Foleshill Road

Ahh nice one Cliff. I keep forgetting the Library pictures section - must browse more often! Slightly confused again though as that image there states it's at Leicester Street view from Foleshill Rd. end. From what I can see the west end of Leicester Street met with Leicester Row and the east end then became Swanswell Terrace - so Leicester Street did not actually meet up with Foleshill Road?

Good point, Neil - where did Leicester Row finish and Foleshill Road start? Was LR actually part of FR somehow?

My early 1900's OS map seems to indicate Foleshill Road only started at Cashs Lane but I'm sure that can't be right.

I would imagine Foleshill Road finished by the canal bridge leading to Drapers Fields. I used to cycle along Leicester Row on my way to work at Gas Steet. I used to use a sign writer who had premises in Leicester Row, his name was Alec Johnson. Looking at the picture you can see the canal warehouses in the background, you can also see Courtaulds chimney.

NeilsYard, your picture brings forth a greater story of part of Coventry's great history. For Foleshill was one of the largest districts and a way of life. Behind those buildings on the left, many canal boats brought coal daily into Coventry. But in 1926 the coalfield of Foleshill closed, throwing hundreds of people out of work, this had a knock-on effect, a mile and half of railway was made obsolete, this in turn made the Wyken Basin obsolete, the canal business more or less collapsed, the boatyards closed, the canal ticket office at Sutton Stop closed, and so did many at the top of Bishop Street - wharfs, offices, handlers, all made redundant, all those buildings in your picture were affected, and where people knew and were used to the canal people it all started to collapse and a new way of life had to be found. But Coventry was well known for it's trade union people, in fact the greatest unionist of those days came from Grange Road, Foleshill, and the Co-op in Foleshill had the first union, There were many secret meetings, and many people tried to stop them, or took pictures of them to pass on to the police. I cannot remember the tram system but I think it passed behind the photographer then turned left into Foleshill Road, I believe it may have been like that so the boat handlers and the horse drays had room to move.

This 1906 map shows Leicester Street relative to Leicester Row & Bishop Street. According to the 1841 census my ancestor James Oldham lived in Dog Lane which later became Leicester Street

Derrickarthur, that is brilliant, been looking for that map for a couple of months. Thanks, Kaga

The following may help to decide the start or finish of the Foleshill Road. As youngsters to find where my was gran living we were encouraged to keep Drapers Fields "hump bridge" on the left. Continue along the road until the gents toilets were found, cross over the road and look for number 30. Possible the Foleshill Road started or finished around the public toilets area.

My grandmother kept a shop and lived at 33 Foleshill Road in the 1930s

Midland Red, would that be near the old Roxy?

No, Kaga, that was at 224

Midland Red, Thanks.

Slightly confused by this one as I've seen Rob's image of the top of Bishop Street and The Cranes Pub appears to be in a different location? Unless it's me? Did it move buildings? Interesting image nonetheless - that policeman had his work cut out!

Bishop Street off to the right, Neil and Radford Road to the left

Perhaps the photographer was standing here?