LIST OF STREETS (fn. 1)
THE area covered is somewhat larger than that shown on the street plan. Street named on this plan
are marked with an asterisk (*) in the gazetteer. The results of wartime destruction and reconstruction after
the Second World War are indicated in the descriptions of certain streets. A plan showing the reconstructed
area is on p. 16.
In brackets after each street name is either the date of the first known reference to the street by
that name or an indication of early forms of the name (or of former names) with dates. Sometimes
the date is that of construction, but where this is the case it is stated.
ABBORTTS LANE *(1748-9; (fn. 2) or Naul's Mill Lane,
1807). (fn. 3) So far no earlier evidence for this name has
been found (Speed shows the street but does not
name it) but there is every possibility that the
thoroughfare was more ancient, since it led to the
important Hill Mill. A stone bridge by Hill Mill
was made or repaired in 1683. (fn. 4) A reference in 1434
to a bridge in Hill Street* which was to be made or
repaired can probably be identified with this bridge. (fn. 5)
The inhabitants complained in 1838 that the bridge
was unfinished and dangerous. (fn. 6)
AGNES LANE.See St. Agnes Lane.
ALBANY ROAD* (1898), (fn. 7) also known as the Jetty,
runs from the Butts* to Earlsdon Avenue and follows
the line of an earlier footpath. (fn. 8)
ALL SAINTS LANE (probably named when All
Saints Church was built in 1869) runs W. and SW.
from Payne's Lane to Lower Ford Street*, more or
less parallel to Far Gosford Street. It appears to have
been an ancient lane (fn. 9) and to correspond with a lane
marked in 1748-9 which would have continued as
Lower Ford Street. (fn. 10)
ANGLE LANE, Angles Lane. See St. Agnes Lane.
ARCHDEACONS LANE. See Vicar Lane.
BABLAKE STREET (constructed 1927-31) (fn. 11) ran S.
from Corporation Street* to West Orchard*. It has
ceased to exist as a result of the reconstruction of
the area after the Second World War.
BACHELOR'S WALK. See Whitefriars Street.
BANCROFT LANE (1541) apparently ran W. from
Cross Cheaping*, crossing Maxstoklane. (fn. 12)
BARKERS BUTTS LANE (1748-9) (fn. 13) runs NW. as a
continuation of Hill Street* and Coundon Road*,
in the direction of Coundon. The Barkers' Butts
were in existence by 1496. (fn. 14) Parnar Lane (vicus
parnar'), which is mentioned in the late 13th
century (fn. 15) and appears to have run almost parallel to
Spon Street*, may have been the original name for
Barkers Butts Lane.
BARONS LANE. See Barras Lane.
BARRAS LANE* (Barrs Lane, 1748-9). (fn. 16) Its junction
with Hill Street* was probably the site of Spon
Cross. It almost certainly marks the site of the bars
in Spon Street* which preceded the gate by St.
John's Church. Barons Lane (1426), (fn. 17) which has
not otherwise been identified, was possibly an early
form of this name.
BARRS LANE. See Barras Lane.
BAXTER LANE. See Palmer Lane.
BAYLEY LANE* (le Baylylone, 13th century; (fn. 18)
Flouterlane, 1410-11). (fn. 19) The form le Baillive Lone
(1354) has given rise to the suggestion that the
origin is in the word 'bailiff', (fn. 20) but the origin may lie
rather in the word 'bailey' - the outer defences of a
castle - since the lane probably followed the line of
the ditch of the earls' castle. (fn. 21)
BINLEY ROAD (1887, continuing as Lutterworth
Road) (fn. 22) is one of the main exits from the city and
runs SE. from the end of Far Gosford Street to
Stoke Biggin, Binley, and Lutterworth. The stretch
S. of Gosford Green was called Gosford Green
Causeway in 1851. (fn. 23)
BIRD STREET* was constructed between 1848 (fn. 24)
and 1851 (fn. 25) as part of a scheme (following an Act of
1845) (fn. 26) for developing the area, which had belonged
to Sir Thomas White's trustees. The corporation
acquired the land and cut eight streets, naming them
after the founders of local charities (see also Fairfax,
Ford, Hales, Jesson, Norton, Wheatley, and White
Streets). (fn. 27)
BIRMINGHAM NEW ROAD. See Holyhead Road.
BISHOP STREET* (vicus episcopi, 12th century) (fn. 28)
was an important thoroughfare and contained several
houses of some size; from it was named the leet of
the Prior's Half. The Rode Hall, which was on the
corner of Bishop Street* and Rood Lane*, had
belonged to the Trinity Guild but by 1410-11 had
been turned into dwelling houses. (fn. 29) There is a single
reference to a stone bridge in Bishop Street in 1321. (fn. 30)
Neither bridge nor stream is marked on the maps of
1610 (fn. 31) and 1748-9. (fn. 32) There was, however, a stream
behind houses in Cook Street* and St. Agnes Lane*
in 1410-11, (fn. 33) and this may have had a small tributary
running down from the higher land by Bishop Street.

Figure 5:
Street plan in 1923
BOND STREET*
(1845) (fn. 34) was originally known as
the Town-wall; it followed the line of a footpath that
ran 'on the ruins of the wall' in 1748-9, (fn. 35) and in the
earlier 19th century retained fragments of the wall
'and an unwholesome ditch running its whole
length'. (fn. 36) It contained some good examples of early19th-century 'top shops'. The first houses in the
street are said to have been erected in 1823. (fn. 37)
BREWERY STREET (1837) (fn. 38) ran S. from Leicester
Street*. The street disappeared as a result of reconstruction after the Second World War.
BRICKILN LANE. See Gulson Road and Leicester
Street.
