COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

Alvis Scorpion:


I remember seeing these lined up outside the Holyhead Road factory awaiting delivery, fully armed and probably with keys still in the ignition. Occasionally one would pull up alongside me at the traffic lights on the Fletchamstead Highway. (Click the image for a bigger picture)

Lea Francis:


If you'd shown me this picture a week ago I would have sworn blind it was a Jaguar!

One wonders if Websters also made the 917,000 bricks for this chimney at nearby Courtaulds?



The two factories were linked (along with others in the area) by a private railway system which would have saved considerably on transport costs.

Mentioning Courtaulds....

The Little Heath plant is being rapidly demolished. About the only thing left is a chimney and cooling tower.

Continuing with the Foleshill railway theme, this is a much published postcard of a 15" naval gun leaving the Royal Ordnance Works in Stoney Stanton Road:



I still remember the level crossing but there's no trace of it left today

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36137127@N05/sets/72157623357575860/

Re: Courtaulds, Little Heath ... Found this on flickr.

Thanks for Courtauld's additions Peter

Continuing the Foleshill industrial railway theme, this is from inside the White & Poppe munitions factory in Holbrooks:


It is likely the steam engine was filled with boiling water from outside the factory so as to avoid the risk of explosion. This sort of "fireless locomotive" was quite common before the introduction of diesel. The women who filled the shell cases were immediately recognisable from their yellow complexion which resulted from the hazardous chemicals they worked with.

Does anyone know whereabouts in Holbrooks the White & Poppe factory was?????

That rang a bell immediately with me - remembering stories related to me by my Mother.

pollyanna wrote:Does anyone know whereabouts in Holbrooks the White & Poppe factory was?????

Lockhurst Lane Polly, near the junction with Foleshill Road. The buildings are still there on both sides of the road but are now used by an employment agency.

This is how it used to look: