Yardley family

Fabulous to see Anne! I wondered if there were any pieces in the Watch museum.

When I visited a couple of years ago Neil they had no information on him.

My step grandpa was Bill(?) Yardley. I am uncertain of his first name, but fairly sure it was Bill. He died around the late fifties or early sixties, having been married to my grandma, Florence (Florrie) Berry, formerly Smith, sometime after the war years. He had been a watchmaker, in Craven Lane, and was a grand old man. He always wore an immaculate navy suit and shiny black boots, and sported a big moustache. I really liked him, as he was full of stories and great fun. They lived in Tile Hill for all the time I knew him, in Jardine Crescent. I am not sure whether he had any family locally and never met any relatives. He may not have been one of the Yardleys you are looking at, but if so, I would love to hear what you know of him. They may be photos of him in the family collection, which are with my brother in Devon. Best wishes, Roger Whittle

Hi Rojwhittle. There is a Harry Yardley who married Florrie Berry in 1950. If he is the correct one he would have been aged 80 by then. He died in 1956 and he was living in Coleman Street at the time he died which looking at the map is near Jardine Crescent. If this is the right person then he was my grandad Albert's brother. I also did not know any of grandad's siblings exept an unmarried aunt who lived on Coundon Road and was a dressmaker. We visited a few times when I was young, she lived in one room which always seemed to be full of sewing. On the 1911 census he is a public lamp repairer, but around that time people seem to be changing jobs. He was previously married to Ada Iliffe who died in 1947. If you think this is the correct person I can tell you a little more about the family and you might also like to read my article 400 years of Yardleys in Coventry which is in members' articles. If you do have any pictures of him I would love to see them.

I'm sure theres a reference to him on the list of Watchmakers at the bottom of Spon Street Ann. Next time I'm down there I'll try to get a photo.

Thanks Neil, I don't know anything about the list in Spon Street so that will be interesting. By the way I have found out from the auctioneers that the watch has gone to Washington D.C.

The Watch Museum in Spon Street has at least 6 Yardleys listed in the Trades List between 1850 to 1901. Of these 5 are case makers. Among them are Alfred, William, Richard and Joseph. They've got the details in the Watch Museum but they are only open on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Thank you, Anne. The year of his death is probably about right. My Grandma Florrie was a dressmaker, and I don't think there would have been too many Florrie Berrys about. I probably thought his name was 'Bill', because he used to ride an old Rudge bicycle, and tell me his name was 'Bicycle Bill', and call his bicycle the "Coalhole Special". I will have a look at your article, and ask my brother about him, who is 12 years older and knew him well. I will post pictures if we have any, but it could be some time as they will be in Devon.

Hi rojwhittle, I have sent you a direct contact to save cluttering up Historic Coventry with more Yardleys !

Hi Neil . . . that's the Telephone Exchange opposite, I remember it being a huge bomb site before but don't know what was there before the Blitz. That is Trevor Yardley (Ray Yardley's eldest son) sitting in his wheelchair at the entrance to the Yard looking out into Little Park Street. He spent many hours there and was well known. The block of stone facing us in the middle of the two windows is a mounting block for mounting horses. Stables were in the lower section, left-hand side of the Yard. The new Police Station is a short way down on the left of the entrance. Rosemary

Hi Rosemary Wow amazing - I posted that image by chance not realising a relation was there! So was that where Ray and Wyn lived? I thought they were more at the Earl Street end of the Yard? Any idea what year that would have been? Still trying to work out where it all started and ended to be honest! Did you go there yourself? If so - can you recall where the stone arbour was positioned? Great to hear from you again, Neil

What a wonderful discovery for you, Neil

Apologies if I have hijacked this thread as another Yardley family one but as you may have gathered I've been somewhat delighted to have not only found information about LPY but also first hand accounts about relations living there and actual photos! Rosemary and I have a family connection and I am hoping she will allow me to share some personal anecdotes about her visits to the Yard soon. In the meantime I have finally been able to work out the locations where my dad's uncle and his family lived. I was slightly thrown at first by confusing Little Palace Yard with Palace Yard and mixing views up from historical photos. Anyway as per my earlier comments - this is LPY from above in 1946: To get some perspective - the building in the top left is Middlemores saddlemakers - discussed on here before. Shown here - the buildings to the left are LPY: As you can see from the first photo there was a series of buildings between the two which were badly damaged during the war - they were subsequently bulldozed and the domed temporary building between the two went up. This shot is taken with the photographer standing besides the domed structure looking directly at the side of LPY and uncle Ray's: The back of this together with Middlemores rear is seen here from this shot which is more than likely taken from uncle Ray's house! Here's another view of Middlemores rear to prove - you can see the Telecoms building through the 'archway': The red crossed building on the first photo is 'our' Yardleys' house. The view west from within LPY towards Little Park Street itself is seen here in a later date - around late 1950's with dad's disabled cousin Trevor sitting under the archway there. The upper part of the archway Yard building has now gone - presumably following war damage and has been altered. If you now turn around from that spot and look east down the Yard you would have seen this: The Courts extended down along the Yard - the Yardleys were in the one to the right - Rosemary even thinks that the bicycle in that actual photo belonged to dad's aunt Wyn! Sorry for going on but I have found this all amazing to see and read about!

Hi Rosemary. I am NeilsYard's uncle, what is your relationship to the Yardley family? I know Trevor had a brother Peter, are you related to him? Regards.

Hi creteskyblue Peter & Trevor were/are my first cousins. Ray Yardley married my aunt Win (my mother's half sister). I think we may have communicated last year sometime? Rosemary