Far Gosford Street

This is long before my time but these ancient weavers' cottages with their topshops were being demolished to make way for a Riley engine plant which later became Astley's warehouse: Similar cottages on the opposite side of the road but running parallel with the river survived until 1967:

I think Bednall's shop was next to S. Cannon shop although I don't remember S. Cannon shop being there. Beacham's Cars was definitely there.

Yes it was, just visible to the right. I don't remember it being S. Cannon but the picture was probably taken in the 1950s long before I ever saw it. I think Bob Aston acquired it later and often parked his distinctive E-Type Jaguar in front of the smaller building.

I know John Astley had an E Type Jaguar because he used to speak to us when he parked it. We used to play at the back in the orchard, Charlie used to fix tv's even though he was about ten at the time.

I knew it was one or the other :o) I remember Charlie always always referred to him "Mister Astley" I was there too! :o) (I'm a couple of years younger than Charlie). Charlie got me hooked too! :o) This is Mrs Bednell's shop as seen from the right hand side: Note the split-level construction of the former watchmaker's house with a topshop located at the rear.

m8, that's a photo that brings back so many memories, you're right Charlie did call him Mister Astley, I spent lots of happy hours in that shop, Mrs Bednall was a very special lady. Thank you for bringing back so many memories.

Those were the days eh, Cabbie? Giant gooseberries (or "guzgogz" as Charlie used to call them) the size of duckeggs in late summer (we used to have summers then) from the huge bush at the back of the orchard which is off-left in the picture here: Far Gosford Street is in the background. Astley's/Calcott building is on the left. Bednell's three-storey building is in the middle and the weavers cottages are on the right. This picture of Astley's car park must have been taken after the great fire of 1966 as the Old Morris engine works appears to have lost a couple of storeys.

My dad used to work at Sid Cole's Timber yard in Far Gosford Street up until the late 60's. He started when he left school at 14, taking time out to do his National Service. Although the bulk of their work was packing cases for exporting motorbikes, dad was a cabinet maker and french polisher and could make any item of furniture from just a rough sketch and a few measurements. Invariably, the sketch would be on a scrap of paper and he'd use a stub of pencil that lived in his pocket. The entrance to the yard was between shops but I can't remember exactly where it was. We used to go and visit him at the yard if we had been to the Gulson Hospital dentist, sometimes taking bags of chips and eating them in the workshop. I remember sweeping up piles of woodshavings and dad would bring them home for the rabbit hutch. From the dentist, we would walk down a long narrow alley, I think there was a dairy on one side (there was always a bad smell at one part of it, which mum said was cleaning fluids).

Hello Elaine According to "Pictures of Coventry" it was this one next to the orchard mentioned above: That was "Shut Mill Lane" and the smell was probably from disinfectant cans stored in Astley's warehouse. The Co-Op dairy in Gulson Road had a long wall of windows where you could see the bottles being filled by the machines.

yes m8 brings back so many memories, we helped the firemen to dam the river sherbourne to get the water. I broke both wrists falling from the pear tree when I was 13, we used to build dens also the girls from godiva st, jane bird, linda young and laura carolls. thanks m8 for bringing back very happy memories.

I have just finished listening to the interview. I wonder whether this is a sign of change for the city? I hope so

Garners pie shop "Mmm" I can taste them now, must have been the best pies in "Cov" Peter.

This is how it looked this morning

Wow - a recent building development in Coventry that looks excellent! At last!

I'm trying to respond to a family history question from Australia. They want to know about All Saints Church, Far Gosford Street. It's not my part of the town at all, sounds like one for Dutchman. Heritage