Pawnbrokers' shops

Can Heathite or anyone else have a look in the directories please for any pawnbrokers on New Buildings around the blitz?

Neil, I tried the 1939 register and the following info is there: George Wale b 1880 pawnbroker master, 30 New Buildings. George Wale b 1915, pawnbroker manager, 29 New Buildings. Now we know the Wales were pawnbrokers we can see them in New Buildings, why weren't they listed as such? Here's an image showing the New Buildings street list and the list of pawnbrokers for 1937. In the street list, the Wales are not identified as pawnbrokers. Also another niggle… in the directories, most directories, where it lists the courts, the residents are 'ghosted'. Were they considered inferior?

He is the 1936 CET. George Ernest Wale, 29 New Buildings - agreeing with Heathite.

Reason for asking was I've been in conversation with a lady called Jan Smith on FB regarding this image. She knows this is a photo of a bombed out pawnbroker’s in Coventry in World War 2. The man standing on top of the pile was her uncle named Norman Clare. Tragically he was to die in the D Day landings. The family were known to live in New Buildings though from what I can zoom the buildings on the left don't bear a resemblance to anything I recognise.

There was a George Clare in Court 4 at number 2.

In 1940 Ernest Wale had a shop in Raglan Street and a Mr Evans was running one in Cox Street.

Neil, could you get a better copy of the bit on the distance? If it was New Buildings, it could be Hales Street but it doesn't seem to match. They're sorting through clothes, which might be another clue.

Best I could do Helen.

My wild guess is that it's Raglan Street looking towards Lower Ford Street. It fits with G Wale pawnbrokers at 21, 23 Raglan Street, north side, looking west.

So it could be Mr Wale’s other shop at 21 Raglan Street. Do we know if there was any bombing there?

Yes Anne, odd numbers 19-33 were destroyed.

It is George Wale in Raglan Street.

It seems reasonable that the Wale family owned several pawn shops and that possibly Mr Clare worked for them, or at least helped as a neighbour to the New Buildings shop. On the event of the bombing Mr Clare may have gone over to Raglan Street* to help out. *If that's where the photo was taken. It also occurs to me that the clothes are pawned items

In November and December 1940 he is advertising that jewellery and other goods can be redeemed between 9.30 and 12.00 for the next two weeks, previous ads did not have times. There is nothing in 1941, then in 1942 he appears to have moved to 81 St Margaret’s Road but seems to be more into buying and selling jewellery. Yes, Helen, it seems to be quite a family concern and staff and helpers would have gone where needed. I think there is a very good chance of it being 21 Raglan Street.

I don’t know the area, Helen, but going from your picture, would this be the gap of the bombed houses in 1951?