BROADGATE* (lata porta, late 12th century) (fn. 39) has
its origin in the broad gate of the castle of the earls
of Chester, referred to in the charter of Hugh, Earl
of Chester (d. 1181), to the priory, granted between
1161 and 1175. (fn. 40) The street was widened in 1820. (fn. 41)
It has been converted into an open square forming
the focal point of the reconstruction of the area after
the Second World War.
BULL RING, THE* (1448) (fn. 42) lay at the northern end
of the Great Butchery in front of the gate of the
priory. In 1448 the leet ordered that the poulterers
should stand there. It was destroyed during preparations for the construction of Trinity Street* which
was opened in 1937 (see Great Butcher Row).
BULL YARD* (Bull Street, 1851). (fn. 43) 'The back way
to the Bull', an inn in Smithford Street*, existed in
1748-9 (fn. 44) and was probably a good deal older. It later
became the entry to the Barracks, erected in 1793,
and then the approach to the Barrack Square
Market, now replaced by a car park.
BURGES* (vico qui vocatur inter pontes, 1309;
bitwene the brugges, 1343; (fn. 45)
inter pontes Sancti
Johannis, 1410-11). (fn. 46) It was known as St. John's
Bridge(s) until at least 1851, (fn. 47) and by 1869 (fn. 48) as
Burges. It took its name from the bridges over the
River Sherbourne and its tributary the Radford
Brook, near St. John's Hospital. The bridges, which
were in existence by the 13th century, (fn. 49) can probably
be identified with the bridge with two arches 'within
the town self of Coventry', referred to by Leland. (fn. 50)
BUSHBY LANE (Busbylone, mid 14th century) (fn. 51)
ran W. from Ironmonger Row, N. of West Orchard*.
It led to the tenement formerly held by the Buschby
family. (fn. 52)
BUTCHERY, THE. See Great Butcher Row.
BUTTS, THE* (Summerlands Butts Lane, 1748-
1749) (fn. 53) may have originated in the 'Somerlesow
lane' mentioned in 1423. (fn. 54) The Summerlands Butts
were certainly in existence in 1635, (fn. 55) and probably,
as 'Somerlesue butts', as early as 1468. (fn. 56) In the
1830s the whole road was called the Butts; in
addition, houses built on either side of the road at
its NW. end formed Sovereign Place and Summer
Land Place, those on either side of the opening of
Union Street formed Union Place, and the stretch of
road between the two ends of Hertford Place* was
known as Hertford Terrace. (fn. 57) The eastern end of the
Butts was called Queen's Road* by 1887. (fn. 58)
CALAIS STREET (1675) (fn. 59) was the name applied to
the short stretch of street outside Gosford Gate
between Callice (Calais) Bridge and Dover Bridge. (fn. 60)
CATESBY LANE (1469) (fn. 61) has not been identified,
but possibly ran E. from Potter Row, just S. of the
River Sherbourne, since Catesby Place was in
Potter Row. (fn. 62)
CHAUNTRY PLACE* (constructed 1816). Building
first began on the Chantry Orchard, formerly
property of the priory, in 1816. (fn. 63) The area became
a slum and in 1930 work was begun on the clearance
of the site for Lady Herbert's Garden, which was
completed in 1939. (fn. 64) Chantry Place still forms the
western boundary of the garden.
CHAPEL COURT. See Chapel Yard.
CHAPEL STREET* (c. 1860). (fn. 65) The Well Street
Independent chapel, from which this street took its
name, was built in 1827. The approach to the chapel
was marked but not named in 1837 (fn. 66) and 1851. (fn. 67)
CHAPEL YARD (Chapel Court, 1837) (fn. 68) leads N.
from Spon Street* near its junction with Spon
Causeway, taking its name from Spon Street
chapel (fn. 69) which stood on the street corner. (fn. 70) The
name Chapel Court seems to have been replaced by
1851 by that of Chapel Yard. (fn. 71)
CHEYLESMORE* (Chellesmore Lane, 1565). (fn. 72) The
lower part of Greyfriars Lane*, or Cheylesmore
Lane, was known as Cheylesmore by 1748-9. (fn. 73)
CHEYLESMORE LANE. See Greyfriars Lane and
Cheylesmore.
COLEPIT CAUSEY (1748-9) (fn. 74) ran N. from Dog
Lane or Brickiln Lane, and may well have been used
for the construction of Leicester Place*.
COOK STREET* (vicus coci, late 13th century; (fn. 75) le
Cokkestrete, temp. Edw. II). (fn. 76) The lower end of it
was called Cook Street in 1410-11 (fn. 77) but had become
Silver Street* by 1748-9. (fn. 78) At the NW. angle lay
the sheep market.
COPE STREET* (adopted 1875). (fn. 79) The street disappeared as a result of reconstruction after the
Second World War.
CORN MARKET. See Cross Cheaping.
CORPORATION STREET* (constructed 1931) (fn. 80) was
designed to provide a by-pass for through traffic
and a new shopping centre. It replaced an area of
slums which had developed in the courts W. of
Well Street*.
CORPUS CHRISTI LANE (1610) (fn. 81) ran E., as a
continuation of New Street*, from Mill Lane, and
appears to have been a cul-de-sac. It does not appear
in 1748-9. (fn. 82)
COUNDON ROAD* (Coundon Lane, 1423) (fn. 83) runs
as a continuation of Hill Street* to Barkers Butts Lane.
