Boot and Shoe Repair Shops

The 3 storey one beyond the wine lodge. I'm not sure how much of the building was 163. I'm guessing that the roadway was there during the time of the shop and might have been storage or living quarters above.

The row with the wine shop in was 159 to 162. Mum worked in the wine shop until it closed. She put some cuttings in an album she made about the row, dated 1982. There is also another cutting which is an advertising feature for the street which shows the tall building 163. The article mentions that the latest transplant is a fine timber frame house which stood for nearly 400 years at 122 Much Park Street but I don't think that refers to the house in the picture.

This shows the house from Much Park Street, it says it is 189 Spon Street. But it does look as if it is next to Bablake Wines.

From John Ashby's book on Spon Street: Harry Turner - shoemaker - is the most recalled trader to occupy No.163. In its later life Taberer's Auto Electrics had the building . . . Today's Nos.163 & 4 were formerly Nos.8, 9 & 10 Much Park Street.

Thanks for all the feedback and assistance everyone. This came from a query on FB from Tony Lew and this was his great grandfather's shop. As per the comments the building survived until at least 1969 when it became the conservation area and No.163 (the same address!) is now the Frank Harvey HiFi shop that came from Much Park Street - this was the original shop and building!

There is a photo on Pinterest of a cobblers, Turner and Crisp, at 27 King William Street. I wonder if there is a connection with the one for H Turner. Stop Press. Just found there is a postcard for sale of this item on Ebay, asking price £40.

Yes, he was between Brooklyn Road and Matlock Road. I lived on Matlock Road. There was a lad in Brooklyn Road who ran the marathon for England at the Olympics, Bill Adcocks, I think, probably got his shoes fixed at Ballards. Also on that strip was Bromfields groceries and Harris the butcher. Memories...

My family owned Gibneys Boot and Shoe Repairers. They had premises all over the Midlands and finally settled in Coventry in 1891. They had shops in Fleet Street shown in the first photo (this used to hang in the shop itself and my uncle still has the original) until the First World War. (Further images can be seen in archives of the great flood of 1900/01). In The Bull Ring, Victoria Street, Gosford Street, Stoney Stanton Road, Lockhurst Lane and finally Hill Street (2 additional photos) from the 1930's until it was demolished in 1959 to make way for the Ring Road. If anyone has access to any other images I'd be very interested as their trade was part of my family for over 80 years.

Hi Andy, welcome to the forum I've got bits and pieces on Gibney's. I'll dig it out, bit by bit. From 1912, it was in the directory as Gibney, Thomas & Co bootmakers, 10 Bull Ring (residential Stoney Stanton Road). Gibney - boot repairer, 2 Victoria Street. 10 Bull Ring was on the corner with New Buildings. I've not got a good picture of it in later years but this was a sketch from 1828. Hard left was the building that later became Gibney's. 2 Victoria Street in Hillfields below. Number 2 is the second 3 story set of windows on the left. I think From a different directory it mentions Thomas Gibney, boot makers, 36 Fleet Street and Thomas Gibney, boot repairer 10 Bull Ring, 2 Victoria Street and 18 Gosford Street (below, surrounded with scaffolding, next to chapel) More to come.

In 1926 The Gibney Boot Repairing Co 331 Stoney Stanton Road J Gibney, boot repairer, 209 Lockhurst Lane J J Gibney, boot repairer, 10 Cash's Lane Thomas Gibney & Co, boot makers and leather dealers, 10 Bull Ring In 1937 The Gibney, boot repairers, 182 Allesley Old Road The Gibney, boot repairers, 193 Lockhurst Lane The Gibney, boot and shoe repairers, 63? Heathcote Street The Gibney, boot repairing factory 6 Hill Street The Gibney, boot repairers, 914 Foleshill Road Gibney, boot repairer, 137 Far Gosford Street Gibney, boot repairer, 68 Walesgrave Road Some of these places still exist eg 137 Far Gosford Street and while there may be old images of the buildings, they might be part of a street scene, rather than an obvious shop.

