Rob Orland's Historic Coventry
I'd like to take this opportunity to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed and made this website so worthwhile....
Here are the comments left so far... the most recent at the top:
2008 | |||
| Date | Name | From... | Comments |
| 20th Aug 2008 | Linda Quintana | Greenwood, Indiana USA | I am preserving my fathers letters while he was stationed in England from 1944-45. I found in one letter a program from the Hippodrome in Coventry. It is dated 10/2/44 and advertises the play The Love Racket he went to go see. Thank you so much for having the photo I found on this website of the theater. I have a connection now. Many, many thank yous |
| 14th Aug 2008 | Sylvia Turner | Telford, Shropshire |
I was born in Coventry 63 years ago and lived there 'til 1964 when I joined the WRAF and later married a airman. I have lived in several different places since then but still think of Coventry and my childhood I spent there with fond thoughts. Coventrys' history has always fascinated me too and still does. I was told about this site by an old school friend which I was recently reacquainted with via Friends United, who now lives in Australia, so I thought I'd have a look. Nice site and very interesting. [My pleasure - what a lovely recommendation! Rob] |
| 12th Aug 2008 | Aiden Keenan | Coventry!!!!!!! | Hey there Rob, I once put a comment on the site about two years ago when I first found it. I now live in Bideford in North Devon and am so glad that your site is still here as it is always good to see images of home! Will you be updating it when certain projects get finished. E.g. Belgrade Plaza, Greyfriars, etc? Cheers! |
| 11th Aug 2008 | Alan Milliner | Coventry originally (USA now) | I am trying to find a photograph of the old Little Heath school in Old Church Road that was demolished to make way for new houses about seven years ago. If anyone has a photo I would be very pleased to hear from you. Thanks. |
| 9th Aug 2008 | Ruth Cherrington | Canley and University of Warwick |
A very nice site, I shall be using it in future and recommending to my students. I am also doing local history, researching and writing about working men's clubs. my own website is www.clubhistorians.co.uk All the best for now Ruth |
| 14th Jul 2008 | Mark Weldon | Melbourne Australia formerly Exhall Coventry | I found your site fantastic - I know very little about Coventry having left there when I was 10 years old. I was born in Radford Road in 1957 and moved as a child to Wheelwright Lane Exhall. I was the only Coventry Kid in the family as my mother reminds my brother and sister. I believe they were born in Bedworth. |
| 27th Jun 2008 | Chelsea | England | I think this website is really helpful but I need to be able to copy and paste the floor plan |
| 21st Jun 2008 | Margaret Mole (nee Harris) | Australia | I was born in Coventry in 1939 in Parkstone Road Foleshill. I worked at Dunlop, Holbrooks, Courtaulds and Unbrako in Radford, after having 3 children and living in Yewdale Crescent and Glencoe Road we had this idea to come to Australia. To cut a long story short I will be back in Coventry in August with my eldest son who was only 14 when we left, he is so looking forward to see all of the places he thinks he can remember. See you then Coventry. |
| 15th Jun 2008 | Jonathan Koupermann | Ecuador |
I studied in Coventry University for a year and really enjoyed my life in the city. I love your website, I hope you keep on researching and updating it as I think is one of the best points of reference there is about the city. Congratulations. [You're so kind Jonathan, sincere thanks!] |
| 5th Jun 2008 | John Tasker | Cambridge Ontario Canada | I was born at 22 Eagle St. and was glad see that the house was still there when my wife and I visited Coventry recently. It was my wife's first visit to England so we spent a short time in Coventry, it sure has changed. But it was nice to see that Lady Herberts gardens are still there and the old fire station. It's too bad what they did with Lady Godiva's statue but that's progress for you. Any way your site's great. Went to Canada in 1968. Sincerly John Tasker |
| 3rd Jun 2008 | Dionne Bell | Coventry by way of the USA | I loved your site. Well done. |
| 17th May 2008 | Cathy Lee | Florida, USA | It began with a breakfast discussion with my husband about the bombing of THAT town in England during the war. I knew my mother would remember it (the name). I called her and she did, of course. She is 80 and recalls the Blitz as well as the names of towns like Coventry. I am so sorry that it wasn't better known to us. Thanks to you and your website, I feel enlightened and would love to visit your city one day. This is a wonderful site and I will not forget Coventry again! |
