COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

The imperial War Museum has some interesting pieces on Coventry. "Search" leaves a little to be desired, but yields some interesting finds

http://www.iwm.org.uk/

Yes indeed Rebbonk, especially for experienced researchers like myself. Even better, many of the images are licenced for reuse on forums like this one!

I'll come back to this subject later.

The original caption for this 1944 picture is spectacularly wrong! It is Smithford Street but looking west towards the tower of St John's and not east to St Mary's Hall

The spire of St Osburg's and gasometer in Hill Street are just visible in the distance on the right.


COVENTRY, SPRING 1944: EVERYDAY LIFE IN COVENTRY, WARWICKSHIRE, ENGLAND, UK, 1944.". ".© IWM (D 18090)IWM Non Commercial Licence

This rare view (also from 1944) shows the gap left by the destruction of the two jutted timber framed buildings on the corner of High Street and Pepper Lane before their replacement by 'temporary' shops which stood there for more than 40 years!

Martins Bank is one the left, Barclays (now Yorkshire) Bank is on the right.


COVENTRY, SPRING 1944: EVERYDAY LIFE IN COVENTRY, WARWICKSHIRE, ENGLAND, UK, 1944.". ".© IWM (D 18092)IWM Non Commercial Licence

Work to remove the tramlines for salvage in 1944. The bus stop on the corner of Hertford Street and Smithford Street still bears scorchmarks from the destruction of the Kings Head Hotel in 1940!

Note the so-called 'utility bus' passing Holy Trinity Church with it's external wooden body frame.


COVENTRY, ENGLAND, SPRING 1944.". ".© IWM (D 18091)IWM Non Commercial Licence