COW LANE* (le Cowlone, 1335; (fn. 84) Paulyne's lone,
Pawlyns loon, (fn. 85) late 13th century). (fn. 86)
COX STREET* (Erlesmulne-lone, 1291; (fn. 87) Mullone,
Erlesmullane, 1410-11). (fn. 88) It was frequently called
Earl's Mill Lane to distinguish it from the Mill Lane
which formed a continuation of Much Park Street*
outside the New Gate. Earl's Mill Lane ran N. to
the Derngate or Bastille Gate; the Earl's Mill was
just N. of the gate. (fn. 89) The continuation of the road
northwards to Swanswell Pool was known as Spinney
Lane in 1851. (fn. 90) By 1869 the whole road was called
Cox Street. (fn. 91)
CROSS CHEAPING* (vicus quo vendunt bladum, 13th
century; forum bladi, 1299; (fn. 92) le Croschepyng, 1335;
forum cruets, 1363 (fn. 93) and 1410-11). (fn. 94) In 1410-11 it
ran from West Orchard* and the Little Butchery
to Broadgate*; (fn. 95) The southerly part of the street,
which before 1410-11 had been included in Broadgate*, was the site of the Cross. (fn. 96) This southerly
part has ceased to exist as a result of reconstruction
after the Second World War, the street being
diverted eastwards into Trinity Street.
CROW LANE* (Crowe lane, Croumulne lane, late
12th century) (fn. 97) led to the former Crow Lane Bridge,
Crow Moat (called Cromulneham in 1294), (fn. 98) and
Crow Mill. In 1748-9 (fn. 99) the 'Mott' appears as a moated
area partly enclosed by ramparts. The bridge, which
may have been contemporary with the lane, was not
specifically mentioned until 1636 when it was
ordered to be destroyed because of the plague in
London. (fn. 1)
CUCKOO LANE. See Trinity Lane.
DAISY LANE (Daysilane, 1410-11) (fn. 2) was probably
named after, and approached the dwelling of, Roger
Daysie, bailiff of Coventry in at least 1300-3. (fn. 3) The
lane ran W. from Cross Cheaping*, near the site of
the Cross. (fn. 4) Its line was probably followed by the
later Market Place*.
DALTON'S SQUARE. See Ryley Street.
DAY'S LANE (1851) (fn. 5) runs E. from Canterbury
Street to Payne's Lane. It appears to have been an
ancient thoroughfare, widened in its central portion
at a later date, (fn. 6) and it may correspond with a lane,
the beginning of which was marked in 1748-9. (fn. 7)
DEAD LANE. See St. John Street.
DEAD LANE (venella mortua, 1410-11) (fn. 8) ran in the
direction of Hill Mill, or Abbot's Mill, but it is
uncertain whether it was the original name of
Barras Lane*, or whether it left Spon Street* near
the bridge. (fn. 9)
DERBY LANE* (Derbylane, temp. Edw. II; (fn. 10)
Tirrystonlayne and Salamefordlane, 1410-11). (fn. 11) It
formerly extended as far as High Street*.
DOG LANE. See Leicester Street.
DUNSTAPLE LANE (1410-11) (fn. 12) ran W. from Bishop
Street*.
EARL STREET* (vicus comitis, late 12th century). (fn. 13)
In 1410-11 it stretched from Mill Lane to Broadgate*. (fn. 14) In the 13th century the street contained
many substantial houses, shops, and crypts; one
house is described as of stone, another as a mansion,
and the Album Celarium or Whytecelar stood on the
west corner of Much Park Street* and Earl Street. (fn. 15)
EARL'S MILL LANE. See Cox Street.
EAST STREET (1837) (fn. 16) runs E. as a continuation of
Raglan Street to meet Payne's Lane. In 1837 its
western limit was the Spitalmoor Brook (see Lower
Ford Street).
FAIRFAX STREET* (constructed after 1851) (fn. 17) was
one of the streets made by the corporation on land
purchased from Sir Thomas White's trustees (see
Bird Street). It had ceased to exist by 1959. (fn. 18)
FAR GOSFORD STREET (extra or ultra Gosford, 12th
century; (fn. 19)
ultra pontes de Gosforde, late 13th
century; (fn. 20)
vicus de Gosforde extra portam, 1410-11) (fn. 21)
runs E. from Gosford Bridge to Gosford Green. In
1410-11 it stretched from the bridges towards
Harnall and Stoke, (fn. 22) and was one of the four
medieval suburbs of Coventry.
FLEET STREET* (Fletestrete, 1434). (fn. 23) In 1410-11
this was part of Spon Street*. (fn. 24)
FLOUTER LANE. See Bayley Lane.
FOLESHILL ROAD (c. 1874; (fn. 25) alternatively Leicester
Road, 1851 and c. 1859) (fn. 26) is one of the main exits
from the city and runs NE. originally as a continuation of Leicester Row* (q.v.) in the direction of
Foleshill and Bedworth.
FOLEYHUL LANE (Foleyhullane, 1410-11; alternatively Folxhullane) (fn. 27) ran S. from Well Street* to
the Poleyard and the Radford Brook.
FORD STREET* (constructed after 1851) (fn. 28) was one
of the streets made by the corporation on land
purchased from Sir Thomas White's trustees (see
Bird Street). Lower Ford Street* seems to have
existed in 1748-9, (fn. 29) as a continuation of the lane
later called All Saints' Lane.
FREETH STREET* (1830). (fn. 30) The street disappeared
as a result of reconstruction after the Second World
War.
FRETTON STREET* (constructed 1927-31) (fn. 31) ran
NW. from Corporation Street* to the junction of
Well Street* and Bond Street*. It was opened when
Corporation Street* was cut and was named after
W. G. Fretton, the local antiquary.
GAOL LANE. See Pepper Lane.
GAS STREET* (1837) (fn. 32) runs SE. of the gas works,
which were erected in 1821. (fn. 33) The stretch NE. of
the Radford Brook was called Hill Cross Street in
1851. (fn. 34) The street disappeared during the construction of the Inner Ring Road.
GLOVERS ROW. See Ironmonger Row.
