Longford (inc. The Red Hills)

One for Kaga!

Longford Square - it is still recognisable from that picture

Prof, Yes that photo has been on before. I was in a horse and trap when I was about ten, the man with the reigns was a bit retarded and had been told the horse was an old 'jumps' racehorse and was a bit frisky. As we approached the bridge the man said to the horse 'Under, you silly bugger, go under'. He was quite serious. My mother-in-law lived in one of those houses in the square back in the thirties, so thanks for the photo. Argon, There was a small factory on the right at the side of the railway during the war, on the left was a small bungalow between the railway and the vicarage, built by a metal waste dealer who had lived on the wasteland by the 'slough' until he built the bungalow. Was your shop opposite Hackett's?

Kaga Yes, the newsagents was right opposite Hacketts, 239 Longford Road. We took over from a Mrs Spittle who had run it for many years, it was quite old fashioned when we took it over. My father-in-law's factory was right next to the railway in Sydnall Rd and was for precision engineering, as you say, on the right as you approach the bridge from Longford Rd. He was there in the 50's and 60's. I was in the newsagents early 60's Ref. Hacketts, one day I was in the shop when a small lad came in and asked if I had any empty boxes to which I answered that I hadn't. Another customer there suggested that he should ask at Hacketts. The lad went across the road to where Charles Hackett was in the front of his yard, and we saw him ask Charles. Charles looked across at us with a big grin and shook his fist.

I was around Longford way back in the thirties time, now there's a lot I can't remember. But I remember a girl from Foxford School in the thirties, she lived round near the Brickworks. To cut it short, by early war I used to walk her home, there was the remains of a squat small building, it was called the pug mill house, it wasn't a house, it wasn't a mill, it was part of the Brickworks, it was used to break down and soften clay before it was moulded. But back in those days I think the word 'pug' meant to soften, I believe we used linseed oil to soften putty - pug-putty?

Kaga. As you know I retired from the brickworks in Coventry, the 'pug' was the machine that extruded the clay through a die to get the brick shape.

NormK. Yes, that's it, thanks. I hoped it would be you to answer, had a feeling you would know the answer, have no idea what they looked like. Suppose they have a more modern machine these days?

I have spent years thinking about Coventry and the thirty years I lived in it, and my ancestors who knew the north side so well. Three great heaths covered north Coventry - Great Heath, Little Heath and Stoke Heath, spread out like a giant fan, the veins of the fan being three main coaching roads that led northwards from the city centre. Beyond them were the farms that helped to feed, and the cattle that were driven into Coventry, but from the west round to the east coal was found, so in the eighteenth century a canal was built to bring all these goods into the city centre. This canal made its way through all three beautiful heaths, with their little inns and districts of glorious names. 1889 - at the boundary at Sutton Stop three teenage boys leapt off the boats and headed for the Greyhound pub. By the time they came out the boats were heading for the small village of Longford. The boys did not chase after them, they decided to catch up with them the later, They walked down the whapple (bridlepath) to the Boat Inn, from there down to the Fox Inn - here there was a cross path, to the east Aldermans Green Road, to the west Longford. The boys crossed the path and entered Little Heath, well noted for the number of fox. Here there were gorse bush, dog rose, bramble bushes, thousands of song birds, up above the skylarks rose high in the sky with delightful song. The path led down to the ford of the Sowe river. 100 yards to the west was another old ford now covered by the coaching road. The river had numerous water pools of fish, reeds and wild flowers in profussion along the bank. Over the ford the path split up - on ahead it would join a larger cart track known as Windmill Lane, so did the path the boys took. On their left was the derelict old windmill, a few yards on they could see the water mill, but they turned and entered The Crown. Leaving The Crown the boys turned right, joining the canal and the coaching road (Foleshill) - here it had the delightful name of Dovedale. They could also see the boats they had left at the Greyhound. Still with time they moved up the coaching road to the Wheatsheaf Inn, from there they crossed the road to the Three Horseshoes. From there, well tanked up, they staggered down the small pathway that led to the canal, and to the old church of St Laurence just as the last boat was passing. Here two of them jumped aboard but the third lad missed his footing and landed in the water - the boatman stretched out the boat hook, the boy clung to it but the boatman left it there while the boy was pulled along for some yards. A few minutes later the boats entered the small district of Paradise to the south - to the north was part Stoke Heath and part Courthouse Estate. The boats turned south under the second coaching road (Stoney Stanton), now in Great Heath, and behind more houses than they had ever passed on the route. Paradise had the quaint names of Paradise Row, Eden Street and the Adam and Eve pub. A few yards farther on, they turned back under the coaching road across the great heath, once again a great wild expanse of heath with thousands of birds and wild life and pathways that had names like Eagle Street and Bird Grove. They crossed under the first coaching road (Foleshill) and round a bend and into the Coventry Basin.

Heathite, Hi! May I ask a favour - do you have a directory of Grange Road 1930 time? I'm looking for either a Baldwin or Lote. Thanks

Kaga, There are Lotes on the 1939 census at 162 Grange Road, hope this helps. I can't spot any Baldwins. Arthur Lote born 1883 Haulage contractor Agnes E Lote 1883 Gladys Lote 1916 Vertical miller, later married Clarke 1 other blanked out (this is because they are considered to be still alive)

Hello Kaga, here's what I can find, directory entries from 1921 to 1940. I have 1921, 1926, 1935, 1937, and 1940. Mostly from t'internet but not all.

Annewiggy, Heathite - Fantastic, thank you, solved an age-old problem for me. Heathite. As a very small child I visited Grange Road. Two houses, confusing, but could never remember who we visited. Now, what you have found for me - Thomas Simpson was my dad's grandad at 322, and what you both found, Arthur Lote at 318 (the Baldwins, cousin were at St Thomas's Road.) Now the Lotes were lifelong friends of my parents - early twenties, played tennis, visited silent films, but Arthur ran paper chases with my dad, played football. He had the first car, took us to relatives etc we called them uncle and aunt. Now I must go to Blitz topic.

Hello Kaga, thank you for the feedback. I'm glad to be able to help. By the way, Annewiggy mentioned the 1939 register, you are there too. You should not be, because as Annewiggy has rightly pointed out, if you're still here then it should be kept private.

Heathite, Annewiggy. Not sure about Grange Road in the old days, but Sutton Stop was really Hawkesbury Junction (stop). Over Grange Road bridge there was Hawkesbury Railway Halt and Hawkesbury Farm, across the fields was Hawkesbury Hall In Parrotts Grove, and Hawkesbury School and dance hall. Greg. AG Road was Hawkesbury and so was the Slough Pool, I had never heard it called Wyken Pool until this forum - also, Hawkesbury Collieries, and all were in Foleshill, until McGrory decided to split them and put Victora Colliery in Foleshill and Craven Colliery in Wyken, but Potters Green in Walsgrave - how he did that I have no idea.