Broadgate Sorry, your browser doesn't support Java(tm).
Dates from the 12th century when the "broad gate" for the castle of the Earl of Chester stood where Greyfriars Lane now meets High Street.

The first drawing is from the 18th century, by which time the area was on the way to becoming a busy shopping area. Note the hansom cab in the foreground.

The next 2 photos were taken from the same vantage point in 1937 and 1942, and show just how much of Broadgate was destroyed by the blitz of the 14th November 1940.

The architects' vision of the future, showing an uncluttered view of Coventry Cathedral spire from the Precinct and Broadgate, was drawn up by town planner Donald Gibson as early as February 1941.

For many years Gibson's vision was achieved as the far side of Broadgate had single storey "temporary buildings" until the construction in the 90s of "Cathedral Lanes", which has restored the roofline levels of Broadgate to what they were some 300 years before. The canopy has always been controversial but at least provides shelter from the rain for the statue of naked Lady Godiva. 

Foleshill Road

... led to Foleshill Village, the name meaning "the hill of the people" and referring to an ancient assembly which was held there.

The drawing, from circa 1905, is of Youngs Sweet Shop which stood at the junction of Foleshill Road and Lockhurst Lane.

At the time there was a farm where Courtaulds now stands but this, and the church just visible on the left hand side, were demolished to make way for the Courtaulds expansion.
 
 

Warwick Row
... together with Warwick Avenue, Lane, Road & Street commemorates the nearby shire of Warwick, noted for its imposing mediaeval castle. The name Warwick is of Saxon origin and derives from either "the Village of the Waerings" or "Dwellings by the Weir".

This 1923 photograph shows the spires of the, then, three undamaged churches. Greyfriars Green, on the right, was once known as Cheylesmore Green and was used by various cavalry regiments who were stationed nearby during the 18th century.

In 1875 the City Council abolished the grazing rights and the area became a public space.

 The statue of Sir Thomas White, a London merchant and city benefactor, was erected on the site of the old horse pool, which was nicknamed "The Red Sea", the colour of the water being that of the clay which lined the pool and was churned up by the Waggoners and coachmen who used the area.

Queens Road
.... well actually a picture of Warwick Road taken in 1928 from just this side of the railway station. Queens Road joins from the left and St Patricks' Road & Eaton Road from the right, with a policeman in the middle of this busy junction. The  path, along which the ring road later carved its way  through the landscape, is clearly shown.

The buildings to the near left were known as Lansdowne Place, next to the entrance to the railway goods  depot.

Hence, Queens Road was the start of a major route, connecting with the Butts, Spon Street, Allesley Old Road and the Birmingham Road.

Queens Road was also the site of the Coventry Abattoir,  a number of factories and later Coventry Technical college was built at its junction to the Butts.

Gosford Street
... literally means "goose ford", the shallowest part of the river Sherbourne which linked Ford Street and Lower Ford Street.

Gosford Green was the scene of high drama on the 16th September 1397 after King Richard II decreed that a dispute between Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Hereford and Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk be settled by duel on the green. Hereford, the King's cousin and son of John of Gaunt, was alleged by Norfolk to have betrayed a private conversation in which he was said to have spoken of the King in a dishonourable way. Anxious to acquit himself of this serious charge, Norfolk challenged Hereford to fight a duel in the time honoured manner.

In the few days before the event the green, then a wild heath outside the city wall,  was besieged by marshals, constables, armourers from Europe, friends, supporters and finally the King - with a 10,000 strong army! A great deal of "corporate entertainment" ensued which delighted Coventry's traders.

At the appointed time both combatants appeared, riding fine horses and adorned in the finest jewels and silks. A trumpet sounded, the enormous crowds drew their breaths ... then King Richard intervened and decreed that Hereford was to be exiled for at least 10 years, Norfolk for life. It was, at the time, observed that Richard II had skillfully saved his own honour and defused a monarchic crisis. The fact that Richard confiscated all of the combatants' land and property  makes more sense of his actions.

Richard was deposed and assassinated within 2 years and Henry returned from exile to form the House of Lancaster and take the crown.

Nowadays, few stop to read the bronze tablet on the stone memorial which commemorates the event, Gosford Green being more famous for duels carried out at Highfield Road by:- 

Coventry City Football Club
... commenced in 1883 as Singers FC, and formed by the employees of the Singer cycle works. The name was changed to Coventry City FC in 1898 when they moved to their present ground at Highfield Road.

They are the only club to have played in all 7 divisions of the English league, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 3rd South, 3rd North & Premiership. They reached the 2nd Division during a splendid run in the 3 seasons prior to 1939 and many felt that they would have reached the 1st Division were it not for the intervention of World War 2. 

"The City" were for years then labeled as "no-hopers" (even by their own supporters) until 1961 when manager Jimmy Hill, as well as revolutionizing the way that football was watched, took the team from Division 4 to Division 1 in just 6 years. However, he resigned to become a TV commentator on the eve of their opening Division 1 game, tarnishing his otherwise splendid reputation. During Hill's reign the team took on a new light blue strip and became known as the "Sky Blues". 

It was not, however, until May 1987 that the team showed some of the "60s magic" when, under manager John Sillett, they defeated Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 at Wembley Stadium to bring the FA cup home to a joyous city. To any Coventrian this was, like the assassination of president Kennedy, the death of Elvis, and England's World Cup victory, an unforgettable event. Even TV commentator Jimmy Hill truthfully observed that this was the finest game of football seen in many a year.

Sadly, since then, the Sky Blues' most epic battles had been to avoid relegation, at which they had always been successful ... until 2001 when they were relegated to Division 1. They did indeed once hold 4th place as the team to have the longest unbroken stay in the top division. 

The 2001/2 and 2002/3 seasons have showed little hope of a phoenix ascension from the ashes but we can only hope that things will get better.