Rex Site, Trinity Street

May 1938

REX SITE, CORPORATION STREET

Since writing my last article on this site, another part of the site is being excavated, and is situated at the West End. Opposite this site when making Corporation Street six years ago a large quantity of piles and stone foundations were revealed at a depth of 8 ft., which was no doubt one of the 32 mills on the river course; near by in July, 1937, several large holes were being dug, and running through two of these were large timbers built in step form which were most probably part of the flood gates. In another hole and at a depth of 14 ft. to 16 ft. a mall or mallet was found which no doubt was used to drive in the piles of 700 years ago. The mallet was in good condition and could be used today. It had been cowled out of an elm tree and made almost the shape of a man's head with a piece growing out of the top to form a handle. The bark is on as though it were still growing and is so firm that it could be used today for the same purpose.

BOVIS SITE, TRINITY STREET

Very extensive buildings have been built by Bovis Ltd., backing from Palmer Lane to the West Side of Trinity Street, and the foundations have been dug very deep. The foundations of the Guest House stables were discovered, also a wine cask used as a refuse bin with its oak timbers as good as the day it was made. In it was a broken vessel thought to be of the Norman period; after being pieced together it measured 14 ins. high, and 10 ins. wide.

In the making of one large hole for foundations and the digging out of a cellar 14 ft. in depth a large heap of refuse from the stables was found, and as usual in such material a large quantity of boots and harness; at least 50 boots came to light, of the 14th century. Some had leather laces, others straps and buckles, one was decorated similar to many summer boots of today. A number of soles and uppers were found in the same position they had been thrown away 600 years ago, and had long toes from 3 to 4 ins.; placed between the upper and sole of the toe was moss wedged tightly to keep the toe stiff. Probably many of the shoes were made in Coventry, for in Hales Street a large quantity of moss had been thrown away, and was as good as the day it grew. Near to the bottom of the cellars close by the stables, a large tree at least 20 ft. in circumference had been cut off. At the lower end of Palmer Lane a large building must have stood and the foundations were principally made of stone coffin lids. On this same site some years ago a coffin lid was found, in which brasses had once been, and might have been the stone of a Bishop or Priest, but no inscription was found.

The first factory for ribbons called Beck's Factory, stood on the site also, and the wood piles on which the chimney was built were found driven closely together to a depth of 12 ft. The building was of the best, and many days were spent in driving through the brick and stone. This factory was built in 1830, by a Mr. Beck, a mechanic. Improvement in looms etc., caused unrest amongst the workpeople and in November 1831, a strike came about, and fire was started in the building which consumed the lot. The strikers hurled the looms and ribbons out of the windows into the Priors Pool. A number of men were punished by being sent to Van Dieman's Land and three men were to have been hung on Whitley Common, but Mr. Ellice, M.P., was asked to plead on their behalf and through this they were reprieved, and sent also to Van Dieman's Land. One of these men made good and paid a visit to Coventry some years after.

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