Trafalgar Street and Hertford Square

That's a lot of top shops from the looks of it. Old Coventry looks like a fascinating place to explore. Thanks for all the photos and maps. It's difficult trying to picture some of this, as it's totally different now.

Sorry but is this a photo of Croft Cottages? My great great grandfather and family lived there in the 1870's.

Going back to a comment earlier in this topic, I remember the Dolls' Hospital in Spon End, although I couldn't recall the name of the street. I went there a few times to patch up my dolls. Nowadays I suppose they just throw their toys away when they lose bits! I can also remember the Courts, some of which weren't demolished until around 1969/70. Does anyone recall the name of the Health shop on a corner down that way - Jordans (?) I think it must have been one of the first in Coventry. It sold lots of lovely dried fruit and nuts and special diet items.

Hi Janey and welcome to the forum I don't know which photo you're referring to but this one is:

My friends Debbie and Dean Nelson on FB just shared this interesting painting of Hertford Square. I'm trying to establish the artist from them but to me it's taken looking north from the southern end of the Square as it was being cleared. The road in the background to the right to the chimney is Rudge Road. Rob has a great similar shot taken slightly further east in the library images once cleared - you can see the same chimney.

Looks to be post war. That is when William Wright was active and there is one that he painted of Albion Street not too far away. Seems to be the type of scene that he liked to paint

You've got the right location I think. Some point between 1951 and 1954.

The artist is a new one to me - Falcon D Hildred https://www.peoplescollection.wales/items/381916 Presume it was from a photo as it states 1975 by which time Hertford Square was long gone. There's another of his in that collection - states Park Street? https://www.peoplescollection.wales/items/383510 He appears to still be alive - Welsh artist so I might reach out to him.

There is a raft of paintings arriving on the market that are copies of well known black and white photographs. Not that this is the same, the original photo may have been his own. Reading about him, he doesn't seem the type to start a picture and not finish it for 20 odd years

Helen, any idea why Hertford Square went around '51-'52ish, when the surrounding area was not cleared until the late 50's to make way for the Ring Road? Were they just considered as slums even by then? Were they planning for the RR that early?

It may be later. Looking again at the later map says it's between 54 and 62, so it could have been closer to 62 than 54 but while the top shops had gone the newer houses were still there so we can at least say that they went first. Having spotted Hertford Square on Britain from the Air I've identified the picture below as being Hertford Square looking south. My bad if everyone already knew this. These top shops were there on the 1850 map and the patch of dirt was nice gardens.

That's brilliant - I've seen that image before, not realised it was Hertford Square. The History of the Ring Road on roads.org reckons that first section (RR Rudge/Queens/Moat St) went in around 1962 though.

I'd seen it many times before but never saw a label to say where it was, but then I wasn't looking because it's too late. Zoom in to the left of the Rudge Works to find Hertford Square Found the photo on the Historic England web site and it's not identified but the photo was 1953.

Fantastic, Helen I could see it on this one. That one you linked is very clear and really shows the back of Hertford House as well.

A new find showing the lovely Hertford House in 1948 - clearance appears to be underway, back of Hertford Place.