Longford (inc. The Red Hills)

Hi Kaga, Re your question about Barry and Janet Blythe. I am sure that these were the brother and sister that lived about half way up Elmsdale Avenue on the left as you proceed from the Foleshill Road end. Their house was the last in the terrace before the rear end of the lawn belonging to the "William" pub. I remember these two being the nicest people you could wish to meet, and Janet was so beautiful we boys were always literally stunned into speechlessness! I have read a number of your previous entries and it seems that you may have come from the same part of Foleshill that I did.

johnwright. Thank you for that, but I came from Tusses Bridge, but you got the house spot on. Sadly Barry died about eight years ago. They both attended Windmill Road School. Janet, thanks you for your kind words, she's sitting next to me right now, Janet became my wife. Her father came from Lentons Lane, I believe he won a cup for football when playing for AG Road football club. They used the Miners Arms and played in the field just above the slough on the left. Her mother's family came from Ladys Lane, Longford. I know Foleshill covered from Longford right across to Woodway Lane in the 1920's but I have no idea what it covers now. Once again, thanks.

Oh thank you so much for the photo John, Jill is third from left in the middle row, I will definitely show her this photo when I next see her and I'm sure she'll be able to put some names to faces!

I have found valued information and maps on here of Foleshill Workhouse that was on a site behind the Fire Station opposite Old Church Road and the old (now demolished Coventry Housing Cub. The Horse Chestnut lined entrance to the Workhouse still exists. The Workhouse was (I believe) pulled down in the late 20's early 30's. A few of my ancestors died in the place but I cannot find a single photograph of what the place looked like which I find strange. Surely there must be photographs or was the Council ashamed of such establishments and banned photos.

http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Foleshill/ I am not sure if this is all ready placed on here. I wonder if any church parish or the Herbert would have a picture of this work house. I personally believe photo s should be taken prior to demolision of our City and suburbs for future history also what worked and what did nt for a length of time. After all we are now living in the 21st centry and digetal tech era which just needs to be uploaded and just stored at no cost of developing a film.

Hi Kaga Simpson, Sorry to hear about Barry Blythe, but glad that you are looking after Janet. I must admit I did not know them very well and Janet probably doesn't remember me at all. As regards to Foleshill, you say that it extended as far as Woodway Lane in the 1920s. When I left Coventry for Devon in 1971 the Foleshill area certainly did not extend that far, in fact it was a much smaller area surrounded by Longford, Holbrooks, Courthouse Green, Bell Green etc. I am sure other contributors could offer a more accurate area coverage than I. I have only recently found the "Historic Coventry" site, and am slowly progressing through all the topics, and am learning so much about our city and its people that I didn't know. Absolutely full marks to the originators.

Thanks for this I went down memory lane last year looking for Recreation Road we lived at no1 early sixties and went to Windmill Rd school .

Foleshill, Longford, extended into Bedworth, it used to have its own council, then Coventry absorbed it (whose idea was that)

Morgana. Thank you for your info re the "Coventry Society" website, I had a look and it is very interesting with other links to Coventry history. I have looked at recent photos of Foleshill, or Folks Hill as it was originally called -I never knew that, and quite frankly find it difficult to recognise many of the places I thought I knew Kaga Simpson mentioned coming from a place called Tusses Bridge which I hadn't heard of, so I had to look it up on "wikimapia" and found that it was further up the canal than I used to venture, again something new to me. My exploits on the canal were usually from the New Inn Bridge up past Longford, as I got a little older I used to go 'ratting' with my ferrets over the 'tip' that was great fun. I see the tip has now disappeared and has been built over which has really surprised me.

You're welcome Johnwright, just wish I could recall the other link which gave more detail which isn't mentioned in this link. If I come across it again I shall let you know. There is another link on the Cash's thread, describing what life was like around Foleshill and Longford, about the people and weavers. I placed it on yesterday I think, called hand loom weavers commission. Yes Folks Hill was Folks on the hill where the people used to gather to meet and chat. The tip you mention is that by the canal set back down Grange Rd. I was told by a water gypsy family ICI and Courtaulds used to tip their poisons down where they have not long ago built a new estate. Courtaulds had another tip north of Aldermans Green Rd., I recently read, on the left, not sure if this is the same place the back way. Yes Tusses Bridge is same place of Elephant and Castle pub, now all done up, sold on, now a house, one of the water gypsies son told me, he lives close by. Last time I lived here prior to now, the Fiesta pub was side of the New Inn Bridge.

Hi Morgana, I don't think the 'Fiesta' which was the New Inn is still there. You say about Courtaulds using the tip as a dumping ground for poisonous materials. I can remember on at least two occasions when Courtaulds dumped chemicals into the canal from its Foleshill factory. It was not a pretty sight to see all the fish, newts and other small water living animals gasping for breath on top of the water. It was amazing just how many fish there were. We were told that the fine imposed for polluting was less than the cost of disposing of the chemicals properly, I don't if that is true or not!

Johnwright, that's right the Fiesta was demolished quite a few years ago, in the late 70s I think. I have found that other Foleshill link.

When I first read this forum, the first thing I wrote about was the dumping of chemicals. Back in 38 I was so incensed at the scene down the slough that I tried to find out where the mayor was going to be, I had the idea I would rush in, dump dead fish on his plate and see what happened. Only the embarassment for my parents stopped me, damn wish I'd done it now.The other thing that griped me, why did they dump it in Longford's backyard, why didn't they dump it in the Kenilworth Lane area where they all lived. Good, I can get on with my day now.

Whilst researching my wife's family tree, I found that her Great Grandparents Albert Edward & Mary Elizabeth Holland and their children Martina & Alice were according to the 1901 census, living in Masser's Yard. Longford. I cannot find any reference to Masser's Yard on any map and was wondering where it was. The next address on the census sheet is South Fields which I seem to remember was a large house behind a wall that was near the Griffin Pub. Anyone shed any light on Masser's Yard ?

Just a little clue, a reference in the newspaper archive mentions in 1915 at a parish council meeting a Mr Lole called attention to the state of the footpath from Foxford to Massers Yard. It won't help with the location but apparently it was named in commemeration of the Masser family, landowners who at one time owned The Engine, The Griffin, The Weavers Arms in Courthouse Green and the Crown at Hawkesbury.