Drinkwater Arcade

In one of my early posts re eye tests at Gulson Road Hospital I was then unable to remember the name of the optician in the Drinkwater Arcade (Coventry's original pre-war arcade leading from Smithford St to the Barracks market). I've since remembered Salmon optician if I recall written in gold on the glass door and with a large brass handle. It was at the very end of the arcade from Smithford St on the right or first on the left from the Barracks market. The optician was a kindly man, perhaps specially selected for children. During the war all children seemed to be fitted with tortoiseshell frames with gold or silver wire 'ear-pieces' that took the contour of the ear to avoid the 'specs' being knocked off. After the raids there was no glass 'ceiling' to the arcade and the shops had boarded up windows with a reduced area of glass in the centre so they could display the wares. This is seen plainly in a picture of Hurrell's the pork butcher first shop on the right from Smithford St. Sorry no picture though I expect there is one somewhere on site here.

Salmon's Opticians other claim to fame is that A J Salmon (opticians on Ball Hill) was the name taken to be 'the pupil who never was' at King Henry VIII school for several years in the early 70's! Mods note: The fictitious AJ Salmon can be read about here

I am very much enjoying your posts, Prof - I talked to my mother (aged 86) today about Drinkwater Arcade. I knew there had been an arcade prior to City Arcade but that's all. Mum remembered it clearly, including Salmon's the optician. Off the top of her head, she said she thinks it was named after an Alderman Drinkwater. Not sure if this is true or if anything else was named after him - I have never heard of him!

Apologies as I may be way out here…. but is this the "Shambles" arcade?

No Tony, "Shambles Arcade" was between Hales Street and Palmer Lane and has its own dedicated thread: Shambles Arcade

Thanks Dutchman

Your mother is quite right. The arcade was named after Alderman Drinkwater (he came from Gloucester I believe) and you can read about him in the book by Kenneth Richardson "Twentieth Century Coventry". An excellent volume covering much of Coventry's more recent history. Edited by member, 7th Sep 2014 2:12 pm

That's enormously kind of you Primrose. My interest in Local History began at Junior School (Folly Lane) where we were given Levi Fox's book "Coventry's Heritage" to read. I liked it so much my mother bought me a copy which I still have. I was so deadly keen that I took up the 'guided tours' at the back of the book and obliged any visitors we had to go on a tour of old Coventry and would read appropriate sections from the book at each 'station'. No wonder I was nick-named Prof at Tech, but it was mainly because I wore spectacles! Needless to say the adults talked all through my serious reading aloud from the book.

Does anyone know where, in the city centre, A Salmon re-located to when the city centre was redeveloped after the war, please?

Salmon's was opposite Woolworths down from the side of British Home Stores, towards Shelton Square. It was there in the sixties when cars were allowed to park in front of the shops. This was before centre point was built.

Thank you for that, Blueleader. I saw a picture on Fb and nobody could remember where it was.

I stated earler that A Salmon, opticians where my first pair of spectacles as a six year old were bought, was in Drinkwater Arcade. Of course it was the City Arcade, Smithford St to the Barracks Market. Drinkwater Arcade was elsewhere pre-war but I don't know where this one was in Coventry centre.

Thanks to Prof for the heads-up, Alfred Henry Drinkwater has now been added to our list of "Famous Coventrians" (Earned Coventrian Status)

This is part of an article from the Coventry Evening Telegraph 17th March 1939 which describes where Drinkwater Arcade is situated. Hitler's intervention made it unnecessary! EARLY STEPS It is anticipated that the Corporation will expect to have vacant possession of the whole the properties that will be affected by the scheme by the end of June this year, and to be in a position to proceed with the scheme, subject to necessary approval, shortly afterwards. This scheme, which is self-contained, will almost complete the plan for the widening of Smithford Street between the White Lion Hotel and Market Street and the widening of Market Street. Provision for the widening of Smithford Street between the White Lion and the Home Stores is made in an agreement that the Corporation entered into with Cardigan Estates affecting the block of property extending from the White Lion to the Home Stores, which includes the Drinkwater Arcade and the Corn Exchange.

Great Annewiggy! You have found a reference to the site of the Drinkwater Arcade. I remember the White Lion before demolition, and the completion of the Upper Precinct. I worked as a teenager for a time at John Manners shop on the opposite side from the White Lion which was near the present M & S store, but Manners was further up towards Broadgate. I was not so far out in thinking the Drinkwater was somewhere in the vicinity of the original West Orchard. I wonder are there any photos? Coventry History Centre presumably would have them if they survived.