GODIVA STREET* (c. 1898). (fn. 35) The site of the
Derngate or Bastille Gate is at its junction with
Cox Street*.
GOLDING LANE (Goldynglane, 1410-11; alternatively Solihullane) (fn. 36) ran N. from Well Street* just
inside the Well Street Gate. N. of it were tenter
grounds and Waller or Well Croft.
GOSFORD GREEN CAUSEWAY. See Binley Road.
GOSFORD STREET* (vicus de Gosseforde, goseworde
stret, late 12th century) (fn. 37) originally ran from Gosford
Bridge to Broadgate*, but Earl Street*, then High
Street*, and finally Jordan Well* were names applied
to certain sections of it. In 1410-11 it stretched from
the further side of Gosford Bridge beyond the bridge
and from the cross there to the end of Mill Lane on
the N., and on the S. to Much Park Street*. (fn. 38) On
the N., towards the gate, was land held by Adam
Botener, whose family held much property in the
street. To the S. lay the house of the White Friars.
(For the Gosford bridges, see Far Gosford Street.)
GOSFORD TERRACE. See Walsgrave Road.
GREAT BUTCHER ROW* (vicus ubi pulteria venditur
versus portam prioratus, 1309-10; (fn. 39) les flesshameles,
1399; (fn. 40)
le boucherie sive pultrye, magnum macellum,
1410-11). (fn. 41) The whole length of the street seems to
have been known as the Great Butchery, but the N.
part also as the Poultry, where poulterers were
ordered to sell in 1448, (fn. 42) or the Bull Ring*, and
sometimes generally as contra portas Prioratus. (fn. 43) A
section on the E. side, south of the Poultry, seems to
have been called Spicer Stoke, where fresh fish was
sold. (fn. 44) The Great Butchery was demolished during
the construction of Trinity Street* which was opened
in 1937.
GREYFRIARS LANE* (venella de Cheylesmor,
Cheylesmorelone, 13th century; (fn. 45)
in vico fratrum
minorum, 14th century; (fn. 46) le Frerelone, 1323-4; (fn. 47)
vicus sive venella fratrum minorum, 'formerly called
in the ancient books Cheyllesmorelane', 1410-11). (fn. 48)
In 1410-11 three cottages on the E. side of the street
were near the gate of the cemetery of the Fratrum
Praedicatorum; (fn. 49) this almost certainly means the
Grey Friars, as it is the only known reference to the
Dominicans in Coventry.
GROVE STREET* (c. 1835) (fn. 50) runs E. to the Phoenix
Foundry.
GULSON ROAD* (Mylnelane, 1358; (fn. 51) Brickiln
Lane, 1830; (fn. 52) Gulson Road, by 1912) (fn. 53) is a continuation of Much Park Street* outside the New Gate,
and runs parallel to Gosford Street*. The bridge
over the River Sherbourne was shown in 1748-9. (fn. 54)
GUPHILL LANE (Guphul-lane, 1423) (fn. 55) runs S.
from the Allesley road, near where the latter crossed
a tributary of the River Sherbourne at Guphill Ford.
HALES STREET* (constructed 1848). (fn. 56) A large part
of St. John's Hospital, then the Free Grammar
School library, was demolished for its construction.
HAY LANE* (Heylone, 1384; (fn. 57) Ludlowloon, before
1410-11). (fn. 58) Two members of the Lodelawe family
held land on either side of the street. (fn. 59)
HERTFORD PLACE* (1830). (fn. 60)
HERTFORD STREET* (constructed 1812) (fn. 61) was cut
as the result of an Act 'for improving the public
roads in and through the City of Coventry', and
provided a better exit for traffic in the direction of
Warwick.
HERTFORD TERRACE (1830). See Butts, The.
HIGH STREET* (altus vicus, 13th century; (fn. 62)
le
haute rue, temp. Edw. II). (fn. 63) An alternative name for
the westernmost part of Earl Street*. Vicus comitis
sive altus vicus stretched in 1410-11 as far as Broadgate*. (fn. 64)
HILL CROSS* (1329; (fn. 65) Hillecrossestrete, 1542). (fn. 66)
There was a cross there in 1329 and E. of it a quarry
or ditch.
HILL CROSS STREET. See Gas Street.
HILL STREET* (super hulle, 13th century; vicus de
hulle, late 13th century; (fn. 67) Hullestrete, 1334; in vico
montis, 1358) (fn. 68) was one of the four medieval suburbs
of Coventry. (For Hill Street Bridge, see Abbotts
Lane.)
HILL TOP* (1748-9) (fn. 69) does not appear in Speed's
map of 1610. It may have originated soon afterwards
as a road used for carting away stone from the ruins
of the priory church and for access to the waterworks. (fn. 70)
HILPOUS LANE (Ylpus lane, 13th century; (fn. 71)
Hilpous lone, 1317) (fn. 72) probably ran W. from Ironmonger Row. (fn. 73)
HOLYHEAD ROAD* (Birmingham New Road,
1851; (fn. 74) Holyhead Road, 1887) (fn. 75) was cut by Thomas
Telford in 1827-30 to replace the longer route by
Spon Street* and the Allesley road. It rejoined the
old road at Allesley.
HORNWOOD LANE (late 13th century) (fn. 76) has not
been identified.
HOUNDS LANE. See Vicar Lane.
IRONMONGER ROW (ubi ferrum venditur, 13th
century; (fn. 77) le Irenrowe, temp. Edw. II; Iren chepyng,
in foro ferri, 1316; le Irenmongeres rowe, 1332) (fn. 78)
ran NW. from Cross Cheaping*, on the W. side of
the street, and from West Orchard* to the bridge
over the River Sherbourne. It was later regarded as
part of Cross Cheaping*. For the later Ironmonger
Row, see separate entry.
