Stoke

Hi Our shop was the last on the right before Clements St and it looks like there were three shops between us and the Newsagents. Cheers David

Am I correct in thinking that the GEC plant mentioned in the Bourne Road area was where they held dances. I'm sure I went there with my girlfriend in 1959/60

You are absolutely correct Ken.

Hi, I lived in Glencoe Road before coming to Australia, use to walk to Ball Hill not only for the butchers up the side road but for the wool shop, we all knitted in those days, and they had the best of wool, being hard up I would get 2 balls and have the rest put by, then a trip again the next payday for more, we didn't have much but we did get around the area on our own two feet. Marg

Actually downunder, I do that now in Australia, the wool is so expensive, I buy as I need it, but in my day it was from 'Gwens at the wool shop' and her Ladybird children's wear. I am sure you were able to buy that too in Ball Hill.

I used to live in the road on the right behind the bus stops, there was a Co-op on one corner where we could get a bag of broken biscuits, the butter was taken from a large block and patted in shape before being wrapped in paper, sugar was weighed out into blue bags. There was a butcher on the opposite corner which later became a PDSA surgery, Gwens wool shop was one of my favourite places apart from the sweet shop a few doors down. It was a great place to shop there was even a Woolworths and a tripe shop.

Please could anyone tell me the origin of the name Barrows Green, in Stoke. Is it to do with the old Barrs like Barrs Hill, or was there any prehistoric barrows or what. Thanks

Hmmm.... all these years living in or near the Stoke area, and I've never come across Barrows Green! Do you know exactly where this was? Ooh, just had an afterthought.... it couldn't actually be Barras Green, could it? If so, then my guess is that "Barrs" could be connected, although I can't find a definitive answer to that.

I don't know that area of Coventry Rob but looking through the newspapers, in the 1800's there are a lot if references to Barrow's Green Estate and houses being built. A couple of streets mentioned were South Street and North Street. There is also a mention of a railway line being built over land there. Looking at a map North Street seems to be in Barras Green so it looks as if somehow the name got shortened.

Weren't barrows graves?

This may be a possibility for the area, maybe Barrow's Green was shortened into everyday use? Shown on the map is Barras Heath - just down from the 'Bolshey' or Barras House (Hotel), and the streets, North Street, Coventry Street and South Street, which is now Stratford Street. The map is around 1888. And a bit bigger . .

Just remembered I have a Katherine BARROWES in my family tree. There are Barrowes in Coventry going back to the 1500's. They do have connections with Stoke as their son married the daughter of Joseph Harwar whose memorial is in the Lady Chapel of Stoke St Michael's church. I am wondering if Barrows Green once belonged to the Barrows (Barrowes) family.

I remember your shop well Dave, we lived in Beaconsfield Road, I'm sure you remember us, you were a friend of my brother, John