Photo poser - Jack Frost and his steam roller

I think you have cracked it MR. If you look at the shadow of the Foundry it has 3 bays, the nearest one has a vent just the same as the first photo, and the embankment rising at the last arch, the building behind the chimney was added later

It's possible (Alvis painted some pretty strange signs on their roof) but the original photo would have to be late 1920s/early 1930s when the new water works was being built. Prior to that the area behind Northumberland Road was still allotments. The new pumping house (on the left), which used electricity instead of steam, is still there by the way. I walk past it quite often on my way to and from Morrisons.

This is definitely Nauls Mill Bridge. Bablake School is to the left of the picture. I use this path all the time.

The comment "It's also not Nauls Mill Park bridge" referred to the fact that the bridge in original photo was not Nauls Mill Park, not the one in the above picture

Apologies to drag up a rather old thread - not sure the steam roller picture puzzle was ever solved! My picture - shown here above - is indeed the Sowe Viaduct, located behind the Corpus Christi RC Primary School off Langbank Avenue in Ernesford Grange. Tarquin Close, Willenhall lies the other side of that main span. This is not to be confused with the Sherbourne Viaduct, which is located close to the Waste Disposal Unit off Bar Road in Whitley. It is the same railway line - but a different location!

Hi & welcome Paul No apologies needed for contributing to our better understanding on our forum. Nearly twelve months on from this particular post, my mind is being pushed towards a location for the steam roller as being Coundon towards Spon End. Not sure though.

Hi, thanks. I've been a long-time lurker here - thought it was about time to 'sign up' ! I have been posting Coventry-related pictures on my Flickr page for a few years now, although I'm not a serious photographer - I just carry a small digital camera. I have a bit of a thing for buses and trains. The Sowe Viaduct is known locally as the seven arches, built presumably when the London to Birmingham Railway was completed in 1838. It is a stones-throw from me, as I live off Langbank Avenue itself, mind you at night that location is dark, secluded and not a little eerie. Regards the original picture - I am really not sure, although I suspect you are correct in saying Spon End or thereabouts. Although I wouldn't fully commit myself! Edited by member, 3rd Mar 2014 9:32 pm

I thought we'd pretty much agreed it was the water pumping station next to the Spon End arches?

Hi & yes Dutchman, I am "pretty much" agreed. I am very confident that the arches in the photograph are the Spon arches & nearly as confident that the location is the one time waterworks depot.

The electric pumping station which they appear to be building is still there Philip, surrounded by a modern housing estate. It's the old steam-driven pumping works and Alvis foundry buildings seen in the background which have long gone.

I believe the path was known as The Black Pad. There was another the other side of the city off Burns Road which led to Stoke Bowling Club.

Do you mean Occupation Road?