IRONMONGER ROW * (Potter Row, 1410-11; (fn. 79)
Glovers Row, 1552; (fn. 80) Tuttle Row, 1657; (fn. 81) Tittle
Row, 1748-9; (fn. 82) Ironmonger Row, by 1807). (fn. 83) The
section E. of Palmer Lane* was also described as
contra portas prioratus in 1410-11 (fn. 84) . Its E. end disappeared with the construction of Trinity Street*
and the S. side after the Second World War. For
the medieval Ironmonger Row, see separate entry.
JESSON STREET* (constructed 1848-51) (fn. 85) was one
of the streets made by the corporation on land
purchased from Sir Thomas White's trustees (see
Bird Street).
JETTY, THE. See Albany Road.
JORDAN WELL* (le Jordanwell, c. 1274). (fn. 86) The
section westwards from Mill Lane was originally
called Gosford Street, and later Earl Street*, and
that eastwards from Mill Lane, Gosford Street*.
In 1410-11 the name, Jordan Well, still applied only
to a well there, (fn. 87) but by 1421 it was applied to the
street. (fn. 88) The well lay by a tenement held by the heirs
of the Schepey family since the time of Jordan
Schepey. (fn. 89)
KEVETT'S LANE (1617) (fn. 90) lay outside Gosford Gate
and may have been the approach to the house of
Thomas Keivet, mayor in 1548. (fn. 91)
KING STREET* (New Rents, 1518; (fn. 92) King Street,
1843). (fn. 93) Buildings in the street (which was outside
the city wall) were demolished during the Civil War
and were rebuilt in 1647 with tiles and timber from
the park keeper's house at Cheylesmore. (fn. 94) Land for
widening the street was given by a Miss King in
1843. (fn. 95)
LAMB STREET* (c. 1860). (fn. 96)
LEICESTER NEW ROAD. See Stoney Stanton Road.
LEICESTER ROW* (1807) (fn. 97) runs NE. and continued as the Foleshill Road until the S. end of
Foleshill Road became a car park during post-war
reconstruction.
LEICESTER STREET* (Doggelone, 1221; (fn. 98) Brickiln
Lane, 1748-9; (fn. 99) Leicester Street, 1851). (fn. 1) The eastern
end was called Swanswell Terrace* by 1830. (fn. 2) Most
of the street ceased to exist when the Inner Ring
Road was constructed.
LEWIN LANE (Lewynloon, 1410-11) (fn. 3) probably ran
E. from Potter Row and was so named after William
Lewyn to whose tenement it led. (fn. 4)
LIGHT LANE (c. 1913) (fn. 5) runs NE. from the Radford
Road* to St. Nicholas Street*.
LINGAMS LANE (1600) (fn. 6) has not been identified.
LITTLE BUTCHER ROW* (parvum macellum, stallum
carnificum, 1410-11), (fn. 7) also known as the Little
Butchery, was demolished during the construction
of Trinity Street* which was opened in 1937.
LITTLE PARK STREET* (in minori vico parci, in
inferiori vico parci, vicus parvi parci, Littleparkstreth,
13th century) (fn. 8) led to the Little Park of Cheylesmore,
which was entered by Little Park Gate. The gardens
of houses S. of Cow Lane* stretched westwards to
the palisade and ditch of Cheylesmore manor. (fn. 9) It
was widened and almost entirely rebuilt as part of
the reconstruction after the Second World War.
LONDON ROAD* is one of the main exits from the
city and runs towards Whitley and Willenhall.
LOWER FORD STREET*
(1855) (fn. 10) runs SE. to Far
Gosford Street. It follows the line of a lane, marked
in 1748-9, (fn. 11) which was probably a continuation of
that later called All Saints Lane. The cutting of
Lower Ford Street was part of the development of
the Spitalmoors district, when Raglan Street, Alma
Street, and Hood Street were constructed.
LUCAS LANE* (1410-11). (fn. 12)
LUDLOW LANE. See Hay Lane.
LUTTERWORTH ROAD. See Binley Road.
MARKET PLACE* (passage to New Market or
Women's Market, 1720). (fn. 13) The Friday or Women's
Market Place was moved from the Great Butchery
to the yard of the Peacock Inn in 1719; (fn. 14) the passage
leading to this new market or Women's Market
beside the Mayor's Parlour in Cross Cheaping*
became known as Market Place and probably
followed the line of the medieval Daisy Lane. It has
ceased to exist as a result of the reconstruction of
the area after the Second World War.
MARKET STREET*. In 1719 the Friday or Women's
Market Place was moved to the yard of the Peacock
Inn (see Market Place) between Smithford Street*,
Cross Cheaping*, and West Orchard*, but there is
no indication that Market Street was cut to give
access to it until after 1749. The street has ceased to
exist as a result of the reconstruction of the area
after the Second World War.
MARSHALL LANE. See Palmer Lane.
MAXSTOK LANE (Maxstoklane, 1410-11) (fn. 15) ran N.
from West Orchard* to Cross Cheaping* opposite
Ironmonger Row*. (fn. 16)
MIDDLEBOROUGH ROAD*, or Street (c. 1879).
Middleborough Terrace (c. 1862) (fn. 17) was built nearby
on Radford Road*, probably on the site of a parcel
of ground known as Medelborowe in 1545. (fn. 18)
MILL LANE. See Cox Street and Gulson Road.
MILLERS ALLEY (1748-9) (fn. 19) ran N. from New
Street*. From its position in Bradford's Survey, it
looks as if it might have been the eastern boundary
of the priory precinct. It led to the River Sherbourne
by Bastille House, and seems to have been marked,
though not named, in 1610. (fn. 20)
MOWBRAY LANE (Moubraylane, 1410-11) (fn. 21) ran
N. from Well Street*, near its eastern end, and was
so called after Thomas Mowbray, who lived there.
