Steven Orland's Coventry, Now & Then

Page 2

Down the other end of Hertford Street lies the Bullyard. It's now an open square, but before the war it was a narrow street with the Peeping Tom pub on the corner.

If you were now to turn to your right, you'll see right up Hertford Street towards Broadgate and the centre of town.


Can you see the tramlines? It looks quite steep for them to climb up!

In the old days before the second world war there was a lovely old house next to Ford's Hospital.


Ford's Hospital got damaged by a bomb in the war but was renovated in 1953. The old house next door didn't get destroyed but was later demolished anyway.

This next photograph was taken in 1927. It shows the bottom of the Burges, and the photographer was standing on the corner of Hales Street and Bishop Street by the Old Grammar School.

With your mouse pointer over the picture, my photo in 2005 shows that these shops had to be demolished so that Corporation Street could be built in 1931.

Please click here if you wish to see the photo's separately.

Most of Priory Row has not changed much since before the war, but one thing that is now missing is the old campanile, or belfry, which belonged to Holy Trinity Church, and stood just across Priory Row from the church. The first photo is from a 1907 postcard.


The old wooden belfry actually survived the WW2 Blitz, but was removed some time after the war. My photo was taken in December 2006, and now the belfry is gone, you can see Blue Coat School behind it....

Blue Coat School used to be a girls school and was on this spot for about 100 years until they were evacuated in World War 2.


The school was built upon the north west tower at the west end of the ruins of St. Mary's cathedral which was ordered to be demolished by greedy King Henry the 8th. You can see some of the remains of pillars from the old church here.

This monument is known as the Martyrs Memorial and was erected in 1910. We've had some help from Cliff Jones to identify the streets pictured here leading from the memorial. We now know that Quinton Road is the street disappearing off to the left, and Park Road is to the right, leading towards the Railway Station. Now, in 2006, the memorial is surrounded by junction 5 of the Ring Road.


Not only did Henry VIII have our monasteries destroyed, he also ordered that people were burned at the stake for having different beliefs or religions to himself. Some of those people were brought to Coventry for this, and this memorial is for us to remember those who gave their lives for their strong beliefs during Henry's and Queen Mary's reign.

Back to.... Now and Then page 1 or on to.... Now and Then page 3

All "old" photographs are taken from early postcards.

All photographs by Steven Orland except where stated.

Links to other places....