
Garlands Joke Shop Coventry All posts by this member | 1 of 17 Sun 25th Sep 2016 9:35pm Member: Joined Feb 2014 Total posts:219 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. ![]() |
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Midland Red Cherwell All posts by this member | 2 of 17 Sun 25th Sep 2016 9:53pm Moderator: Joined Jan 2010 Total posts:5153 From the "Coventry markets" thread:
On 9th Jan 2016 5:23pm, Yanster said:
My mother's uncle Fred Curtis built the original roundabout in the indoor market.
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dutchman Spon End All posts by this member | 3 of 17 Mon 26th Sep 2016 3:05am Member: Joined Mar 2010 Total posts:2833 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:
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paulsadler hillfields All posts by this member | 4 of 17 Mon 26th Sep 2016 6:55am Member: Joined Mar 2015 Total posts:64 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 . ![]() p l sadler |
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Garlands Joke Shop Coventry All posts by this member Thread starter | 5 of 17 Mon 26th Sep 2016 7:03pm Member: Joined Feb 2014 Total posts:219 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 ![]() ![]() |
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paulsadler hillfields All posts by this member | 6 of 17 Mon 26th Sep 2016 9:44pm Member: Joined Mar 2015 Total posts:64 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 ![]() p l sadler |
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Midland Red Cherwell All posts by this member | 7 of 17 Thu 13th Oct 2016 11:02am Moderator: Joined Jan 2010 Total posts:5153 Just found this hidden away on another thread ![]() On 6th Sep 2014 7:38pm, morgana said:
I recall someone saying they feared there was no photos of the childrens roundabout outside the market which all my children went on weekly including myself even when it was in the precinct. Hope it brings happy memories for all you big kids ![]() |
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Billybobs South Warwickshire All posts by this member | 8 of 17 Thu 13th Oct 2016 12:14pm Member: Joined Mar 2013 Total posts:31 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
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dutchman Spon End All posts by this member | 9 of 17 Thu 13th Oct 2016 3:11pm Member: Joined Mar 2010 Total posts:2833 I'm guessing it was West Orchard Market as the Rex Market only existed between 1953 and 1958. |
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Billybobs South Warwickshire All posts by this member | 10 of 17 Thu 13th Oct 2016 5:43pm Member: Joined Mar 2013 Total posts:31 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? |
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Dougie | 11 of 17 Fri 14th Oct 2016 10:11pm |
dutchman Spon End All posts by this member | 12 of 17 Sat 15th Oct 2016 1:01am Member: Joined Mar 2010 Total posts:2833 On 13th Oct 2016 5:43pm, Billybobs said:
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 ![]() |
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Annewiggy Tamworth All posts by this member | 13 of 17 Sat 15th Oct 2016 11:35am Member: Joined Jan 2013 Total posts:1783 This is Barrack's Square market in 1946 from Britain from above, would this be the one ?
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dutchman Spon End All posts by this member | 14 of 17 Sat 15th Oct 2016 1:05pm Member: Joined Mar 2010 Total posts:2833 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:
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mcsporran Coventry & Cebu All posts by this member | 15 of 17 Sat 15th Oct 2016 1:53pm Member: Joined Oct 2013 Total posts:449 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? Question |
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