Cow Lane

One of our fellow members, Ghengis Smith, has done a sterling job restoring that wonderful and rare photo of the corner of Cow Lane, so I'm adding it here at his request. Enjoy....

Nice job The sepia tint also gives it a period feel. Mike Billings has an interesting recollection of the site here: Little Park Street & Spon Street, by Mick Billings Have long been curious, whereabouts was the telephone exchange before it moved to its present location?

I am not sure which property is the 'Hare and Squirrel' on this old photo of Cow Lane

Modern day version

In the old photo, the door on the left with the lamp above - I remember this as a dark and dingy 'general store' in the early 1960s, run by a woman who must have been in her 90s! It was on my route home from Holy Trinity and I sometimes called in to buy some sweets. Greyfriars Lane was cobbled all the way down to this spot

I found another shot of your 'dingy shop', I can see a window as it's a slightly different angle. Corner of Union St, Cow Lane, Greyfriars Lane and Cheylesmore

Thanks - that shows the Hare & Squirrel as I remember it (with the double bay windows) - I assume that in the first photo the H&S is the half-timbered building to the left of the gateway I wonder when that was demolished for the "new" public house? - perchance it was 1940!

Yes it is: Pre war. It was in a slightly different position and orientation as well.

Thanks for the location of the 'original Hare and Squirrel', Dutchman. According to the old Newspapers, it was up for sale in 1858 and was described as a Commercial Inn and Market House with a good Malthouse attached containing a Ten Quarter Kiln, stabling for eight horses and a large garden. Looking at that map, roughly what do you think the square area of the property would have been? Just interested in visualising the layout of the property.

I'm afraid I've no idea Foxcote, 10,000 square feet maybe?

Thanks Dutchman, the angles of the old photos made the old Hare and Squirrel look smaller than it actually was, I can see the gardens etc on your map. It didn't sound very pleasant to have spent a night there from the description in the first article that I have found from 2002, there's some great details of Cow Lane in the second link... Pungent smell of Cow Lane Memories of Cow Lane

I found this picture of the shop on the corner of Cow Lane and Greyfriars Lane. It clearly shows the cobblestones in Greyfriars Lane. I will leave you car experts to date it but I would have thought 1960's.

Oh that's a cracking photo Annewiggy MR will be well pleased when he sees that.

Just found some more. Another view of the shop and a view further up Cow Lane of the Weavers Top Shops.

Absolutely made up! for that and the subsequent ones