Peeping Tom

Hi Helen. In one of David McGrory’s books, he says the shot of Tom outside is the yard of the Kings Head, waiting for the Godiva procession. This is the building he was in before it was demolished. I imagine that may be him in the very top of the left hand gable.

Coventry Evening Telegraph, 3rd July 1937. Helen, the picture of him in the yard of the King's Head must have been at the same time, as in 1936 there is an article saying they intended to renovate and preserve him and make a stone or plaster model for the window. So has the one on the corner been a copy all the time and the original inside the hotel? This can't be the one that was in Mr Cooke's shop and finished up at Ager's as Ager's had the other one by then.

I was coming to the same conclusion, Anne. Great detective work They may have come to the decision that Tom's days were numbered if he stayed in the open air much longer. Plus it would be easier to protect the alcove he was in, if he was truncated. I also wondered if the outdoor picture with the alcoves I posted was the outside of the King's Head or Vicar Lane. There are pictures of him being moved to safety after the bombing but no mention of Tom version 2. Might the copy have broken his neck in the bombing and ended up at the Peeping Tom or was he there before the bombing?

Hi Helen. I have just found another article, 1934. It mentions the ones in Hertford Street, Kings Head and the one just removed from Smithford Street so we know they were all around in different places at the same time. So the one at the Peeping Tom was there before the bombing. The copy in the window of the Kings Head may just have got destroyed in the bombing. The article also says that Mr West's is identical to the one removed from Smithford Street except that it is beeswax. That one was used in the Godiva pageant of 1936. He maintains in another article in 1948 that it had been in the family for over 100 years. I have wondered for some time about the ones placed in windows. Where are his legs, especially the 1799 one and even the Kings Head on the corner? I will continue to look through the newspapers to see if there are any more clues.

The 1799 image (and copies) is from before they built Hertford Street and is the only view that I know of that shows anything of the original buildings. They could easily be re-fronted timber buildings but it's impossible to know if or when. What we might think of as Georgian styling started earlier than the Georgians. Palladian architecture had a brief popularity in the early 1600s but abruptly stopped due to the English Civil War and returned to fashion in the early 1700s. One of the reasons Coventry retained so many medieval buildings was because it was short of money and seems to have faked more modern buildings rather than built them. Tom's titchy window might be a remainder of a frontage with older, smaller windows. Might it have originally been a cupboard or a landing window? Certainly the building gained some side windows that were impossible before Hertford Street was built. I'm guessing that he was in some kind of cupboard but how they made it water proof is a mystery.

1677, Peeping Tom was first placed in a house in High Street but in 1744 removed to a house next to the Kings Head Inn. An interesting quote from a 1934 article about Tom: IN THE DEEDS When the King's Head was eventually extended so as to include the Smithford Street-Hertford Street frontage, the effigy of Peeping Tom formed an important part of the conveyance, and when the hotel was put up for auction in 1893 the following , appeared in the particulars of sale: ' In an indenture dated the 30th September, 1878, being the conveyance to the late Mr. George Woodcock of that portion of the property which is situated at the corner of Hertford Street and Smithford Street. the said George Woodcock covenanted that he and his heirs and assigns would from time to time, and at all times for ever thereafter, permit and suffer a certain wooden figure or effigy called Peeping Tom to stand, be, and remain in a small room or closet where the same was then placed, and would not remove, deface, injure, damage or destroy the same: and also would from time to time at least four times in the year (if necessary) permit and suffer the same figure or effigy to be repaired. painted, and ornamented. Another in 1935 says the original was insured for £1,000 and another dummy of Peeping Tom, and there are several in the city to fill the gap. In the Leamington Spa Courier 1873, members of the Architectural and Archaeological society of Leicestershire and Northamptonshire visited Coventry: To oblige the archaeologists, the figure of Peeping Tom was taken from his niche at the corner of Hertford Street and placed under Mr Bloxam's critical eyes for the first time. It is a wooden figure 5ft 8in high. from the back of which a considerable portion has been taken to make tobacco stoppers. From the salads broad toed sollerets, the thigh pieces and other armour, Mr Bloxam was of the opinion that it was a wooden figure, probably of St George, of the time of Henry VII. The small circular discs, resembling buttons, in the breast plate are not common. It is probable that the figure was taken from one of the churches. It is interesting that another article in 1936 says that he would be safe from adventurous Americans who would stick knives in his back to cut assay souvenir chunks, which is why he was placed in a glass box in the Kings Head and a model placed in the window on the corner. I have had confirmation from the Herbert that they do have the one that was from Agers. It is a plaster model but they can tell me no more about it.

Random stuff - Smithford Street probably went right up to Greyfriars Lane originally? From where the High Street started. When Hertford Street was built and the west side of Broadgate was demolished, it got complicated. In 1820 the building next to the King's Head was G B Ladbury a draper. The oldest sketch has that building with a 1760 date on it. One of the reasons to suspect that it was re-fronted, rather than rebuilt, is because it's not very tall. Demonstrated by comparing it with the much more Georgian looking house in the sketch that was demolished. The proportions are wrong for Georgian styling. However the building might have lost some of the original features. After Mr Ladbury the building was occupied by Thomas Sharp hatter and antiquary. Then by Piccott bootmaker. In 1820 a John Woodcock was on the Smithford side corner of Greyfriars Lane. By 1850 that was Little and Woodcock's Bank. Later still in 1869 it became a public house, The Board. 1874-1898 it was named as the Spirit Vaults (Lucas, Arkwright and Blackwell’s Spirit Vaults) and finally the Coventry Arms, 1903-1929.