| 13th May 2008 | Marek Grzegorczyk | Leamington Spa | This is a fascinating site, well done. I've read it from cover-to-cover (so to speak) many times over the last few years, and come back again and again. While I was not born in Coventry or ever lived there, I had many frequent trips to the city as a youngster with my parents and it is incredible to see how the city has evolved over the years. |
| 5th May 2008 | Hannah | Cheltenham |
How long is the river Sherbourne? I am doing a project on rivers and need to know that fact!!! Thank you Hannah |
| 23rd Apr 2008 | Shelley Chatterson Powner | London Ontario Canada | I'm researching Coventry for my husbands father's 90th birthday celebration. He has lived in Coventry all 90 years and my husband was born there as well. Your site is very interesting and informative, thank you for all your hard work. |
| 22nd Apr 2008 | Peter Weston | Originally Spon End (Hope St.), then Radford and now Baginton. |
Just discovered this wondrous place via a link in Flickr! I now intend to be a regular visitor, there seems to be treasure in every corner......well done! [The pleasure's all mine, thank you Peter!] |
| 20th Apr 2008 | BUONCONSIGLIO Ermelle | France |
J'espere qu'a travers ce site je pourrais enfin trouver des elements qui me permettent de connaitre la vie vecue par ma mere et sa famille a Coventry pendant la premiere guerre mondiale. Mon grand'pere Camille LIGNY ouvrier belge qualifie a travaille dans les usines d'armement de Birmingham et quand ma mere est retournee en Belgique elle ne parlait que l'anglais. Peut etre vais-je trouver d'autres personnes concernees par cette periode. [Approximate Translation: I hope that through this site I can finally find elements which allow me to know the life lived by my mother and her family in Coventry during the First World War. My Belgian grandfather, Camille LIGNY, qualified as a worker in Birmingham's arms factories, and when my mother returned to Belgium she spoke only English. I am hoping to find someone who knows about this period.] Ermelle |
| 19th Apr 2008 | John Johnston | Holbrooks, Coventry (Now in Styvechale) |
Great site! I was born in Holbrook Lane in 1951, and went to school at Gosford Park and KHVIII. At my age (56), nostalgia starts to creep up. As I walk around the city, my memory produces 'ghost' images of what was there years ago. I am sad at much of what has been lost. Sometimes I shut my eyes and imagine I am still in the city of my childhood. Keep up the good work - I'm sure you give pleasure to many. |
| 19th Apr 2008 | Myles Kimberley | Sapcote, Leicestershire |
What a great source of reference you have provided us with of Coventry's history. It is fascinating to see the dissolves of then and now but in many cases very painful. I too mourn the loss of Lyons cafe and wish I could walk down Butchers Row and other streets of prewar Coventry. I am sure your site will only improve with age and lets hope the same will happen to Coventry, keep up the good work. |
| 17th Apr 2008 | Lorna | Coventry | Dear Rob, I homeschool my ten year old son Matthew, and wish to congratulate you on a wonderfully extensive site for his history of Coventry project. I am 50 years of age and was born in Gulson Rd hospital. I wonder have you ever done any history on the monasteries of Coventry and their locations? |
| 15th April 2008 | Paul Jowett | Maple Ridge BC Canada | Hi Rob, I found your website last September 2007 and was really impressed with what you had done. Now the good news is that I have been given an opportunity this year to return to the city of my birth after 36 years. I am bringing two of my children with me this will be a journey of their roots. I feel excited apprehensive and sad all at the same time. Excited because I am coming over apprehensive at what I may find and sad becaause some of the things that used to be there are not there anymore. I still check in on your site from time to time, keep up the good work, Paul. |
| 13th Apr 2008 | Kirsty | Kent (lived in Coventry as a student) |
My Husband and I met in Coventry as students in the early 90's and we returned there for the first time in about ten years earlier this week - we were stunned by the transformation. A couple of our favourite take-aways and restaurants have vanished, the lower precinct refurbished and then there's the rather overpowering Ikea! In fact, we got off the M6 at junction 3 and had absolutely no idea where we were - it was that unrecognisable. I came across your website when trying to find out a bit more about the new Belgrade Plaza development we saw under construction. What a wonderful and fascinating website; I've spent all afternoon utterly absorbed! I particularly liked the 'now and then' section and the maps showing how Coventry has grown over the years. Thank you so much for your hard work! |
