West Orchard

Sad image of West Orchard showing the total devastation - I think that's looking toward the Owens building but is that the remains of The Talbot Inn as previously posted above on the corner? Actually probably not as I think it's a little further back from Cross Cheaping. Link to www.alamy.com

With thanks to Andrea Aitken - this is her great great grandfather's shop - Gibney's Boot/Shoe Repairers which he owned from 1890 to about 1910.

And looking down towards St John's during the great flood of Coventry, Dec 1900/Jan 1901 - Gibneys on the corner with The City Arms opposite

"Shoe Hospital"! Wonderful

That's a cracker of a picture Neilsyard.

Agreed Helen I love sharing great unseen images I find of lovely old Cov. The clarity of detail is amazing. You can read all the ads! 'Sewn work repaired with Kenilworth Butt Leather" - whatever that is!! PS. Just looked it up - The Butt - it is the thickest and strongest part of the hide, and considered the best cut for firmer items such as belts.

Companies such as Middlemores used it, I wonder if theirs was from Kenilworth?

After being absorbed by the neighbouring Co-Op, Gibney's moved to Hill Street where it was one of the few buildings to survive the bombing:

An extract of the chapter relating to 1913 from the 'Jubilee History' Coventry Perseverance Co-operative Society: Of a much more important character was a third recommendation. It was to purchase the comer premises adjoining the Central Stores, known as the boot repairing establishment of "The Wonderful Gibney", having a frontage to Fleet Street of 30 feet and to West Orchard of 45 feet. By the purchase the society would become the owners of an extensive comer block. The price, £3,500, included goodwill, machinery, fittings, and fixtures. The matter was discussed, and not all the members were at first agreed, the price appearing to be rather "stiff", but it was pointed out that the site was an important one, and that good positions had to be paid for. This was really the key of a commanding position, and would facilitate the maturing of plans for a complete range of premises of a striking character. The purchase was confirmed. These premises, after being retained for a short time as a boot repairing shop, have been replaced by a handsome stone building surmounted by a dome, with internal fittings of the most modern style, and devoted to men's tailoring and outfitting departments. The book is available for free download from https://archive.org/details/jubileehistory1800cove

Do you know whereabouts in Hill Street that was Dutchman?

Right at the bottom NeilsYard, between Bond Street and the temporary shops.

There's an earlier mention of the Central Stores in this thread so I'm posting this cover of John Bull magazine from 1951 which shows the Godiva procession passing said establishment.

Not entirely sure where this stood as there's few images of any kind of the original West Orchard.

This looks like the same building, Neil. From The Coventry Perseverance Co-operative Society Jubilee History 1867-1917. It says the recently erected property in West Orchard, which the society bought in 1904 of Messrs Laxon and Son, bacon and cheese factors, required comparatively little alteration to make it fit for a central warehouse.

I think it was on the west side of the north south section of West Orchard. The photographer would have been at the corner of the east west stretch.