At its northern end were tenter grounds.
MUCH PARK STREET* (in vico parci, 12th century;
in superiori vico parci, in maiori vico parci, 13th
century) (fn. 22) ran to the site of the Great Park of
Cheylesmore and of the New Gate and continued
as the road to London. Some of the earliest mayors
held tenements in the street. (fn. 23) Outside the New
Gate, S. of the street and N. of the Little Park, was
a quarry called le Spytall. (fn. 24) The south end was
demolished when the Inner Ring Road was constructed.
NAUL'S MILL LANE. See Abbotts Lane.
NEW BUILDINGS* (1671) (fn. 25) was cut in 1645, when
the priory dye house and grounds were granted to
John Barker to build a street of houses to the value
of £500; (fn. 26) this was probably to compensate some of
those whose houses in the suburbs had been pulled
down in 1643 when the city was in danger of siege. (fn. 27)
These 'New Buildings' were ordered to be pulled
down in 1671. By 1748-9 the street was known as
Priory Lane, (fn. 28) but by 1807 it had resumed its
original name. (fn. 29)
NEW RENTS. See King Street.
NEW STREET* (New strette, 1384; (fn. 30) Newstret,
vicus Sancte Marie, 1410-11). (fn. 31) All the tenements in
New Street and on the W. side of Mill Lane belonged
to the priory in 1410-11 and had been built on Earl
Ranulf's orchard, which had been given to the priory
by Richard Gardiner before the Statute of Mortmain. (fn. 32) On the N. side of the street the tenements
backed upon the garden of the Bishop's Palace. (fn. 33)
The street disappeared as a result of reconstruction
after the Second World War.
NORTON STREET* (constructed 1848-51) (fn. 34) was
one of the streets made by the corporation on land
purchased from Sir Thomas White's trustees (see
Bird Street).
PALMER LANE* (Marschalleslone, 1306; (fn. 35) le
Palmerslone, temp. Edw. II; (fn. 36) Baxterloone, Marschallone, before 1410-11; (fn. 37) Vikersloon, 1410-11). (fn. 38) The
Vicar of Holy Trinity at some time lived there.
William Palmer, who appears frequently in 13thcentury deeds, had a tenement there known in 1410-
11 as the Old Drapery. Behind it lay the stables of
the Priory Guest House. (fn. 39) Palmer Lane Bridge, at
the northern end of the street, bridging the River
Sherbourne, was built or repaired in 1434. (fn. 40) The S.
end is now (1965) blocked by a row of shops.
PARK SIDE* (Park Wall, 1851; (fn. 41) Park Side, c.
1874) (fn. 42) was constructed along the line of the city
wall, which here formed the boundary of Cheylesmore Park. Its line, as it curves round to the S.,
followed that of a footpath marked in 1748-9 (fn. 43)
to the junction with Quarryfield Lane.
PARNAR LANE. See Barkers Butts Lane.
PAULINES LANE. See Cow Lane.
PAYNE'S LANE (1851) (fn. 44) runs N. from the end of
Far Gosford Street to Primrose Hill. It appears to
have followed the line of the street named Primrose
Street in 1837. (fn. 45)
PEKET'S LANE (Peketesloone, 1410-11) (fn. 46) ran E.
from St. Nicholas Street*.
PEPPER LANE* (le Peperlone, 1335; (fn. 47) Gaol Lane,
1748-9). (fn. 48) The broad gate of the castle of the earls
of Chester may have lain on the site of, or just NW.
of, Pepper Lane.
POTTER ROW (le Potterisrowe, 1310) (fn. 49) ran NW.
from Cross Cheaping* and the Little Butchery, on
the E. side of the street, to the bridge over the River
Sherbourne. It was later regarded as part of Cross
Cheaping*. Potter Row seems to have applied to
the E. side of the street, and to the portion of the
modern Ironmonger Row* W. of Palmer Lane*.
Ironmonger Row applied to the W. side of the
street. (fn. 50) In 1410-11 Potter Row and Ironmonger
Row stretched from the bridge over the Sherbourne
near St. John's Hospital to the corners of the Little
Butchery and West Orchard*. (fn. 51)
POULTRY, THE. See Great Butcher Row.
PRIMROSE HILL PLACE (1837) (fn. 52) ran in a curve from
the E. end of Primrose Hill Street* to the N. end of
Primrose Street. It appears to have followed the line
of the modern Victoria, King William, and Berry
Streets, and was probably constructed sometime
after 1828. (fn. 53)
PRIMROSE HILL STREET* (constructed after 1828) (fn. 54)
was one of the streets cut through the fields lying
between Swanswell Pool and Primrose Hill and
south of Harnall Lane. This development began in
1828, when the first houses of the 'New Town' were
erected. (fn. 55)
PRIMROSE STREET. See Payne's Lane.
PRIORY LANE. See New Buildings.
PRIORY ROW* (1807) (fn. 56) was as late as 1815 known
as 'the lane withoutside St. Michael's churchyard'. (fn. 57)
The lane may well have existed in medieval times,
especially as its eastern portion would have formed
the boundary between the Earl's Half and the Prior's
Half. Before 1807 it made a detour at its eastern
end (fn. 58) to avoid the gardens of what had been the
Bishop's Palace. By 1807 it had been straightened, (fn. 59)
possibly in 1793 to provide access to St. Michael's new
burial-ground which was consecrated in that year. (fn. 60)
PRIORY STREET* (constructed 1856-7). (fn. 61) Towards
its southern end it cuts through the site of the
Bishop's Palace. There is a bridge over the River
Sherbourne in the middle of the street.
