Crabtree / Crabmill Lane

Kaga, I have since learned that a lot of those little back 'entries' have been blocked off now. We had one alongside our old house in Welland Road and anyone wearing nailed boots going home always made themselves heard. Kids found great delight in throwing the odd stone or two at the tin bath hanging on the outside wall. Who said they were the good old days?

Hi, I'm new to this forum and this is my first post. Am replying to this as am grateful to you posting this as have found my grandfather Charles Strong (my mum's dad' who lived at 34 Crabmill Lane. He was born behind the Adam & Eve pub, and lived at 34 and went on to live at 26 Crabmill Lane. He had a number of sisters, Hilda who lived in the same street. All my mother's family lived in the area of Paradise for generations. I left Coventry many years ago back in 1978 and have lived in various parts of the country since. Am heartbroken at what Coventry City Council has done to Broadgate, looks like a slab of concrete!

Hi Mrs Blade. When my grandmother got married in 1913 she was living with her parents at 24 Crabmill Lane and although she got married continued to live at number 26 until she got married for a third time in 1924, having lost her first two husbands due to WWI. She then moved to 46 Crabmill Lane until 1940 when they got bombed. My great grandfather was still living at 24 Crabmill Lane when he killed right at the end of 1939 by a tram near the Red House Inn, he was the 18th road death in the blackout and 50th of that year. So your family would have known mine, having lived just doors away.

Hi Mr Blue Sky. Thanks for responding, I appreciate it as am trying to gather info for my mum whose name was Janet Strong (maiden name) who resided with her parents Gladys and Charles Strong at 26 Crabmill Lane. She was born 1938. So yes I do believe your great grandfather would have indeed known my grandparents and my mum who was a year old when your great grandfather tragically died. Apparently I found out that my grandfather was named after his father who was also a Charles Strong so it gets a little confusing for me when doing research! LOL! What was your great grandfather's name so I can see if it rings any bells with my mum? She is 81 now but she is still interested in finding out more about her family as her father wasn't very forthcoming when she asked questions about her family! Fascinating about the history of your grandmother, so thank you for sharing.

Hi Mrs Blade. My great grandfather was Thomas Suthard and my grandmother's married name from 1924 was Taylor. She would also have known your grandparents. Her youngest daughter was born December 1936, her name was Jill so your mum could well have known her from school days. Jill passed away 2018. My grandmother had 2 boys and 5 girls from her 3 husbands from 1914 to 1936. I was her first grandchild and I was 41 years old when she passed away. I spent so much time at her house people thought I lived there.

Hi, here's an image of the 1911-1912 Coventry directory for Crabmill Lane. I hope it helps

Thanks very much for the directory, Heathite. I don't know when Crabmill Lane was first built, but my grandmother was born in 1894 at 81 Stoney Stanton Road so I don't know when they moved. My gran was an only child. Her parents were married in 1890.

Hi again Mr Blue Sky, thanks so much for responding with info which my mother would be familiar with. Jill was born the same month and year as my mum, so defo they would have known each other and went to the same school. Am sorry to hear Jill has passed away. I took a virtual tour of Crabmill Lane via google earth and there seems to be a good percentage of foreign people in this street now. I left Coventry when I was 18 to live in Kent and have only been back a couple of times and do not recognise the Coventry I once knew. Have done a family tree which I managed to get as far back as mid 1800's and am still adding to this at present. Thanks again