know Len was the last tenant? I've been trying to find information out on this place but hitting brick walls as all I have is photos and a few very hazy memories. I do know that Len then had a farm in Baginton opposite side of the road and just down from the Air Museum when they demolished Pinley.

Hi, don't know if this is any help. Looking at the newspaper archive it looks as if the Corporation owned Pinley Farm and Seven Stars Farm. Part of Seven Stars was managed by the waterworks and fire brigade committee. Some was rented out as allotments and the rest as farms and farm land. Both farms seem to be treated as separate in the late 19th and early 20th century. It does mention corporate seals being put on leases in those times. It is possible that the Corporation still have files on these properties and may have plans of the area, even pictures !

Hi Anne Thank you I will try and find out. I have managed to find some pictures today one of the house and one of the hospital. As I'm new on here I need to work out how to upload them, plus I'm not computer savvy so it may take some time.