Things we used to believe about Coventry

Thank you, but there are all different heights above sea level for Coventry. Mine was taken for Coundon before I found differences afterwards!

The data I gave above was geographical levels of Coventry around 1880, situated in west longitude, thirty minutes twenty seconds north, latitude fifty-two degrees. Time six minutes twenty four minutes thirty seconds slow of greenwich. There are within the municipal boundary exactly 1600 statute of which about 700 and fifty acres built upon. The natural formation or crust of the Earth's surface within the city consists of ten small hills or portions of hills, with the River Sherbourne, Radford brook, and other small tributary watercourses intercepting them in the valleys. None of these hills, however, rise to any great elevation, the highest, Barrs hill, being only 75 ft above the level of the Burges, while the high ground on Hearsall Common is 67 above Spon End.

WOW, I think I finally give up.

Wise move scrutiny. Flames down shot spring to mind, annoyingly. Why indulge any longer!!!

I'm wondering if we need yet another change of title for this thread! OK, some gentle steering required.... Kaga, I'm sure with your almost unique perspective on our city, especially pre-war, you must have heard many local stories that were widely believed but perhaps not completely true?

Scrutiny I have a rare book, only a hundred printed, a biograph of our city, I thought I should share, just as you shared with me answering my first post on this forum about 8f some five years ago. Rob, there was always the one about the war would only last six months, and how about if you dipped your toes in the gerry at night, it would cure chilblains. If you crossed your eyes one day you would stay like it. You spat on the iron, the clothes came out smoother. We used to call them 'old wives' tales'.

I hope you'll also share with us that name of this rare book Kaga? And regarding those wives' tales, I think those are quite universal - at least UK-wide, if not farther field. I'm sure there must be some stories about our fine city that have done the rounds? The stories about the longest cul-de-sac, and tallest spire / chimney, like we've already heard, were perfect examples.... I'm sure there are many more.

Rob, I thought we had discussed the book some time back, I thought Helen and Annewiggy had a copy. "Humorous Reminiscences of Coventry Life, Coventry Coaching and Coach Roads and Other Local Works" by T W Whitley. There is no secrecy, it's a British Library book. As I have said before, it's my education that's amiss, it's 90 years old. It was a different language, when twelve was so important, but has no part in Coventry today. As for chimney heights, they were of no importance in my day, except they were not large enough, they still threw their dirt, mainly over Stoke, that people complained about. That was important back then, the time they were built.

It is a very good book Kaga but there may have been more than a 100 printed overall. Second print run? Either that or we've been very lucky to get copies. That said it's a fairly niche market... though on second thoughts it would also apply to those interested in the coaching routes. There are some fine images in it, including the top of Smithford Street before Hertford Street was built. The only other pictures of that extra building with a peeping Tom looking in the doorway are on coins.

Don't know if its the same book. But there are 2 copies currently listed on eBay? eBay item number: 124144939417

Those are modern reprints based on the British Library copy Mick. The originals turn up periodically and can be cheaper. It can be read free at the British Library. I'm somewhat wary of the reprints because they can be very poor copies, even without the images. One lot I got were converted very badly into modern text with many misread words. Of course you don't have any rights to the modern copies either where many of the old books are out of copyright.

I know you weren't keeping any secrets Kaga, it's just that you said "I have a rare book", and that wasn't quite enough for me to guess which of the thousands of Coventry books you might've been referring to! You are correct, though, about the print run. I have a first edition, 1888, and I've just checked it - it does state on the page after the contents that only 100 were printed. Maybe there were others later, but I've never seen one, apart from the modern reprints (and I agree, Helen, some reprints are awful quality!). There's one on Abe Books in the US for $74 at the moment.... I think I got mine for under £20 !! It's a super book though, full of great stories that give a real feel for the Coventry of old, and is one of my favourites.

I've checked my copy and it's an 1888 edition too. We must have a fair chunk of all the surviving original 100 copies. Well spotted Kaga!

Rob, hi! I said rare because he never wrote it, he copied everything from Coventry newspapers or local books, but it was during his lifetime so he could check or see if it was true or not. Bar one chapter, this is confusing, he wrote that Leofric gave land from St Michael's parish to Trinity parish in 1050, but the land didn't have parishes in 1050, especially St Michael's and Trinity, they weren't built for another three hundred years, and an invasion in the meantime. Rob, you said about the longest cul-de-sac. no such thing in my day. When did Coventry have the first one? But if you mean a street with only one entrance and exit, then I would say Shilton Lane. But what a nightmare cul-de-sacs are, for fire engines and ambulances, with a narrow u-turn. A fire engine does not have enough space to work properly, nor to turn ladders for control and water direction, and ambulances get held up with cars in the street, and crews get irritated and annoyed.

Some of my rare books have a list of the people who bought a copy, a detail that makes me laugh. I never thought that this book might be so limited. You're right Kaga, Whitley cold checked certain details in a way we now can't but very old history like Leofric is better researched now, despite being over a hundred years further away from the original events. I've tried to balance the old books with the new ones for this reason.