| 10th Apr 2008 | Stephanie | Coventry | My dad told me when I was younger so as you can guess I believed him, that Coventry got its name from a coven of witches who worshiped a tree in Gosford Green hence the name Coventree. So finding your site I thought I'd see if there was any truth to the story, so you can understand my dismay when I could not find any truth to it. He also said that's why they built the wall to keep them out. Anyway it's a great story to tell my kids. I just wonderd if you could dig a bit deeper just to see if there's a little truth to it please. Great site by the way |
| 8th Apr 2008 | Paul Kenning | Llandudno, North Wales. Originally from Norwich, Norfolk |
Came across the site while looking for my Grandfathers origin, he was born in No 2 Court, 47 Spon Street in 1898, John James Kenning. Great Site and very informative. |
| 25th Mar 2008 | Pauline Evans | Canada, but born and raised in Coventry | I loved this site, it brought back so many wonderful memories of my childhood. I visit Cov. almost every year and sorry to say things have changed so much and not always for the better. It sure is a cure for home sickness. But, thank you for this gift. Regards Pauline Evans |
| 12th Mar 2008 | David Cronan | Coventrian but now living in Nottinghamshire | I was born in Coventry in 1944 and can still remember the bomb damage in the late 40's and early 50's before the main reconstruction took place. I can also remember being in the crowd when the Queen came to lay the foundation stone of the new cathedral and the helicopter placing the "spire" on top of the building a couple of years later. I am also proud to be a Freeman of the city. Everyone who completed an indentured apprenticeship within the city was granted this honour. We had to attend a ceremony at the Council House and swear our allegiance to the Lord Mayor and promise to report to him if we saw anyone damaging the city wall! |
| 12th Mar 2008 | Pamela Johnstone | Milton Keynes Bucks |
My Dad was killed in the blitz of Coventry in April 1941. He was an air raid warden. I never knew him, my mother was 6 months pregnant with me. She used to say he was killed in a public house that they were in. Dad got killed instantly and mum, gran and grandad were up to the waist in water until they were rescued.
As I am doing my family tree, I don't seem to be able to find out much about it. Can you help I wonder? Thanks, Pam PS. My dads name was Roland Smith and he and mum lived at 2 Dalton Square. |
| 12th Mar 2008 | Devasis Chowdhury | Bangalore India |
I came to Coventry in 1975 and worked in Dunlop for two years. I was proud to live in the city that produced so many aeronautical products. I revisited the city after 32 years in May 07. The grace and charm of the city I knew was perhaps missing. But your website compensates for all that. A job very well done. My congratulations. |
| 9th Mar 2008 | Stuart | Daventry, from Coventry originally |
Just want to say what a brilliant website you have here, and I can't imagine how long it took you to set it up! But well done for all the hard work and amazing photos! I live in Northamptonshire at the moment but I can't wait till I'm able to move back to Coventry. If only the city council was as forward thinking as you and actually build us a decent city museum, not a toy/car museum! [Thank you so much for such kind words Stuart] |
| 7th Mar 2008 | Dave 'Moose' Flynn | Coventrian Now In Huddersfield |
I had previously visited your site a few years ago and it was great then. I have moved away (partners Job - not my choice) I have really started to miss Coventry and often log in to this site to get my Coventry 'Fix' when I am not able to come back. When I do come back to visit my Family & friends I take as many photographs as possible, as you have inspired me to log the changes in my Home city. You should be really proud of yourself as your site alone has taught me more about my home town than anyone ever did while I spent 37 years of my life & schooling days there. This is truly a fantastic site now and I really enjoy the 'Now & Then' pictures, and hope that someone somewhere is recording the demolition & developments of sites in Coventry for the future, what is current now will one day be history! Thank you again for many happy hours of my top up time on your site - if only Huddersfield (west Yorkshire, UK) had anything even remotely like your site I'd know something of my new Town. |
| 5th Mar 2008 | Paul Hughes | Cheltenham | Wonderful website, thank you. I was born in Coventry just after the war and lived there until the 1960s. Very nostalgic to see those photos. My father was in the auxiliary fire service and was there firefighting in the raid when the Cathedral was destroyed. |
| 4th Mar 2008 | Jenny Martin | Rugby | I lived in Cov for many years and I always went to the cathedrals for some peace and quite. I want to say I do miss them. |
