Greyfriars Green and Warwick Row

There was an older photo with very sharp focus. I think Kaga mentioned something about horses struggling up Hertford Street with a full load. Was there a coal cart?

I have the feeling that it could be this postcard photo from my own collection, which I'm sure has been used in a post - but I can't locate the topic....

I feel sure that's the one Kaga referred to Rob! A great photo! Edited by member, 16th Jul 2020 10:25 am

Rob. Bingo! Yes that's the one, thank you. Look where the clock is, and isn't that Stoneleigh Terrace round to the left? Yes there was one point in that street where in the late forties soldiers returning from the war could see the three spires and immediately burst into tears - "Home!"'

Kaga. Yes, I did post it - it's in the Coventry Market's thread to highlight the distant market tower, and it was copied into the Old Postcards thread. I remember the item, but I have to admit not having noticed the clock before

I believe the photo was 1930's era, a little out of the Victorian era, full of Victorian buildings that were not famous or well noted, chapels and churches that were left to rot, and still Victorian rules we abided by. The Cheylesmore estate, as in the photo, was leased to the Marquis of Hertford in 1788 for a term of 31 years. At the end it was sold to him 1819-20, tradition says it was lost in a gambling game at Coombe Abbey by Prince George. It was later sold to paying and redeeming the land tax of the properties connected with the Duchy of Cornwall, the Marquis of Hertford becoming the owner. But it was fields and parkland and what we know as Greyfriars Green had two small ponds (not Crow moat), one nearer Warwick Road became the 'ducking pool', large trees and grassland where boys played cricket. The first house to be built in Warwick Row was in 1764 on the site of a brick-kiln, the statue of Mr Starley, one hand pointing upwards (hailing a tram) A large tree had to be cut down when building Eaton Road. The path from Eaton Road junction, Warwick Road leading through the gardens to the old park well and Cheylesmore Gate was called the Irishman's 'pad'. Where Stoneleigh Terrace now stands was a deep 2ft ditch, with banks and high hedge, along the then Crabtree Close. 1954 and I was privileged to stay in a hotel in Stoneleigh Terrace, I doubt any alterations to it since built, large high ceilings, large rooms, lots of mouldings, but that’s another story.

Nice pic Prof A great view before those trees grew up.

I don't see it that way, it's bare and barren, next to a desert, it should have life, flowers and trees, animals and insects, soil is meant to grow, or is meaningless.

Trees and plants are lovely but as the trees grew larger across the city, views were obscured or vanished altogether.

Mmm, why am I thinking of 'pruning'?

Helen looks at it from the point of view of the architecture, this shows more of the buildings in pristine condition. Edited by member, 2nd Oct 2020 8:37 pm