Spon Street

Helen F. I am wondering seeing what Dutchman wrote re court 49 Spon St in the flood photo, a curved archway to the left with the lady facing camera in the rain, at the LH edge of photo is another door. Could this be the entrance to Court 48? Is that the same that you meant in your post with the two photos (flood one)?

I'm not 100% (I had to recheck and then check again) but I think that the entry on the left is 49 and the arch leads to 50. I've not come across a photo that clearly shows the entrance to 48. I'll let you know if I ever find one. It's very difficult to match up maps and the photos because the buildings changed considerably and the Rising Sun moved. It was originally in front of the Fairfax School but moved west one building and then was rebuilt over two plots. The building with the arch is a new build and originally it looked more like its neighbours.

Zoom in to Britain From Above Court 48 is flanked by the three-storey buildings marked in the picture.

I lived in Court 37 in Spon Street, are there any photos or maps showing this court? Thanks, Sally.

There's a map and a picture of the Lamb & Flag pub at the entrance to court 37 at the Real Ale Rambles website.

There is no really good image of court 37 that I know of (I only look for very old stuff so I haven't really looked) but it was behind the Lamb and Flag. There are some pictures of the pub in the library collection. There is a picture of the pub and the buildings at the back as part of a view taken from a high point at the corner of Crow Lane looking north west in Spon Street & Spon End by John Ashby page 36. It's a very good book and an essential for anyone interested in Spon Street.

A couple of books that might be useful if you can ever find them. I have a book published by the Coventry Family History Society called Spon End, a family history viewpoint. I also used to have a similar one called Spon Street, a family history viewpoint but I sold it. Although the CFHS still have the Spon End one on their bookshop list they don't seem to have the Spon Street one. The back of the book also mentions one called Spon Street and Spon End, a history of people and buildings by John Ashby. That also appears to be out of print. Sometimes they have copies of these books in local libraries. Just looked and there is a copy of the Spon Street and Spon End book in Coventry Library. Second hand copies are advertised at a ridiculous price of about £200!

Thanks very much Anne for the information, and Britain from Above photo enlargement. I did find the book on the internet and phoned Gosford Books but he had sold the 'Spon St & Spon End' recently. I thought I would try in Warwick to see if they have it. Unless library loan still operates I would not be able to get it from Coventry Library. 1881 Census gives Henry & Harriet Atkins (silk dyer), Court 48 House 23.

Prof, if you search on Google books you can find what libraries have it. It does say they have it in the Warwick University Library. It may be worth trying the Warwick Record Office.

There is a copy on AbeBooks at a place called Reuseabook in Stroud, Gloucestershire, but again it is at the ridiculous price of £200.33!!!

It's worth waiting for a copy of certain books. They pop up periodically at a reasonable price.

Prof . . . 1891 Census Court 48 House 23 Spon Street Coventry St Michael. Henry ATKINS head born 1831 London Middlesex age 60 Silk Dyer Harriet ATKINS wife born 1831 Warwickshire age 60 Emily SHEPPARD daughter born 1870 Warwickshire age 21 Watch Polisher Fred ATKINS son born 1873 Warwickshire age 18 Cycle Painter Elizabeth ATKINS daughter born 1876 Warwickshire age 15 Cycle Painter Henry DEVEY boarder born 1868 Warwickshire age 23 Cycle Filer Charles CHATTAWAY boarder born 1872 Warwickshire age 19 Cycle Filer Frank Arthur TROTTER boarder born 1871 age 20 Cycle Filer Marriage 1852 March 21 St John Baptist Coventry Henry ATKINS age 21 Bachelor, Dyer, Spon St. Father - Edward ATKINS a watchmaker Harriet LUCAS age 21 Spinster, , Spon St. Father - Joseph LUCAS a weaver Witnesses, William and Mary LOCKTON

Prof, just another thought about the book. I recently went to Atherstone library as I was looking for a book about the Royal Warwickshires, by Peter Caddick-Adams. The online search said they had it but they could not find it. They tracked a copy down in Stratford-on-Avon which was handy as that is where my daughter works but I am sure that said they could get it from Stratford to Atherstone. It might be worth you contacting Warwick Library to see if they can get the Coventry copy. Also they might have it in the Warwick Record Office.

That's exactly the police box like the one I remember in Binley Rd at the junction with Church Lane. They were painted blue and white. Thanks also Annewiggy for the information of library book on Spon St.

Sorry Heathite for not responding earlier, I only just saw your post of my ATKINS family. I do have those entries and dates, but thank you all the same. It is interesting that several of the children were born in Clerkenwell, London, though I only found eldest son Wm baptised there, most were all baptised on the same day at St John's so my theory is either they had not been baptised or could not show evidence so the priest insisted which is not unknown especially before a marriage. I wonder whether Edward Atkins was sent to London to learn more skills of the watch trade, and then his son Henry came back with his family to work in Coventry (silk dyer) so not taking to the watch trade. They lived in the Stretch Yard in Spon St, so part of the dyers trade. There seems to be some coming and going in the early-mid 1800's! Edward = Mary Clemson at Holy Triniry in 1821. This is confirmed by later burials in London Road as well. Edward apprenticed in Coventry 1807 to Wm Hale watchmaker. Even so these Atkins are hard to sort out especially the earlier ones, where there seem to be gaps.