Coventry Market Roundabout

Hi All, Does anyone have any memories of Ephraim John Statham and Flora Lydia Statham, affectionately known as Uncle Jack and Aunt Flora/‘Flo’, who ran the Roundabout outside the Coventry Market? I have had a quick look into the roundabout’s history (below) (please excuse me if there are any mistakes). Ephraim John Statham (‘Jack’) and Flora Lydia Statham were married in Coventry in about 1935. In about 1948 they brought a roundabout/merry-go-round designed by David Mason and positioned it in the Coventry Upper Precinct while they lived in a single-decker bus parked alongside. Later they moved the roundabout to the old Rex Outdoor Market and then the Barracks market, before finally relocating it outside the New Coventry Market where it was opened on the 4th of November 1958 (where it became one the 1st city centre roundabouts in the country). In the late 1950’s/ early 1960’s the roundabout was apparently vandalised. Flora Statham ran the roundabout on her own from 1984, after her husband sadly passed away, until the late 1980’s to early 1990’s (?) whereupon she retired and her nephew Anthony Stokes ran the roundabout. It was later was repositioned inside the market. Luke.

From the "Coventry markets" thread:

I am fairly sure the roundabout was located in West Orchard in 1949 as seen in the centre of this aerial view. The Upper Precinct didn't exist at that time:

hi all i remember uncle jack and aunt flo they were good friends of mine in the early 70s as I worked at the coventry market as a cleaner I have good memories as I had to clean and scrub the floor on the outside of the roundabout and uncle jack used to reward me with a cuppa after the work had finished this was carried out every morning especially on monday morning when it was pretty bad having been left over the weekend .

Hi all. -Midland Red: I've had a quick look online for Yanster's great uncle, Fred Curtis, but could not find anything relating to him and the roundabout. I also looked for information on David Mason, who designed the original roundabout, but could only find this. There doesn't seem to be much information as to origin of the carousel. -Dutchman: I think you're right, I looked at the article I got some of the information from and it says it was in an area that was later part of the Upper Precinct (?). Great aerial photograph - amazing to think how long the merry-go-round's been going. From your photograph I looked on another view which shows it from a different angle. -Paulsadler: They sound like really nice people - just a cup of tea can make all the difference to brighten up people's day. Luke

hi luke uncle jack and aunt flo were great like I said they both were friendly and respected any help that was needed as I got to know them it became clear that uncle jack liked his drink but I can honestly say they both will be always be missed and I also helped to move the roundabout inside the market

Just found this hidden away on another thread

In the depths of my grey matter I have a vision of the roundabout being in one of the markets, late 40's, early 50's, possibly the Rex market. The memories are always a joy to behold; then seeing my children when it moved to the new market, their faces beaming; and more recently (3 yrs ago) seeing my granddaughter enjoying the ride as did the 2 generations previously. In the early 50's I recall a street entertainer, located not far from the roundabout, an escapologist with market goers crowding around and then making a hasty retreat when he went round with his hat, and then later didn't the guy move to Corporation Street late 50's? Sorry I digress from the wonders of Stathams roundabout. I remember Uncle Jack, I suppose my earliest memory would be as a 4yr old. You wouldn't cross him, he was always firm and did not stand for any nonsense, looking back that was the only way he could ensure kids got on/off quickly and were safe. After all it was his lively hood

I'm guessing it was West Orchard Market as the Rex Market only existed between 1953 and 1958.

Dutchman - It was certainly prior to 1953. I bow to your superior knowledge. As I have become confused, which is easy as you get older, where was the Rex market located? And was the West Orchard Market covered?

Hi Billybobs The Rex Market was located on the site of the bombed-out Rex cinema in Corporation Street, I think as a replacement for West Orchard Market as that area was being rebuilt during that period. West Orchard Market was just a collection of wooden stalls as can be seen in post #3 above.

This is Barrack's Square market in 1946 from Britain from above, would this be the one ?

I don't think the Barracks Market ever had a roundabout did it? This is a map from old-maps.co.uk showing the location of the Rex Market between 1953 and 1958:

I'd assumed the market was named after the cinema but I see the buildings either side also carry the name. Does the Rex name predate the cinema?