Court Houses

I've been reading the health pamphlets about the slum clearances and one of the policies in the late 1800s, early 1900s was to do away with the back to backs because the arrangement impeded air flow. Some of the back to backs survived for longer than it seemed because they were merged into larger properties with a front and a back - 2 to 1.

This one cropped up on FB on the "British History Unveiled" pages. It purports to be a Coventry Court but I've no idea whereabouts. In 1942 Coventry, amid the harsh realities of wartime, children found moments of joy playing together in a backyard slum. Despite the tough surroundings marked by cramped conditions and damaged buildings, their laughter and games brought life and hope to an otherwise grim environment. These carefree moments were a small but powerful escape from the challenges faced daily. The backyard, though humble and worn, became a playground where imagination flourished. The resilience of these children shone through, as they made the most of what little space they had, creating a sense of community and friendship in the heart of the city's hardship. Their play was a quiet act of defiance against the war's disruption. This snapshot from Coventry in 1942 captures not just the struggles of the time, but also the enduring spirit of youth. It reminds us that even in the most difficult conditions, children's ability to find joy and connection can offer a glimmer of hope and strength for the future.

This photograph, along with your comments, brought tears to my eyes. The kids have no idea how dire their circumstances are, they're just having a good time. The mum with the baby looks on with a smile. This backyard looks very much like my grandparents house at 20 Wellington Street, not a court but the area behind their rowhouse with a topshop.

I should think most of us are so glad 'times have changed.' But they all look happy in that photograph and having fun. Many children had a fancy for 'bomb sites' and looking for whatever they could take home. My inlaws lived in Dickens Road and they had a heavy metal wheelbarrow land between their garage and next doors fence. It stayed there for another 40/45 years. Isn't there a saying - Blame it on the bombs ?

Boys, a football... I don't know the court but I'm guessing that it's one built in the 1700s. Which in 1942 limits the possibilities. It might be outside the centre?

I have a vague memory of going to tea with another pupil from Stoke Council School, Briton Road. I must have been only 6 or 7. I was suprised to find the house had a communal courtyard with a shared WC. I remember being made very welcome by my friend's father, who offered me toast and dripping, something my "tool workers allowance" father had enabled us to supplant with butter. I had never had dripping on toast before. Alas, the friendship did not develop and I cannot recall names or location. I have searched maps and "Britain from the Air" to identify where this might have been within a 15 or so minutes walk of Briton Road but my memory is too sketchy to recall enough detail. I always gave the few remaining courts of the 1950's and 60's a wide berth when exploring the city as a child. Having been weakened by polio I was afraid of being challenged by the natives!