| 24th Feb 2008 | James Brogan | Worcestershire | Excellent and informing website |
| 22nd Feb 2008 | Joan Miller nee Waddington | Queensland Australia |
I have just recently found your website, and I want to thank you for all the wonderful memories it brings. I was brought up in Coventry from the age of 7 in 1935, when my family moved from Hartlepool to find employment in the building industry. We all survived the blitz in November 1940, and we children were evacuated to Polesworth for 3 years. I married in Coventry, where our 4 children were born and went to school in Holbrooks and later to the new Foxford Comprehensive. We emigrated in 1965. I would be so happy to hear from anyone who might remember us. |
| 20th Feb 2008 | Kerrie | Coventry |
A wonderful website. The 'Now and then' information is great, your comments about the architecture and how the city is evolving is very true. I would be interested in the development of your site following the announcement of the next 'billion pound transformation' (!!) to take place. Lets hope they look at the charm, character and beauty of the past and take a few hints. A stream of my family research has been in Coventry since the 1770's and probably beyond, your site helps me understand more of my home city. Thank you. |
| 20th Feb 2008 | Jane & Mike Harper | Wormington Near Broadway Worcestershire |
Last year my wife's mother passed away. Both Jane and I were born and brought up in Coventry. Jane's mother had researched her family history for many years. The family were all mainly Coventry family based being involved in business and congregational church movement at West Orchard and Queen Road Chapels. George Betts had recorded his life in hand written diaries which we have inherrited along with many other family documents including an account by John Yeldham Betts (George's father) of a journey to Austalia and back in 1881-1884. John was a city Councillor and an Alderman. He joined the firm of William Rider Cornfactors of West Orchard, which had been founded by his father-in-law, William Rider. When he joined the firm it became known Rider & Betts Cornfactors. George Betts diaries give a very interesting insight into life in Coventry in the 1860 through to after WW1. They give details of business dealing and family matters and provide a social history of the time. My wife's mother had transcribed the diaries with the intention of publishing them one day. As a result of the information we have received I have continued the family history research and have included my own family the Tatlow's another Coventry family. |
| 17th Feb 2008 | Suzzanna Jones Griffin | Coventry, But now live in Charlotte North Carolina, USA | I just wanted to thank you so much, as reading all the things you have on the website, I am not as home sick as I used to be. It's also great for showing my American friends and family, were I'm from. I was also born in 1965, in George Elliot Rd off Foleshill Rd. Thanks again. Suzzanna. |
| 13th Feb 2008 | Peter Brian Woolridge | Lahr/Schwartzwald Germany |
Born Nov.39 Nuneaton moved to 149 Rollason Rd. Radford Coventry.My Father worked at Bretts Dropped Forgings until Apr.1954 when we left and emigrated to Canada.I enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1958 and this is how I ended up here in Germany,a strange twist of fate when one considers the history of my hometown. I would like to compliment you on this excellent and very informative site. |
| 7th Feb 2008 | Pauline | Adelaide, Australia | I would like to congratulate you on a very interesting web site. I know I will spend many happy hours reading everything. I was evacuated from the South of England to the North during the last war and had heard and read a lot of the damage caused to Coventry and feel it is a great loss to history. I now live in Adelaide (since 1952)and find I am more interested in history now than as a young girl. Congratulations and thank you! |
| 5th Feb 2008 | Fraser Dickson | Bovey Tracey, Devon; the gateway to the Dartmoor | Excellent, I have enjoyed touring the website covering so many aspects of Coventry and its history. I have a personal interest as my late mother Beryl Dawson Lea (1907-1979), was descended from an old Coventry family of Lea/Leigh who were direct descendants of Thomas leigh christened in May 1641, at St Michaels Church. Her great grand-uncle was Henry Lea (1785-1848)was a well known lawyer of the Coventry law firm Lea & Troughton, later Lea, Troughton and Kirby. He left a thousand pounds in his will to St Michaels, and is buried in the family vaults there. His brother Francis Lea (1789-1868) a silk manufacturer in the City of London married on 19th October,1809,at st Martin-in-the Fields, Westminster, Lady Jane Dawson, daughter of the Earl and Countess of Portarlington, her brother the Hon. William Dawson and sister Lady Harriet Dawson were witnesses. My mother is a great-grand daughter of the above, they lived at Falcon Square, Islington, co. Middlesex. She married in 1941 at London my father Francis Anderson Dickson (1922-1995) and they had three sons Francis, Fraser (myself) and Stephen. They had two grandsons Francis and James Dickson. The Leas lived in Much Park Street, Little Park street, Stoke House and Grosvenor House, Coventry and the Quadrant. |