QUEEN STREET (1869) runs E. from Swanswell
Street. (fn. 62)
QUEEN VICTORIA ROAD* (1887) (fn. 63) formed a by-pass
for traffic from Holyhead Road* to Warwick Road*
before the new Inner Ring Road was built.
QUEEN'S ROAD. See Butts, The.
RADFORD ROAD*, called the street from the bars
to Radford in 1296, (fn. 64) was also the road to Atherstone. (fn. 65)
RED HOUSE STREET (1837) (fn. 66) ran NE. from the end
of Primrose Hill Street*, and was probably constructed about the same time. It seems to have
followed the line of the modern Castle Street.
ROOD LANE* (Rode Lane, 1410-11) (fn. 67) led to the
sheep market (known in 1851 as the pig market).
The Rode Hall lay at the corner of Rood Lane and
Bishop Street*, probably N. of the lane (see Bishop
Street).
RYLEY STREET* (c. 1874; Dalton's Square, 1851). (fn. 68)
Part is now (1965) covered by a car park.
ST. AGNES LANE* (Angeloneslone, 1315; Agnes
lone, temp. Edw. II; (fn. 69) Angel lane, Angleslane, 1410-
1411; (fn. 70) St. Agnes Lane, 1748-9). (fn. 71)
ST. JOHN STREET* (Dedelone, 13th century) (fn. 72) was
still called Dead Lane in 1807 (fn. 73) but by 1830 had
become St. John Street. (fn. 74) The street was demolished
when the Inner Ring Road was constructed.
ST. JOHN'S BRIDGE(S). See Burges.
ST. MARY STREET* was constructed c. 1863 on the
site of the yard of the Half Moon Inn. (fn. 75)
ST. MARY STREET. See New Street.
ST. NICHOLAS STREET* (in bivio de Coventr' versus
ecclesiam S. Nicholai, 12th century, applying to the
land between St. Nicholas Street and the Radford
Road*; vicus Sancti Nicholai, 1295). It was one of
the four medieval suburbs and was described as such
in the 13th century. (fn. 76) In 1410-11 most of the
properties adjoining the street consisted of cottages
with tenter grounds or barns and one included a
horse-driven mill. (fn. 77) The suburb centred round St.
Nicholas's Church.
SALAMEFORD LANE. See Derby Lane.
SALTER LANE (le Salterlone, 1336) (fn. 78) ran E. from
Potter Row just N. of the Little Butchery. (fn. 79)
SANDY LANE (1574) (fn. 80) curves N. from St. Nicholas
Street*.
SCHOOL LANE (venella scole gramaticalis, le Scolelane, 1410-11) (fn. 81) ran N. from West Orchard* and
was named from the medieval Grammar School,
which probably lay on its W. side. (fn. 82)
SHERBOURNE PLACE (1837) (fn. 83) ran NE. from the
Butts* past Sherbourne House to the river.
SHERBOURNE STREET(1837) (fn. 84) runs SW. from the
W. end of Spon Street* to the river.
SHORT STREET* (c. 1903) (fn. 85) was needed to serve the
factories bounded by Park Side*, and to relieve the
narrow and difficult exit towards London.
SHUT LANE(1589) (fn. 86) runs S. from Far Gosford
Street, just E. of the former gate. The site of
Shut Lane Mill is near the southern end of the
lane. (fn. 87)
SILVER STREET* (1748-9) (fn. 88) was formerly part of
Cook Street*.
SLEPERS LANE(1410-11) (fn. 89) ran W. from Cross
Cheaping*, between West Orchard* on the N. and
Daisy Lane on the S. (fn. 90)
SMITHFORD STREET* (vicus de Smythesford
Smythesfordestret, between 1290 and 1300) (fn. 91) led to
the ford through the River Sherbourne at Smythefford, between 1161 and 1175. (fn. 92) In 1410-11 it
stretched to Smythford Bridge. (fn. 93) A bridge probably
replaced the ford during the 13th century. (fn. 94) There
were buildings on the bridge when it was repaired
in 1469. (fn. 95) Still called Smithford Bridge in 1610, (fn. 96)
it was also known as Fleet Street Bridge in 1630,
and Fleet Bridge in 1636-7. (fn. 97) In 1748-9 (fn. 98) and
1807 (fn. 99) it was called Ram Bridge, probably after
Ram House or Inn which was in existence in
1574 and 1650. (fn. 1) The river itself at this point was
called Ram Brook in 1700. (fn. 2) Both street and bridge
have ceased to exist as a result of the post-war
reconstruction of the area.
SMITHS ROW(le Smethisrouwe, late 13th century) (fn. 3)
has not been identified, but was perhaps the same as
Ironmonger Row.
SOLIHUL LANE. See Golding Lane.
SOMERLESOW LANE. See Butts, The.
SONGSCHOOL LANE.(Songescoleslone, 1335) (fn. 4) has
not been identified, but may have lain within the
priory precinct. (fn. 5)
SOUTH STREET (1837) (fn. 6) runs S. from East Street to
All Saints' Lane.
SOVEREIGN PLACE (1830). See Butts, The.
SPICER STOKE (1410-11) (fn. 7) was the market for fresh
fish and lay along the E. side of the Great Butchery,
and towards the lychgate SW. of Holy Trinity
Church.
SPINNEY LANE. See Cox Street.
SPON STREET* (vicus Sponnet', Sponn', Spanne,
late 12th century) (fn. 8) runs W. to Spon Bridge. In
1410-11 it stretched from Smithford Bridge to the
chapel of St. Mary Magdalen (the leper hospital),
at the end of the town. (fn. 9) The portion outside Spon
Gate constituted the suburb of Spon, one of the four
suburbs of medieval Coventry. In 1837 houses which
lay on the S. side of the street before it crosses the
Sherbourne were called Summer Row. (fn. 10) Spon Bridge
was in existence by the late 13th century. (fn. 11) A new
bridge was built in 1771 partly with stone from
Spon Gate. (fn. 12)
STARLEY ROAD* (constructed after 1881). Its name
commemorates James Starley, who made Coventry
the centre of the cycle trade.