I promise I will finish soon, but I keep finding these fascinating articles! Sorry this is a bit long winded but I find it a fascinating piece which shows Dr Wingrave must have had a sense of humour. It also answers a few more questions. From the Midland Daily Telegraph 5th September 1934. This is provided by Dr Wingrave who was then living in retirement in Lyme Regis. He was an authority upon the more recent history of the Peeping Tom Effigy then peering from the upper gables of the King's Head. For the last thirty or forty years I have maintained a dignified silence, but recently the outrages on a much misunderstood citizen have, indeed disturbed my equanimity. I see. much that is going on yet say nothing. I see much to admire and something to deplore, but my indignation is at last uncontrollable. This may explain my feelings, much as a post-mortem examination. Sometime in the sixties I was carefully removed from my window at "the top of the town," placed on a truck, and taken to a shop in Hertford Street towards which I have long directed my gaze. This was the shop of one Bailey, a master of many arts. Not the least of was that of scene painter of the theatre, but he did many things, restoring pictures, re-gilding frames - and now he was going to paint and re-gild me. They put me in a bag room or yard and took off my hat. "Why it's only tin" said someone. "All cracked and rotten," said someone else. "we shall have to m make another." "Yes," I cut in "but don't stick a silly feather in it." Well they found that I was sound, no death watch holes in me, no cracks even to call for putty. They gave me a good wash all over, and I felt young again. But the man with long hair soon set to work with paint. and decided that my old coat was still good but wanted brightening. A lot of people came to see me, and at once started quarrelling. "Put him back as he is without a hat." suggested someone. Now that is just what I wanted, for I never wore a hat. You must remember I am a saint - a fighting saint, by name of George, and I was born here. Yet they call me Peeping Tom, indeed! "By George " says everyone when they don't want to use bad language. They forget what I am, looking after them night and day from my window - only Peeping Tom. It's hard, very bad but I have got used to it. Hat Indeed ! On my head you will find a tight fitting skullcap of leather over which I put my helmet when out for dragons. Why' some rascal even gave me a wig, others a three cornered hat. Look at my lovely armour, it's a bit gaudy at present. Well might the boys ask why I look solemn in my old window over Mr Piggott's. After fighting and swearing they decided on a new tin cocked hat with a feather, and to pacify me they gave me a medal for having lost my arms. Just as I thought we had finished, and were going away, one of them got behind me and shouted "why 'e aint got no back" True I have not, In fact I have no "innards" and this is how it came about. There was a badly fitting door just behind my window, through which people could come and see me., and what do you think they did ? Why cut bits out of me for souvenirs ! To hide my disfigurement I am now sealed up. so that nobody can borrow bits for keepsakes or charms. A little bit of me is a wonderful charm especially scandal. Now I hope we shall have no more impudent impostering. Although it is the penalty of greatness.It is very annoying, whether they be of plaster or stone. I think there is a wax model which was taken from me one day when I was being restored but I understand it was fashionable to have your bump taken. No the hat's all wrong, but I have got no hands to take it off.

Helen, this is from the Nuneaton Herald 1880. I think it answers your question about what happened to the original building.

May be just a coincidence, Tom (Dr Wingrave) does mention a waxworks copy that I have not been able to locate since it was mentioned in 1969. In September and October 1866 there was a waxwork exhibition at the Corn Exchange in Hertford Street!

Here is Mr Bayley. I am sure it must be him that painted Tom.

I am just amazed how much information there is to be found about Peeping Tom, and it’s all searchable. It is probably only now that these bits of information can be found. I have enjoyed this research, but probably more Miss Marple doing her knitting! 😉

I don't know about anyone else but Anne and I are having a great time On the 1807 map the west side (Smithford St) of Greyfriars Lane was missing a building compared to the 1749 map. Even with the building gone it was a tight junction. In 1819 there is a very poor sketch of the east side of Greyfriars and there was a tall, 2 storey jettied building but even though it was missing in later years the road doesn't look like it got wider on that side until the 20th century. That suggests that Tom's first recorded home was on the Smithford Street side of Greyfriars Lane, but on the north side of the road, it would still have been the High Street. The image below is the side of the Coventry Arms running along Greyfriars Lane. You can see that a chunk has been taken out of the street line. According to the excellent Pub History about the demolition of the Coventry Arms - it was found to have a spacious vaulted 14th century cellar, decorated medieval fireplaces and much of the building was thought to date from the 16th or 17th century. Like many Coventry buildings, all this was hidden behind a more recent facade. It was common but not universal for corner buildings to be 2 storey, so maybe like the half timber buildings on the left?

I'm also having a great time reading all the research and articles. I really appreciate all the superb gems you are unearthing. Great!

In 1927 in the Coventry Herald, there were several articles under the heading of "Old Coventry Customs". The article dated 22 April 1927 was about the "Trinity Procession" - after a long description of the procession, and a description of Peeping Tom, much the same as we now know the one in the Herbert, it then goes on: It was 1775 that Peeping Tom was removed to the house adjoining the King's Head (as the corner of Hertford & Smithford Street was in Readers Day), from Alderman Abraham Owen's house at the corner of Greyfriars Lane, the latter house being taken down and rebuilt. About the year 1795, the occupant of the house protected Peeping Tom with a pistol when some Irish Dragoons had raised a ladder to take him down, alleging he had told tales of them to their officers and that they would make him stand sentry for them at the new Barrack Gate. It says at the top of this article that it is some extracts from the "Reader Manuscripts". Have you come across this at all, Helen? I have searched online but cannot found anything about them.