Fleet Street

Regarding Fleet Street, I have been following all the information with interest and of all the great photographs submitted, frustratingly, there are none capturing the street from The George IV down past Conduit Yard. I worked at 'The Supreme Gent's Hairdressers' from 1958 until the mid-1960's, when the business had to relocate to the City Arcade due to the re-development project. The address was No. 19 Fleet Street and as shown on a plan submitted on the Forum relating to 'Mary Hobley's Ladies Salon', it seemed to have been apportioned from part of AAT's property, we seemed to have followed on from Mary Hobley and our barbershop was upstairs and accessed from stairs between Mr Tucker's haberdashery shop and AAT's shop. In my memory, on our side of the street, we had the George IV, (the publican, called 'Barney', kept a Staffs Bull terrier that had a striking resemblance to his good self, Barney went to keep a pub by the railway (is it the Rocket now?)) when the street was re-developed. Anyhow, I digress! Then there was Mr Edward Tucker, the haberdasher, then ours, AAT's, Mr Rimmer, the newsagent, a shop we called 'The Rubber Shop', I never went in so can't say what that was all about, The Copper Kettle Cafe, I think then was Conduit Yard (it was certainly wide enough for a vehicle to drive through), John Britons shoe shop was after the Yard opening. I do recall Palmers, the pork butchers with its lovely home-made pork pies for 10 old pence each! That was before Hunt's the bakers were there. So lots of businesses and unfortunately no photographs. Hope someone finds some.

Yes, dear old Jack Rimmer, a smashing man, lived on Michaelmas Road, good pal of my grandad What about Saxess (Mrs Tribe), wasn't that shop along there too?

Yes, I do remember Mr Rimmer, he was a tall man, moustache, wore a Trilby and drove a German car, a Javelin as I recall. I thought I had a good memory but I can't recall the 'Saxess', someone said it was a pram shop, if that was the case, I was only young, and probably was more interested in the pork pie shop than the prams!

I think you're right, about Saxess being a pram shop, I think it sold other baby goods as well. It's become clear that what I was remembering, the pub, was the Geo IV - but I don't remember it having the "black and white" mock Tudor effect that is on the few photos I've seen. But I haven't seen a decent photo of it - indeed, none of all of it. Do you remember, Foxcote, if the "black" fake wood bits were removed by the time I remember it, from about 1950 on? It always struck me as awfully stark and scruffy, and that's main reason for me remembering it!! Your recalling the other shops brought some memories back, too. Such a long time ago, now.

Yes, Saxess was a pram shop - they also had an outlet on Clay Lane at the corner of Richmond Street Lily Tribe Jack Rimmer certainly was tall with a moustache, and I can recall he drove a Jowett Javelin

I am pleased that you enjoyed my trip down Memory Lane, I have to say that I am certain that the facade was always there, in fact if you check that photo again on the forum of the Geroge IV, the cars on the front was from the era when I was working there.

What a woman Lily was, thanks for enlightening me on one of the Fleet Street characters!

This shot of Fleet Street, 1952 is great because up to now, we haven't been able to find a different angle, always the ones that seem to show St. Johns and not the shops. I started a new topic because it sort of encompasses loads of topics, the Co-op van, the City Arms by the Co-op, the shirt shop 'Hawkins' and the Rubber Shop on the corner and can see the road-way into Conduit Yard, it's not a very good reproduction but hope you can see the details.

Terrific shot Foxcote It's areas like that that someone from my generation really struggle getting an impression of 'how it was' such is the radical change to anything I've ever known. This modern Streetview gives as close a comparison as I can get online.

You are right, from that modern view, no-one would ever know it was the same place other than the Church. I did scan it in from a clearer photo in a book, am I allowed to say what the book is?

Hi all The pic is fab. I was five then. "I'm five, I'm five, a big boy now I'm five"

The pre-war building on the left did not belong to the Co-op back then. It was the offices of Iliffe who published several national magazines as well as the Coventry Evening Telegraph. They appear to have started an extension along Fleet Street but this was abandoned when work began on the Lower Precinct. In the meantime a temporary Co-op was built in the gap between the Iliffe Building and City Arms. The main Co-op when the picture was taken was the single storey shell just visible behind the pub.

Was the City Arms the building with the big billboard on its side Dutchy?

I'm not sure. I think there was still a row of three-storey shops next to it including a butcher's who objected strongly to the construction of a temporary Co-op right next door to him.

Hope you don't mind Dutchman but I've lifted this image of the pub from the Message Board site of yours to give a better 'picture' of where we're talking about, just looking the other way