Old Map scans now on Historic Coventry

Well, it had to be done.... Wyken and Walsgrave 1926 now scanned and online for your education and entertainment! https://www.historiccoventry.co.uk/covmaps/map_scans.php

Hi all I am in awe as I look at the the non-existent Sewall Highway (which started out as Sewall Ave), where I spent the first twenty years of my life. I can see where Wyken Grange is located by extending the line from where Avon St stops. I do not pretend to know or understand the preparation & effort that has been put in on this venture. I do know one thing, I could not have accomplished it. I can only say thank you & mean it.

Rob, how can I thank you? This latest map of Wyken will give myself (and I'm sure many others) much to study. I was three years old when we moved into our new house in Hartland Avenue, that was in 1937 and most of the houses were just about finished and neighbouring Sewall Highway was in the same condition. It is only when you see this map that you become aware of how recent (to me anyway) that the area really was just countryside. I can just remember Wyken Croft road being a gated road from the Walsgrave road to the church as it appears on this map. Right, back for another look. Cheers, Alan.

Hi there, I just wanted to say you've done a Brillant job Rob Orland (Dad) with the maps and what you did with correcting the position of Browning Road. The five thumbs up for 5 stars Kind regards

I've only just got round to having a play with the maps, excellent. It always makes you think when well known roads are not shown on maps. Growing up in Coundon Four Pounds Avenue just came to a dead end, mind you it meant that it was a giant play area. Thank you Rob.

You see what happens when great maps appear, other 'things' come to light too. I have just realised my great aunt and uncle lived in Browning Road (Mr & Mrs Froggatt), so thank you Com. Steve.

It's fascinating to see the way once isolated villages have been swallowed-up by the suburbs.

For those interested I've just added the 1610 John Speed map onto the maps page.... https://www.historiccoventry.co.uk/covmaps/map_scans.php?no=1 And for ease of use, all maps can now be "zoomed out" as well as in, to get a better overall view. Have fun!

Interesting Rob, the map shows early settlements outside the Greyfriars and Cheylesmore gates which I've not seen mentioned before. The original draughtsman also seems to have got Cow Lane and Dead Lane (St John's Street) mixed-up.

My word, I've seen other mistakes, but I'd not noticed that one before! I'm actually going to go against convention and make corrections to this scan of the map - although I will document them and make it clear that it's no longer the original plan. Yes I know, if Mr. Speed was alive now he'd be turning in his grave!!!

He appears to have got it right the first time Rob, numbering Dead Lane as 65, then changed his mind and numbered Cow Lane as 65 instead? So now there are two 65s and no 67 at all! Another interesting feature, even though there's no longer any physical barrier, when walking along Spon Street into town I still don't feel as if I've entered the city centre until I've passed the spot once occupied by Spon Gate! Something else which strikes me Rob, the map isn't drawn to scale. Much like modern-day road maps, the width of roads is drawn according to their importance rather than their physical size. Whitefriars Lane for example is shown as being extremely wide when in real life it was barely wide enough for a horse-drawn cart.

Well. I know I will, Thanks Rob, you are a gem