West Orchard

This one has reappeared on FB this morning. After further Map analysis I've just realised that not only are those cobbles the remains of old West Orchard but I suspect they are at the junction of what were the cobbles in to Market Place at its Northern End -

NY, my memories of this period are of my teeth chattering while being pushed in my unsprung, plywood seat pushchair. I guess this is 1951/2 before the start on the Leofric?

I recall from the early 1950's cutting through from Smithford Street to Corporation Street and crossing the river by a bridge, this would be west of the Burges. I wonder when this disappeared, building of the Co-op?

Could it have been somewhere along what was known as Bablake Street by the side of Agers, Choirboy? BFA 1946 The river was more exposed then. (Let me know if you haven't got access to BFA to be able to zoom in. It's easy to register but I can add an image here).

Thank you Neil. I am signed up with BFA already but my profile is private. I have memories of continuing down Smithford Street to Queen Victoria Road, ~1952 but I think you are correct that the crossing of the river was at the end of West Orchard. I can see this on EAW051845 that is contemporary with my memories. On a personal note: I am trying to recollect the events of my life pre falling ill with polio (1953) to identify the impact hospitalisation made on my later childhood. Now having looked at Bablake St Bridge I can picture myself standing at the fence next to the parapet on the opposite bank to the rear of Agers. Bablake Street is consistent with my memory of open basements with tall weeds growing at the edges. A few years later I recollect accessing the Rex market from West Orchard/Bablake St. but I cannot see an access next to the Victoria Mills where I would have expected it to be. (My memory of the Rex market is my first experience of eating a slice of melon from the vegetable stall on the far right, looking from Corporation Street. ) EAW024996 shows an open gated access crossing the opening of the culvert just before the Victoria Mills. Perhaps that was the later access to the Rex Market?

They are great pics of the river Choirboy - especially EAW024996

Another Cooper Collection image -

One of the pictures still incorrectly labelled on FB is the back of this view below (thanks to Anne), which is to the left of the photo you you just posted.

Funny what turns up.

I rather like that one Helen, thank you.

Hope it does not rain ! A coach party about to leave West Orchard on the way to farm houses in Wolvey and Smeckington purchased by the Coventry Cooperative Society. From the Coventry Graphic.

I just happen to know that DU9402 and DU9403 were owned by RHMS (Red House Motor Services), purchased in 1919 and scrapped in 1925, thus closely dating the image. They were locally made Maudslays with charabanc bodywork. It was common at that date for local photographers to take pictures of the passengers before setting off to sell as souvenir postcards on their return. For those old enough to remember RHMS, there is still a coach painted in the heritage livery of the company, though it was not actually one of theirs. FLY 755J