
Foxcote Warwick All posts by this member | 1 of 465 Fri 2nd Nov 2012 7:37pm Member: Joined Jan 2012 Total posts:900 I have been learning about the 'Ram Bridge' area which holds a lot of history, I found two early references in a 'leisurely' sort of way and thought that this was the place to put them.
The first one is an early 'baths' which I can't comprehend geographically, husband reckons it was where the co-op was and the other is a 'fair-ground sort of attraction'. I was interested in that because it's what folks probably liked before they could get the darts on Sky ![]() |
Smithford Street (inc. Ram Bridge) | |
Foxcote Warwick All posts by this member Thread starter | 2 of 465 Fri 2nd Nov 2012 7:39pm Member: Joined Jan 2012 Total posts:900 Ram Bridge Baths - I am hoping that the Dutchman may confirm the location of the baths, please ![]() |
Smithford Street (inc. Ram Bridge) | |
dutchman Spon End All posts by this member | 3 of 465 Fri 2nd Nov 2012 7:56pm Member: Joined Mar 2010 Total posts:2976 The Baths were located where the Boots section of the former Woolworths building is today. A pub was built on the site some time around 1886 and named "The Old Baths" or "Old Baths Hotel". The Co-Op was mostly on the Fleet Street side of the bridge whereas the Baths were diagonally opposite on the Smithford Street side of the bridge.
http://www.old-maps.co.uk |
Smithford Street (inc. Ram Bridge) | |
Foxcote Warwick All posts by this member Thread starter | 4 of 465 Fri 2nd Nov 2012 8:51pm Member: Joined Jan 2012 Total posts:900 I found this advert for the 'Bath Hotel' in 1834 and it mentions re-furbs, so it must be quite older than 1834.
I should like to see the Bath Hotel in a watercolour, it does mention 'extensive gardens' and the baths seem adjacent to the hotel. |
Smithford Street (inc. Ram Bridge) | |
NeilsYard Coventry All posts by this member | 5 of 465 Sun 4th Nov 2012 12:19am Member: Joined Aug 2010 Total posts:2869 Baz posted this Telegraph photo from 1958 showing Precinct Development and the Ram Bridge area which required the Sherbourne to be water-coursed away to prevent flooding (though I believe Woolworths basement used to suffer!)
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Smithford Street (inc. Ram Bridge) | |
Foxcote Warwick All posts by this member Thread starter | 6 of 465 Sun 4th Nov 2012 8:55am Member: Joined Jan 2012 Total posts:900 Thanks Neils Yard, the photo helped me with the location. They Co-op staff used tell me about a 'river' underneath. It's most weird to see paintings such as Mr Bunney's and Brookes and then to try and imagine the scene transposed onto that newspaper cutting. |
Smithford Street (inc. Ram Bridge) | |
Foxcote Warwick All posts by this member Thread starter | 7 of 465 Wed 7th Nov 2012 9:34pm Member: Joined Jan 2012 Total posts:900 Found this reference to the Old Baths Hotel |
Smithford Street (inc. Ram Bridge) | |
dutchman Spon End All posts by this member | 8 of 465 Wed 7th Nov 2012 9:48pm Member: Joined Mar 2010 Total posts:2976 I believe the building survived pretty much unchanged until 1952. |
Smithford Street (inc. Ram Bridge) | |
Foxcote Warwick All posts by this member Thread starter | 9 of 465 Wed 7th Nov 2012 9:50pm Member: Joined Jan 2012 Total posts:900 I wonder where in the vicinity the 'baths' were? Adjacent I expected from those old adverts. Or looking back at some of your details, was the building in the photo built on the site. |
Smithford Street (inc. Ram Bridge) | |
dutchman Spon End All posts by this member | 10 of 465 Wed 7th Nov 2012 10:14pm Member: Joined Mar 2010 Total posts:2976 As far as I can tell it was just a pub built where the "Old Baths" had once been. |
Smithford Street (inc. Ram Bridge) | |
Foxcote Warwick All posts by this member Thread starter | 11 of 465 Thu 8th Nov 2012 7:42pm Member: Joined Jan 2012 Total posts:900 I'm still harping on about Coventry Baths and Bath Hotel. I have found that the 'Coventry Baths' at Ram Bridge/Smithford Street was opened in 1828 and was the first substantial, private bathing enterprise. The first corporation baths were in Hales Street in 1852.
I am trying to confirm that there was a 'Baths Hotel' at the time that the baths were open in 1828 and that the 'Old Baths Hotel' was built on the land afterwards. I was interested to follow it up because I haven't seen any watercolours or maps or any descriptions so far of the original baths/hotel in the 1830's other than the advertisements placed in the papers and the details of its opening in 1828.
According to the Coventry Herald, a Mr Ginn was the owner in 1828 and by 1834 I have seen an advert with the 'Bath Hotel' mentioned. I have found a Mr Ginn in 1830, a surveyor at Park Street, Coventry.
Also, on 1833, I have found an advertisement for a 'French Bazaar and Dutch Fancy Fair' at the Baths, Ram Bridge, opposite Mr Taylor's, Coachmaker.
But by 1835, another advert for Wine and Spirits in the Vaults of the LATE Bath Hotel. Can't see any planning apps or tenders for new buildings for the 'Old Bath Hotel'.
So after all this, can anyone find a map of 1828 with the baths on - with or without the hotel adjacent before the 1880's newer Hotel.
Ohh, please be patient with me Dutchman, I know you said the 'Old Baths Hotel' was later but is there an earlier map to look at for an earlier hotel ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Smithford Street (inc. Ram Bridge) | |
dutchman Spon End All posts by this member | 12 of 465 Thu 8th Nov 2012 10:46pm Member: Joined Mar 2010 Total posts:2976 There are no detailed maps before the 1880s Foxcote and planning applications weren't normally required before 1947. We do know from snippets that the "Bath Hotel" or whatever it was called at the time was licensed to sell alcohol by 1935.
This map from circa 1801 shows a large building straddling the south side of the river and extending some distance along its eastern bank, quite unlike the "Old Baths Hotel".
RootsWeb, Warwickshire |
Smithford Street (inc. Ram Bridge) | |
Foxcote Warwick All posts by this member Thread starter | 13 of 465 Fri 9th Nov 2012 9:12am Member: Joined Jan 2012 Total posts:900 Thanks Dutchman, that early map is really helpful. To the left of that long building that straddles the river, there is something I couldn't read. S---- Manufacturing, would it be a clue to the long building.
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Smithford Street (inc. Ram Bridge) | |
dutchman Spon End All posts by this member | 14 of 465 Fri 9th Nov 2012 2:25pm Member: Joined Mar 2010 Total posts:2976 That's 'Conduit Yard' Foxcote. The buildings in it are either dyers or weavers. ![]() |
Smithford Street (inc. Ram Bridge) | |
Foxcote Warwick All posts by this member Thread starter | 15 of 465 Fri 9th Nov 2012 4:16pm Member: Joined Jan 2012 Total posts:900 Conduit Yard seemed a big area on that map, I didn't recognise it, but I have the geography now. It said 'Shag Manufacturing' I reckon. In 1900, according to Pigotts, it said 'Old Bath Vaults', 35 Smithford Street.
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Smithford Street (inc. Ram Bridge) |