Much Park Street

Don't know if we have had this one before Helen, can't see it in the topic. It says before the First World War.

Thanks Anne, the image crops up now and then but it's worth repeating. It didn't occur to me until recently that the photo was probably taken for the brewery. Some kind of celebration or advertising? At some point Ashleigh House (just peeping into view in the gap) was used to host the Godiva procession organisers, so maybe the horses and carts are lining up ready for joining the parade? Or maybe this was just the normal morning line up to collect the day's deliveries?

Searching through the CET again. The Phillips and Marriott Brewery drays are lined up for the Alexandra Day procession in June 1910. The money raised was given to the C & W Hospital. Alexandra Day was in the name of Queen Alexandra, wife of King Edward VII. It also says that Ashleigh House and the new offices face the road.

Just spotted on this CD image that same old Spire in the distance to the left - they must be standing around the area that was Palace Yard -

Isn't that the spire in the painting that Helen has posted in this topic post 86, The Old Mitre ?

That's the one Anne, though I think it was a chimney or an air vent, not a spire. I think the building it sat on was the smithy it talks about in the description of the painting. What it came from is another matter.

As per Helen's post in the ebay thread - there is no more appropriate (or even sadder) demonstration of a Now & Then than this one. And yes that is Whitefriars Gatehouse behind the COVENTRY banner For what was once such a main throughfare, MPS is barely a 'Street' anymore..............

Those two photos show well how the ring road changed the layout. St John's was moved north and Much Park Street was cut though with one part joining Short Street to the south of the new road.

For want of a time machine I have little interest in the on-coming future, I'll prefer to spend my time in these streets by a mile!

Another slide from Scott Duffin - just as the old buildings are coming down to be moved to Spon Street - Hewitts is half done!