Shops of yore

Hi - I am currently working on another incarnation of this building on the corner of Hay Lane which was formerly Yates's Wine Lodge, before that a furniture shop. If anyone knows any history of this building it would be gratefully received. I have found one photo/sketch of the building, any others out there? On one of the many shop fascias uncovered I believe is the word "Anslows" - ring any bells? Cheers rich

It was Anslows furnishings for many years before they relocated to Hales Street. It was then occupied by Waring and Gillow furnishings. A drinks license wasn't granted until 1995.

Hello. Can anyone help with pictures or memories of, 'Marcia Gowns' and 'Melton Products'. I have a picture of 'Melton Products' on its last day of trading, but I have nothing on 'Marcia Gowns'. Marcia Gowns' was one of the first retailers to close when the compulsary purchase orders were issued prior to the demolition.

Only one I could find at "Pictures of Coventry": Brayshaws House Furnishings and Melton Products

Thank you. That was my Aunt's shop during the last week of trading. There is another pic on the same site where my Mum's shop is just visable in the distance. Also my mum's car is in the picture. Thank you, you are so kind. Philip

Hi all I am trying to find out if anyone knows when Plumbs re-upholstery shop in The Precinct closed - it was a curtain, seat and cushion cover place - it's driving me mad now - lol as originally i needed to know to fill out my nan's census form but now i need to know more for my own sanity - lol

Hi, why not contact them and ask them? Heres the "history" page of their website.... http://www.plumbs.co.uk/about-us/plumbs-history.php Hope that helps! Tony PS, Not sure if its still there, but I'm sure they used to have an office in Binns Close, off Torrington Ave in Tile Hill

According to planning records it was December 1965, being replaced by Forget-Me-Not Cards.

Thanks to Tony S for raising the subject of RES in the Far Gosford Street Topic. My first proper job was mending tellies with RES Granada, part of the Granada Retail Group. I worked for the rental side of the repair business at that time. When I started, the workshop was in a large shed behind the Daventry Road Branch in Quinton Parade (which Tony seems to have forgotten). We later moved to outbuildings behind the Walsgrave Road branch, just past Clay Lane on the left. The Walsgrave Road branch was taken over from Top Rank and most of the sets rented by that branch were Bush/Murphy inside. We also had a retail workshop in outbuildings opposite 128 Far Gosford Street. Later we were rationalised and operated a combined service from Far Gosford Street. At about this time a new one-way system was introduced around the junction with Lower Ford Street, in conjunction with the road works for the new ring road. At the end of 1970 I left Coventry to take over the workshop at the Evesham branch. Sadly, Granada rationalised its business in 1971 and Granada retail was swallowed up by Granada TV Rental (GTVR). The service activity was eventually all concentrated above the Ironmonger row branch of GTVR. By that time I had left the company and embarked on a career in training at the Government Training Centre (later to become Coventry Skill Centre) in Torrington Avenue.

When I worked for RES Granada I worked with: Ted Bosworth - Service manager Dave Adams - later became service manager then regional operations manager Ron ??? (sorry Ron, I have forgotten your surname) - who lived in Willenhall and was trained at Birmingham Govenrment Training Centre under the apprentice training scheme John Sproul - later left and moved to Devon Rupra Singh - who left so many "Out" cards that we used to rib him that he tapped the door with his turban - he later went to work for Lloyds, where he said most of the work was changing meters. In those days, if your credit worthiness did not allow you to have a monthly rental agreement, a meter was fitted to the back of the telly and you had to put in 2/- (10p in modern money) to keep it going. Bill Cooper - Whose initial was B because his dad said that everyone would call him Bill so he might as well be christened Bill, who joined after we moved to Walsgrave Road I later worked with John (???) form Lower Quinton, Karl and John at Far Gosford Street.

Its really strange reading that. My mother christened me "Tony" as she believed that if I was christened 'Anthony" I would spend my life being called Tony anyway.... In fact, I have spent my entire life correcting people who automatically presume my initial is "A"!!! ...and yes, I had forgotten the "Daventry Road" branch. Do you recall when it closed? The Area Managers name, when I was at RES, was Biggs.

Unfortunately, I don't remember when the Daventry Road branch closed. I left Coventry in 1971. But I do remember Bill Biggs. He fell out with the senior mamagement and went back to his old company as a salesman. Terry Jones became area manager and Dave Adams took over as ROM. That was before the whole retail operation was scuppered by GTVR. When I started, Keith Gianesi was the technical supremo in Granada Retail. He interviewed me for the job.

The fruit and veg shops I remember in Hillfields are Taylor's in King William Street (on the right hand side towards Broadgate) and on the left a little further up was another fruit and veg shop, which I can't remember the name of; what I do remember was the delicious toffee apples they used to sell - chewy toffee and crisp juicey apples. These shops were there in the late 50s early 60s. In the late 60s early 70s mum used to shop at Katie's in Harnall Lane, at the end of King Edward Road. Philip, I do remember Lilleys, I seem to remember it was across the road from Phyllis Butlers, the bridal shop.

Too true, Tricia. My mum was very friendly with Phyllis Butler. My wife's wedding dress & the bridesmaids dresses came from her. My mum's shop was 'Marcia Gowns' in White St., after she was blitzed during the war.

I do remember those gorgeous toffee apples Tricia, so shiny and scrumptious, I liked to nibble on the lip that formed arond the top where they had been standing on the tray . . yummy. And Philip, I also got my wedding dress from Phyllis Butlers, I got it in the sale and I think I paid about £25 for it.