| 3rd Feb 2008 | Jo & Tony Shepherd | Perth Western Australia | Rob, is it true they may be pulling down the 'tent' in Broadgate? What a blessing if they did. I am sure Lady G. would appreciate it. |
| 2nd Feb 2008 | Susan Davies | Nuneaton, Born Coventry |
I just wanted to record how fab. I think your site is. As a child I lived in Ford St, and your site has enabled me to recall many happy memories. We are now in the process of tracing our family tree, and again your site has been a great help. Please up the good work (It was your site that directed me to the Cov. library site for the photo's of Ford st and my nan's house) MANY THANKS KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK |
| 1st Feb 2008 | Nina | Originally Coventry |
Born in 1968 I fondly remember Broadgate with the temporary shops, lovely green grass and tall trees. I never understood how on earth the council got away with the monstrosities - Cathedral Lanes & that tent thing! It was almost equivalent to 'bricking in' the lovely cathedrals. Your pictures, especially the 'Now and Then' ones should be compulsory viewing at any future redevelopment planning meeting! [I think anyone who's ever lived in Coventry would have to agree with you Nina!] |
| 31st Jan 2008 | Amy | USA | I am truly impressed by your website. It is one of the most impressive sites I have ever seen. You were extremly thorough. I navigated too it to learn a little more about Coventry, because my husband and I are visiting from America this summer. It was very helpful. What great information! Great job! |
| 31st Jan 2008 | Matthew | Coventry | Your website ROCKS! |
| 28th Jan 2008 | Georgia | Coventry | aww, this website's well good, my grandad was in world war 2 xx |
| 27th Jan 2008 | Sarah | Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America but my father is from Coventry England | Good site for info on the blitz. Helped me a lot with my research for a school project. Thanks |
| 25th Jan 2008 | Jeannie S. | Des Moines, Iowa United States | Thank you for putting together this very informative site. My brother and his wife are presently living in Coventry for the next several years and I was searching for places to learn about their new home. Thanks again. |
| 16th Jan 2008 | Fr Brian Regan | St Oswald's [formerly St John's] |
This is a fantastic web site and a credit to the Web manager BUT in the time Chart one historic date missing is 1991 Arrival of Fr B !!!!! Seriously, Well done! It's a credit to you. See you soon I hope |
| 14th Jan 2008 | Bob & Lesley Cunningham | Burlington, Ontario |
A truly magnificent site. We appreciate all the work that you have done, and hope it will continue. [I appreciate your kind comment too, thank you.] |
| 14th Jan 2008 | Allen | Coventry |
Cannot believe the amount of work you must have done on your site. As an elderly (OLD) resident of our city I must say you know more about it than I do. [Thank you - it's all my pleasure.] |
| 9th Jan 2008 | Tricia - | Warren Park Havant Hants | I came across your web site as I am doing my family tree mums side, the earl of Coventry and the rest of them!!! Looking for Croom D'Abitot, and I loved its History and I went on every one of them, so well done, and there is a possibility my friend and I may come up there, and I will know what to look for. |
| 8th Jan 2008 | Dr Matthew Grant | Sheffield |
This is a remarkable site, full of excellent information. Could almost serve as a 'best practice' example to anyone seeking to do something similar for other towns and cities. Well done! [I'm speechless! Thank you sincerely for your kindness.] |
| 6th Jan 2008 | Steve Hagyard | Coventry | Great site. Well done. |
| 2nd Jan 2008 | Lorna Mayr | Fairhope Alabama USA |
Hello! I was born and raised in Coventry and I now live along the gulf coast in USA. I was browsing the web and came across your website. Wow, you have put so much work into this, and have done a great job! I'm learning things that I had no clue about even though I grew up there! I guess I wasn't interested then, but now that I haven't lived there for about 20 years I'm very interested and amazed at some of the changes! (I'm with you about the ugly escalators in the U. precinct, and I hate the way broadgate looks now...where's all the lovely grass....SHAME!!!) |