STONEY STANTON ROAD* (c. 1850) (fn. 13) is one of the
main exits from the city, running NE. towards Bell
Green, Hinckley, and Leicester. It continued as
Leicester New Road in 1851. (fn. 14)
SUMMER LAND PLACE (1837). See Butts, The.
SUMMER ROW. See Spon Street.
SUMMERLANDS BUTTS LANE. See Butts, The.
SWAN STREET (1837) (fn. 15) ran S. from Leicester
Street*. Now exists as entry to a car park.
SWANSWELL STREET (1837) (fn. 16) runs N. to Stoney
Stanton Road on the E. side of Swanswell Pool.
SWANSWELL TERRACE. See Leicester Street.
THOMAS STREET* (c. 1832) (fn. 17) follows the line of a
lane existing in 1748-9. (fn. 18) It was named after Thomas
Ryley, a silk dyer, who had owned Crow Moat. (fn. 19)
TIRRYSTON LANE. See Derby Lane.
TITTLE ROW, Tuttle Row. See Ironmonger Row.
TOWER STREET(1837) (fn. 20) ran S. from Leicester
Street*. Ceased to exist as a result of construction of
the Inner Ring Road.
TOWN WALL, THE. See Bond Street.
TRINITY LANE* (Cuckoo Lane, 1353; (fn. 21) Trinity
Lane, 1748-9). (fn. 22) In 1675 it marked the boundary
between the parishes of St. Michael and Holy
Trinity. (fn. 23)
TRINITY STREET* (constructed 1937). (fn. 24) The
opening of this new thoroughfare involved the
demolition of ancient and decayed properties in
Great and Little Butcher Rows* and the Bull Ring*.
UNION PLACE (1830). See Butts, The.
UNION STREET* (constructed 1820). (fn. 25)
UNION STREET (1837) ran NE. from the Butts*
towards the Sherbourne, (fn. 26) apparently following the
line of a lane existing in 1748-9. (fn. 27)
UPPER WELL STREET. See Well Street.
VICAR LANE* (Vikerslone, 1335 (fn. 28) and 1410-11; (fn. 29)
Houndes lone, Archdeacones lone) (fn. 30) has ceased to
exist as a result of reconstruction of the area after
the Second World War.
VICARS LANE. See Palmer Lane.
WALSGRAVE ROAD is one of the main exits from
the city, running NE. from the end of Far Gosford
Street to Stoke, Caludon, Ansty, and Hinckley. The
stretch N. of Gosford Green was called Gosford
Terrace in 1851. (fn. 31)
WARWICK LANE* (1548). (fn. 32)
WARWICK ROAD* is one of the main exits from the
city, running SW. towards Stivichall, Kenilworth,
and Warwick.
WARWICK ROW* (1830). (fn. 33)
WELL STREET* (vicus fontis, 12th century; (fn. 34)
Wellestrete, 1359). (fn. 35) In 1410-11 it extended from
the corner opposite St. John's Hospital to Hill Mill. (fn. 36)
The family of de Fonte held a capital messuage by
the well (which lay on the S. side towards the E. end
of the street), several houses on the N. side, and
much property in other parts of Coventry. The
stretch of street running N. to Hill Cross* was
known as Upper Well Street by at least 1830. (fn. 37) The
course of Well Street between Chapel Street* and
Upper Well Street has now ceased to exist.
WEST ORCHARD* (in vasto gardino, 13th century; (fn. 38)
Westgardin, 1204; (fn. 39) le Westorchardlone, 1327). (fn. 40) A
stone house, the burgage of Robert Chilton, bailiff
of Coventry in the late 13th and early 14th centuries,
stood on the S. side of the street, together with his
bakery and a blacksmith's shop. (fn. 41) Also on the S.
was the hall of the Guild of Corpus Christi and St.
Nicholas, built shortly before 1410-11. (fn. 42) West
Orchard Bridge was in existence by the late 13th
century. (fn. 43) It was leased in 1440 to William Pere to
rebuild it, (fn. 44) and eight years later an order of the leet
provided for its cleansing and repair. (fn. 45) Both street
and bridge have ceased to exist as a result of the
reconstruction of the area after the Second World
War.
WESTON STREET (1837) (fn. 46) runs E. from Swanswell
Street. It was constructed about the same time as
Primrose Hill Street*.
WHEATLEY STREET* (constructed after 1851) (fn. 47) was
one of the streets made by the corporation on land
purchased from Sir Thomas White's trustees (see
Bird Street).
WHITE STREET* (constructed 1848-51) (fn. 48) was one
of the streets made by the corporation on land
purchased from Sir Thomas White's trustees (see
Bird Street).
WHITEFRIARS LANE* (Whitefrere lane, 1544) (fn. 49)
originated as the way from the friary to its outer
gate.
WHITEFRIARS STREET* (southern part constructed
1820). (fn. 50) Before the construction of the street the
site was occupied by an orchard; a footway called
Bachelor's Walk then ran from Whitefriars Lane* to
the top of Much Park Street*, (fn. 51) perhaps following
the line of a lane marked in 1748-9. (fn. 52) The street was
later extended to Jordan Well*.
WINDSOR STREET* (southern section by 1903-4) (fn. 53)
runs SW. to the Butts*.
YARDLEY STREET (1851) (fn. 54) runs E. from Canterbury Street. It is part of the 'New Town' which
began to be developed in 1828 (see Primrose Hill
Street).