In 1913 the Coventry Perseverance Co-operative Society - 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.

Amazing Helen, thank you so much. Thomas Gibney, my Great Great Grandad was the first in the business setting up his shop next to his fathers Carving and Gilding Business in Wolverhampton. These are the business details I have about him: 1880 Boot & Shoemaker 44 Darlington St., Wolverhampton 1881 Electroplater 44 Darlington St., Wolverhampton 1884 Boot & Shoemaker 107/109 High St., West Bromwich 1888 Boot & Shoemaker 107/109 High St., West Bromwich 1888 Boot & Shoemaker 28 Spon Lane, West Bromwich 1888 Boot & Shoemaker/Repairer 107 Grt Hampton St, Birmingham 1890 Boot & Shoemaker 107 Grt Hampton St, Birmingham 1891 Residence 36/37 Fleet St, Coventry 1892 Boot & Shoemaker 5 Upper Mill Lane, Birmingham 1892 Boot & Shoemaker 36/37 Fleet St, Coventry 1896 Boot & Shoemaker 36/37 Fleet St, Coventry 1900 Boot & Shoemaker 36/37 Fleet St, Coventry 1901 Residence 36 Fleet St, Coventry 1901 Shoe Maker 10 Bull Ring, Coventry 1904 Boot Repairer 10 Bull Ring, Coventry 1904 Boot & Shoemaker 36/37 Fleet St, Coventry 1904 Boot Maker The Arcade, Nuneaton 1908 Boot & Shoemaker 36 Fleet St, Coventry 1908 Residence 36 Fleet St, Coventry 1912 Boot & Shoemaker 36 Fleet St, Coventry 1912 Boot Repairer 10 Bull Ring, Coventry 1912 Boot Repairer 2 Victoria St, Coventry 1912 Boot Maker 18 Gosford St, Coventry 1912 Residence 369a Stoney Stanton Rd, Coventry His wife Elizabeth, died in 1901 after the death of 2 infants and I believe it sent him off the rails a bit, but 2 of his children, my Great Great Aunt and Uncle, Eugenie and James took over the business mantel and ensured that it continued into the late 1950's. James became the main owner of the business after Thomas died in 1921, but Eugenie was an extremely capable business woman and I think she was more of the brains behind it! 1926 Boot Repairing Specialists 10 Bull Ring, Coventry 1928 The Gibney Boot Repairers 10/11 Bull Ring, Coventry 1928 The Gibney Boot Repairers 209 Lockhurst Lane, Coventry 1935 The Gibney Boot Repairers 10 Bull Ring, Coventry 1945 The Gibney Boot Repairers 6 Hill St., Coventry 1951 The Gibney Boot Repairers 6 Hill St., Coventry 1957 The Gibney Boot Repairers 6 Hill St., Coventry 1958The Gibney Boot Repairers 6 Hill St., Coventry My mum remembers going into the shop on Hill Street as a child and I know other members of the family 'learnt' the trade, but as you can see, the numbers of shops diminished during the 2 world wars and with changes to the city centre with the last shop being demolished and the deaths of both Eugenie and James, the doors to the 'Wonderful Gibney Boot Hospital' closed for the last time. The end of an era, but one I'm convinced gave me a love of shoes and boots (my excuse for buying lots and I'm sticking to it!!)

The first pic is a rather worn one of James outside one of the shops and the second of James and Eugenie enjoying a day out. As you can see, it was her in charge of the motorbike!!

I really like the photo of Eugenie and James. A Coventry license plate I think. Eugenie looks like a feisty character. It wasn't just the Fleet Street building that was taken by development, the Bull Ring property was bought up as part of the construction of Trinity Street. The Hill Street property was relatively modern (mid to late 1800s), which was partly why it survived the war. It must have been wearing to repeatedly move about.

I love this photo too. It reminded me of a great book I read in 2024, The Hazlebourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonson. It's set in post 1914/18 war and I think Eugenie would have been a valued member.