The history of Earlsdon and Chapelfields has been unveiled in a new book by a Coventry teacher.
David Fry, who teaches at Ernesford Grange Community School, has indulged his passion for local history by delving into the suburbs of Coventry to publish his latest book.
His newest edition – Earlsdon and Chapelfields Explored – reveals how the area was first populated in the mid-19th century by Puritans, fiercely opposed to the evils of drink.
It is the latest instalment in The Coventry We Have Lost series which he has written in collaboration with fellow local history enthusiast Albert Smith.
David, of Marton, was keen to bring the unique characteristics of each suburb to life in its pages.
He said: “I’d already done a lot of research and delved into quite a lot of detail to discover the characteristics which make the different suburbs of Coventry unique rather than research the history of the city centre which has already been covered in a lot of depth.
“There’s a lot to feature in the suburbs and I was particularly interested in Earlsdon and Chapelfields because each were built completely from scratch, like a new build community at the time, without any schools or shops, but they retained their characteristics.”
The book, which features more than 100 photos, traces the history of Earlsdon and Chapelfields concentrating on their mid-19th century origins and the housing explosion of the Edwardian period when they were villages isolated from Coventry to their eventual growth.
Earlsdon began life as a small non-conformist community of P uritanical residents who were opposed to pubs and even chip shops.
In a fascinating anecdote, the book tells how M&B brewery officials, knowing residents would object to a pub in their area, opened Coventry’s largest off licence – Clarence Stores in Earlsdon Avenue – only to convert it into a pub years later as Clarence Inn in 1928.
So concerned were the locals about the evils of alcohol, Coventry’s biggest coffee house, Earlsdon Coffee Tavern was opened in Earlsdon Street in 1899 to lure potential pub frequenters away.
It only lasted three years before it closed and later became the Albany Club.
David, 60, said: “The book paints a picture of a very different Earlsdon to the one people would recognise today with its thriving nightlife.
“But back then Earlsdon residents were more God-fearing and avoided the temptations of the flesh.”
David hopes it will become the first in a series of books that focus on just one or two suburbs at a time.
The book will be available from local outlets in Earlsdon and the city centre priced £8.95.
For more information visitwww.thecoventrywehavelost.co.uk
Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 3:35 pm