Smithford Street (inc. Ram Bridge)

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 am hoping that someone may confirm the location of the Ram Bridge baths, please Ram Bridge

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 bath were diagonally opposite on the Smithford Street side of the bridge. http://www.old-maps.co.uk

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!)

Thanks NeilsYard, the photo helped me with the location. The 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.

Found this reference to the Old Baths Hotel

I believe the building survived pretty much unchanged until 1952.

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.

As far as I can tell it was just a pub built where the "Old Baths" had once been.

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

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

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.

That's 'Conduit Yard' Foxcote. The buildings in it are either dyers or weavers.

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.

I noticed Dutchman on your link of old baths at the end of old baths in smaller writing it says chemist, just wondering what the chemist was.