Coventry Scrapyards

I have had a strange obsession with Scrap Yards, I can't understand why but I used to love the 'most tidy scrap yard in the world' down Red Lane, I reckon it was Roach's. Coming up to it, like looking at the 'Taj Mahal', as we approached, my husband driving would say, 'Keep a look out, we are just coming up to it' and I would peer in at the neatly stacked metal in such a small yard! Poetry in Motion! Has anyone else peered in and thought the same I wonder?

I think Jim Potter owned it in its latter years, but I cannot remember it being tidy. Crabmill Autos was quite tidy - for a scrap yard that is..

Foxcote...Yes it was Roach's yard, Jim Potter bought the business and kept the Roach`s name for many years. 20a..thanks for the School photo. I started at Red Lane when I was 5 back in 1946 before the bus was there. The other bus was full to the top with car bits at Jim Nolan's and it was a job and a half to find anything. Jim kept the bus right up until the time he sold out to Mil-Ver Metals, I still see Jim around Bedworth and he is still in the scrap trade.....

Jim Nolan's dad used to own the factory on the opposite side at the top, lovely man, he offered to pay for a deposit for a house on Burbages Lane for the ex and I, but ex wouldn't buy a house, said it was like a millstone around your neck. Jim his son later on opened the scrap yard. Hales scap yard used to be down Rowleys too, and the Hales bone factory which Jim Diddle was the manager, he lived in the little house next to the Bone factory, just up where the units are today, also on Bedlam Lane used to live Shorty Gibbons who also was a scrapman, he moved to Colliery Lane with Monty, also Dave Wilson on Bayton Road which I've mentioned before, then there was Shepherds on Longford Road, also Mick Noonan, over Stoke, he was a Coventry Councillor sadly died not so long ago. Also another scrap yard is Whites. Then there was Eric Patty senior off the Tamworth Road, Fivefield Road, his paddock adjoins the Horse and Jockey pub, he too was a scrapman.

The only scrap yard I ever had contact with belonged to Reg Price and his two sons I used to get copper from my work (Self employed). Always weighed it in at Price's yard although I knew that other yards would often pay more.. Reg once bought a sack full of the old brass weights that banks used to weigh coins. As I was admiring them Reg offered me the lot for 25p each. I accepted the offer, took them home, polished them up and they looked great. Put them in the garage where they have remained untouched since...Les

I'm loving this thread, you all have such great memories and stories to relate - keep them coming I don't have any knowledge of them at all, although I seem to remember that in the 50s the name Roach's often used to crop up when scrap was mentioned And of course I knew the name of Jim Potter from his stock-car racing days, and his outlet on Swan Lane

Roach's yard was very innovative. They took the parts off the scrap vehicles and put them, labelled, on shelves. They cost a few shillings more than other yards, but you didn't have to grovel in the mud or climb over the cars. I remember Jim Potter having a beautiful red Zodiac/Zephyr/Consul convertible with white/cream upholstery.

The only scrapyard I frequented in the 70's was a massive one on the outskirts of Baginton. I can't remember what it was called. Any forum members remember it?

Roach's in Red Lane is where I went mostly. Being stuck for a car, after my big-ends had gone in the one I had, I bought a sit-up and beg Ford Pop off him. A whole £10. When my mate stood in the back he went straight through the floor. We found another one dumped on waste ground and stripped it of its floors and one door which then replaced the ones on mine. I then found the engine had no power to pull more than one person in it, so, back to Roach's. Two people were in front of me asking for the same engine that I needed, £6 old man Roach said, "I will give you £4" said the other bloke, "get out of my yard" said old man Roach. "ok, I will give you £6 then" said the bloke, "No you won't, I would not sell you anything, just get out of my yard" (sounds a bit like the Queen Vic) After they left he turned to me and asked me what I wanted, being a bit of a coward I said "no, it's ok I've changed my mind" and turned to go. Old man Roach stopped me and again said "ask me for what you wanted" "I wanted the same engine that the other bloke wanted but I do not have £6" said I. "How much have you got" he asked. In a very small voice I replied "£3" "£3, done deal it's yours" It was after this that on a Sunday morning I would pop in and have a chat with him, he was a nice person when you got to know him but hard if you tried to con him.

Beesman... I believe you are thinking of a yard owned by a well known Hillfields man Darkie Barnes. Sadly he died a few years ago. Besides his scrap yard he also ran a wrestling club in Hillfields. I trained with him along with Adolf Dabrowski another well known character who also died recently.. Afraid I couldn't stand the pace so quit the training after a few months although I still went to the club for some time after.... Les

Yes scrapyards are like the Queen Vic, scrutiny, only more there than meets the eye, Tales I could tell from ex having his scrap yard, which was on a farm living in a caravan, the farmer was the father of one of our present Coventry councillors. Anne would most likely remember the farmer and the farm. Nearly all the scrapmen were nice then and no you would never get one over on one either because if you did well

Where was the farm morgana? to see if i remember it

You would probably remember the horse more, Playboy in Keresley Village, NormK, Knowles Farm the old pit farm, his daughter is the present councillor if you want to know it's Hazel Noonan, who was married to Mick Noonan he gave me their three piece suite as I hadn't got one, we were sitting on crates see they are nice people and down to earth.

There's reference to Darkie Barnes on another thread "The Zulu and The Zoo" Here's some info about Adolf Dabrowski

Thanks for that morgana. I do not remember the farm, but I do know the name, I had a yard at Carter Road off Aldermoor Lane, not scrap but vehicle welding down the end by Ray Holmes skip hire. There was a Noonan scrap yard up the top end, I wonder if this is the same one you mention? It was in the 70s