Short Street

I was looking for some details on Much Park Street and found this shot. It's a bit blurry but appears to have a sign post by the cottage and I can't see much of it but I thought it would be interesting to put on here and wondered if anyone has a tale to tell about it. I had thought Short Street was a new road name, due to the modern developments. Corner of Much Park Street and Short Street

Hi Foxcote It's before my time but Short Street effectively ceased to exist once Ringway St John was built in 1960. The orphaned east-west segment of Much Park Street - which included the Admiral Lord Rodney and the former St Michael's School - was then renamed "Short Street". Street Maps

Thank you Dutchman, that explanation has helped, it's one of those spots that has altered so much, it's hard to imagine it all. It's a pity that shot is so blurry, there's some great posters and I can't read the white post street sign either

Just reviving this as I had cause to check out some University locations for a friend last night and stumbled around what remains of what is now the aptly named 'Short Street'. If ever there was anywhere in the city to demonstrate the "ligature" effect of the ring road it's here. The line of the original road is stopped in its tracks by the ring road and now subway though as Dutchman mentions in today's terms the road now abruptly right-angles along where the "Lord Rodney" stands.

Short Street as it was in 1934. Viewed from the south-east with Parkside in the foreground and Short Street running due north from it. The west side of Short Street has been lost in shadow. Much Park Street runs both north-west and east from where Short Street ends near the centre of the picture:

Great shot Dutchman I'm guessing the line of the road where it bends east is where the current Ringway lies? The section that extends southwards would be todays 'version' of Short Street? (though with newer terracing) What was it known as then? It's strange - there's several areas like this around the city centre that are hardly ever frequented by anyone other than if they live in what remaining housing may be there. Too close to the ring road for there to be shops etc. Simply 'lost' areas cut off from anything.

Yes Neil. The south side of the eastern-leg of Much Park Street survived the building of the Ringway and was renamed. The north side was completely destroyed. It was the same then Neil. The photo is skewed slightly westwards. I've edited my description to compensate for it.

For those who don't know the area, here's a photo of Short Street from 2010, taken from Parkside, with the Ring Road just beyond the last car Hard to imagine it was once part of the a main artery through Coventry (before the Ring Road) - travelling from Spon End, along the Butts and Queens Road, then St Patricks Road and Parkside, into Short Street and then to the top of Gulson Road, and out of the city along London Road

Cheers guys - so am I right in saying that where the Lord Rodney is now (currently addressed as Short Street) was formerly in Much Park Street?

Short Street has never been any bigger than it is now. It was 'cut' in 1903 to improve the access to the factories being developed on the newly opened up Cheylesmore Park. On the balance of the land the Council erected the first Council Houses built in the City. This was an issue the Council had been debating for some years - since they had the powers to do so. The requirement to build Council Houses did not happen until after WW1.

Hi all What is the piece of street furniture next to the lamppost on the corner of Foxcote's first picture, please?

Could it be an old police telephone for 999 calls only, as well as the duty policeman's call in box? Just checked, type in police box, then click images, a lot of variety including your chunky one Philip.

Hi Mattash & thank you, I had wondered whether it was. We had one on the corner of Sewall Highway & Torcross Ave, but it was a lot chunkier.

The picture was taken shortly after Short Street was driven through circa 1900. The cottages on the corner were demolished shortly after the picture was taken (hence the advertising posters) and the street furniture removed. The end walls of condemned buildings were often used as makeshift advertising hoardings. Sod's Law has decreed that the town planning map for that area and that year (1905) is missing so I can't verify the purpose of the cast iron pillar.

Hopefully the right place for it - pictured the end of Short Street being cleared for the Ring Road - Whitefriars Monastery to the left. Gulson Road at middle, The Plough Inn and London Road to the right.