Books on Coventry

There are numerous editions online of what I assume is the same book at Google Books and the Internet Archive. The earliest is from 1810.

For some reason, back in the 1800s, nearly all Coventry history books were unimaginatively titled History and Antiquities of Coventry, or some near variation of. The early one, from 1810, will probably be William Reader's book, which I have a slightly battered version of! Benjamin Poole wrote three such histories - a small one in 1847, a slightly larger one in 1852, and then his huge, seminal 424 page tome in 1869, which became virtually an encyclopaedia referenced by all serious historians for well over a century. The one bought by our fortunate member the other day was this last version, and checking on the abebooks.co.uk site, it's probably worth more like £400! The illustrations alone (there are about 60 of them) are worth that, so 50 quid was a real bargain.

Rob, But are you sure they got it right? You have a topic, George Eliot, but she never saw Coventry until she was thirteen, and at that age was far more intellectual than her classmates. Four years later she leaves school, five years later, now in her twenties, she moves into Coventry. For nine years she looks after her father, as soon as he dies, she leaves leaves Coventry for good. Four years at school, nine years with her ill father, returns for a month, rows with brother lasting forty years, non-speaking. She has one article printed in the local paper, everything else was written and printed elsewhere. She was feminist minded, friends with them, and to me the first murmurings of the later suffragette movement.

Hi Kaga, Do you mean, am I sure the historians of old got their history right? If so, then I'm really not qualified to judge - I have to rely mainly on their books to learn what little I know. There are many original documents and maps available that ought to be reliable, and the better historians will use these to give an accurate picture of the past, rather than just regurgitating words from books already written (surprisingly many do this!). However, over time new discoveries are often made, so sometimes we find out that certain 19th century "facts" are disproven. One such fact came to light with me fairly recently. I have an original "Illustrative Papers on the History and Antiquities of the City Of Coventry", put together by William Fretton in 1871 using original early 19th century papers by Thomas Sharpe. It's very scholarly, but tells us that the Old Grammar School was probably built on the site of the original Saxon nunnery of St. Osburg - which we now know to be untrue from a century and a half of archaeology since.

Rob Yes, I am finding as I get older that a lot of what we were taught from old books when we were young are not true, or only apply if seen in that time and era. The 1920s and 30s still were in the rules of the Victorian age, believe it or not. Living in Foleshill we heard a lot of George Eliot that simply to me today is different to when I was a child (example).

I was given this little book, with an interesting article.

Kaga, I have found this thesis by Peter Searby (1972) - Weavers and Freemen in Coventry, 1820-1861. I came across it whilst researching my family history. My 3rd great grandfather, Thomas Carvell, was the tailor involved in the incident referred to at the bottom of page 617. Here's a link: P Searby It's an absolute goldmine for information about Coventry in the early Victorian era. For information about the state of the River Sherbourne at the time have a look at Appendix II from page 614 and particularly pages 620 - 631, which describe the efforts to improve public health in the city between 1840 and 1857.

Yes, a goldmine is the right word, Malvern. Professor Searby did some great work on Coventry in the 1800s and isn't it thrilling when you find an ancestor mentioned. Brings it all closer to home somehow. This thesis covers the late Georgian period, into the reign of William IV and then Victoria, including the passing of the Great Reform Bill and details the Beck's Mill Riot in 1831 - see page 152 and following (my g g g grandfather was Thomas Burbury, p 154 and following). Thanks for the link!

Malvern. Yes, thank you, give me a couple of days please.

Very relevant to the PDF by Searby ebay etching of 'Cobbett at Coventry'

Malvern. Riveting information, first time exposing such corruption and bribery by officials in key appointments, lays bare the facts for all to read. Found it perfect for history of the 19th century Coventry weave and weft business, the owners and master weavers not giving a tinkers cuss about their workers, who brought this city into the industrial might it became. Yes, loved it. Many thanks.

Another pair of Coventry-related books have come up on good ol' eBay - of a more frivolous nature this time. Some of you might have heard of a Coventry cartoonist named Arthur Keene, better known by the moniker "Van Art". His cartoons, many of which referenced Coventry, were famous around the Second World War, and the booklets containing them are now very rare, normally selling for silly money. A few years ago I paid £25 each for his "sporting" and "in the factory" editions. Well, one eBay seller obviously doesn't realise their value, and has listed both of those books for only £6.95 each plus £1.80 P&P. If you search eBay for Van Art Coventry they will pop up as the only two results. Again, I hope one of our members will benefit from this bargain - and enjoy the old humour!

Not my thing Rob but I sometimes wonder how many of us are stalking the same things on eBay. The curious part is that the Herbert collections are far superior, older and more extensive than anything on eBay but is so rarely seen. The single page of Cobbett in Coventry went for £69+postage!

What a great illustrator Rob - pity he didn't do a city scenes book (or did he?!)

Yes, he was a brilliant illustrator wasn't he Neil ! I think I've seen one or two one-off cartoons of his used in books (Dave's used one in a war-time book as I recall), but I don't know what else he did. I only have those two books myself, but I'd love to know if there are others - I'd certainly get them if ever they were available. Perhaps it's time for some Googling to see what else he got up to! I've just checked eBay again though, and someone has already bought both - I hope it was you or someone on here!