Albany Road / Butts

Fantastic social history by Elizabeth Yes, those prams are serving as wheelbarrows and the owners are probably in the pub, drinking their earnings. Given the size of them, it shows how family norms were changing. Mothers no longer needed mass transport for their large, young families. A modern replacement is parked up further down the street. There was a time when you could park a pram, with or without a baby and be confident they wouldn't be stolen. Not now. Though whether it was ever safe is questionable.

Definitely, and I quote Helen's words "Fantastic social history by Elizabeth". My thanks to Elizabeth and to Neil for sharing those images here.

Some may recognise this chap who seems to have been quite a well known character in the area at the time. © Elizabeth Tyler - It's Butts circa 1963 in what would probably have been not long before it was reprofiled and became dual carriageway to support the flow for the then new Ring Road. You can see both St Thomas' and the side of the Technical college on Albany Road behind -

It may have been mentioned before, but in the Churchyard behind the Gentleman there was the horrific Murder of a child in possibly late 1960's/early 1970's.I well remember Police Cars roaming the area using their Loudspeakers to ask the Public to search for the missing child, whose body was found in a Dustbin, (if I remember correctly), at the rear of a House adjacent to the Church. The culprit was actually the Church Gardener, who as I recall wore a shabby Army Trenchcoat. I did a Paper Round for the Newsagents a couple of Shops along from the corner of Gordon Street, and remember him. Not a nice piece of Coventry History, but worth remembering for the Child's sake, RIP.

Hadn't heard about that before mods - how sad (PS hope the snow has sub-sided!)

Adding here for now until confirmed but another shot © Elizabeth Tyler. I believe this is the old YWCA building in 1963 before it was demolished. Does anyone recognise it ? I lived there for a few months then when I was 17. It was cold and damp, everything smelt of mold but it was the only home I had then. Previous post indicate there was a YWCA on Butts opposite the college so can anyone confirm this is it?

There was a YWCA on the Butts before and after the war. Before it was a large building set back from the road, possibly containing part of a grand house but extended. After the war it was two street fronting properties that had stood in front of part of the old YWCA. 64 and 66. This could be number 66 (left) and 68 (right). Best observed on the 1950 map. Unfortunately the maps aren't detailed enough to show the bay window.