The Coventry Arms was the central landmark in Broadgate. Demolished in the 1920s to make way for the National Provincial Bank. During the demolition, stone from Coventry Castle / Cathedral was reportedly found, along with a 14th-century fireplace that was hidden under wooden panelling.
The panelling was later used to restore St Mary’s Guild Hall in the 1930s. Named The Coventry Arms around 1903. Below is a potted history of the last 25 years of its life.
1904
Wanted a girl about 14 as Nurse Girl. Apply Newman, “Coventry Arms”, Smithford Street, Coventry.
1905
2nd September Coventry Motor and Cycle Carnival – 4th Annual parade committee meet at the Coventry Arms to discuss the next event planned for October.
14th October Committee meet again. The plan – Assembly in the Barrack Square at 5 o’clock. Judging at 5.30. Three stoppages: bottom of Holyhead Road, corner of Lower Ford Street and Raglan Street and top of Bishop Street. Money collectors – Boxes may be obtained from the Coventry Arms, the offices
1906 - Landlord helps with fire at Craven Arms
9th March Second Hand Bicycle Wanted: must be in good condition and cheap. Apply Coventry Arms, Smithford Street.
28th September – Fire at the Craven Arms stables; Mr Walter Newman, the landlord of the Coventry Arms, helped move a cab, but slipped and sprained his ankle.
1908
2nd January – Tickets for Coventry City F.C. and the Match with Crystal Palace – available from the Coventry Arms.
28th July Mr Walter Newman, licensee of the Coventry Arms, runs for the Guardians Vacancy Radford Ward on the Coventry Board of Guardians.
1909
7th October – Licensing committee agree to the transfer of the licence from Mr Walter Newman to Mr Thomas Strong.
12th November – Tickets for the Grand Northern Union Football Match in Coventry – St Helens vs Hull. Kick-off at 3 pm.
1910
3rd May – Coventry Northern Union Football Club First Annual Meeting held at the Coventry Arms.
6th October – Celebrating the first win of the Coventry Northern Union F.C. Mr Strong hosts an evening of entertainment for the Coventry players.
1913
13th February – Bar General Wanted; experienced and good references required. Coventry Arms, Broadgate.
1914
10th February – Inter-club Matches: Believed to be Billiards – Southam Coronation Club vs Coventry Arms Hotel. At Southam on Monday evening, the victors winning by six points. Scores –
Southam: Dr Ormenrod 100, W.C. Collier 100, F.G. Watson 100, W.H. Plummer 80, A.Martin 85, Lt. Tuson 100, Dr Lattey 46. Total 611
Coventry Arms T.Strong 86, H.G. Tett 70, E. Ingham 86, H Burton 100, E. Venn 100, Vz. Ranford 75, T Watson 100, Total 627.
1915
8th April: Good Bar General Wanted – reference required, Coventry Arms, Broadgate.
11th – 26th June Young Girl daily to take children out – Mrs Jeffrey Coventry Arms.
1916
25th February Bar General Wanted also general to assist in bar when required – Coventry Arms Broadgate.
23rd February – Fire Brigades Meeting held at the Coventry Arms.
28th August Married lady with baby requires bed and sitting-room furnished – Apply Coventry Arms Broadgate.
1918
23rd – 26th April – Girl wanted for housework and assist bar Coventry Arms, Broadgate.
19th August – Lost black and white cat answers name, Billy. Reward to be given to anyone returning to Coventry Arms, Coventry.
10th October – Bar General Wanted, also Cook General Coventry Arms, Coventry.
12th July – Gertrude Driver, munition worker, stole a pair of scissors valued at 2s 3d, the property of the Ministry of Munitions. Miss Driver was further summoned for receiving from a person unknown a metal tankard value 10s belonging to Thomas Strong of the Coventry Arms, Coventry. She stated that she went to have a drink, and a man handed her the mug. Miss Driver refused to take it from the man, but when on the tramcar the man offered it to her again she put it on her lap. For the theft, the girl was fined 25s and costs.
1919
12th March – Mr Strong objects to a restaurant “Black Cat” 56-57 Hertford Street having an alcohol licence. Other objectors included Mr Nelson on behalf of the Coventry and District Licensed Victuallers Association, Mr Wilford, the licensees of the Railway Inn, Mr H I Mander on behalf of the Coventry District Free Church Council and the Coventry Branch of the British Women’s Temperance Association. Who would want to drink alcohol while eating a meal at a restaurant?
29th May – Girl wanted for housework and to assist bar in evenings, Coventry Arms Broadgate.
5th July 1919 – Mr Strong (landlord of the Coventry Arms) charged with driving a motor car at speed dangerous to the public in Greyfriars Lane, Smithford Street and Broadgate, on the night of June 19th 1919. Mr Strong was reported to be driving near Broadgate at 10-30 pm on June 19th. Coming out from Greyfriars Lane with full lights burning at a terrible speed. The engine was roaring and all out, and apparently travelling in the second or third gear.
The car just missed the lamp standard on the opposite side of the road, knocked down a man, continued at a wild pace, turned around and finished inside Herford Street. Estimated speed: twenty to twenty-five miles an hour. Witnesses had to move away sharply to prevent being knocked down. Mr Strong had only been driving a car for five weeks, and on this night put his foot on the accelerator instead of the brake. The consequence was that the more he applied pressure to what he thought was the brake, the greater was the speed of the car.
There was no doubt the estimate of the speed was exaggerated, but the incident did scatter the crowd. It was a pure accident and not a question of wilful misconduct or careless driving.
Defendant bore out his solicitor’s statement and said that when he saw the people he was excited and nervous and thought he did quite well to miss the people as he did. The case was found proved, though the magistrates accepted the defendant’s explanation. A fine of £10 was imposed, with £1 5s special costs.
1920
17th February – Woman (daily) Wanted for cooking and housework; also Girl for Housework and assist bar, lie in Coventry – Coventry Arms.
1923 30th July – Coventry Police Court: Mr Marson (Ironmonger) had ‘two’ drinks on Saturday 20th July in the Coventry Arms. At 2:15 pm the police were called to eject him for being drunk and disorderly. It took four officers to remove Mr Marson to the police station, St Mary’s Street. The police report he was very drunk, using filthy language. During his ejection, one of the officers’ trousers was torn beyond repair. During his night in the cell, Mr Marson caused considerable damage. Local reports suggest Mr Marson had sadly turned to drink in recent years.
The Bench considered Mr Marson’s position in the city as a well-known tradesman for some years and decided to be lenient. For being drunk and disorderly, he would be fined 40s and for the damage he would have to pay a fine of £5 in addition to the damage of (£10, 16s 6d).
1924
12th April – Temporary licence transfer of the “The Coventry Arms” Smithford Street from Thomas Strong to Edward Reynolds.
14th May – Good cook general required; good references. Evenings off – Apply Coventry Arms Broadgate.
29th May – Licensing Justice: Application to extend hours of opening for city centre public houses. Estimated that 1,000 to 1,500 country people visited Coventry on Friday afternoons. Of which 200 or 300 are farmers, resulting in a good deal of money being spent with the tradesmen.
5th July – Lost black and white fox terrier information or return to Coventry Arms, Broadgate, Coventry.
2nd September – Bar General wanted; must be used to business. Good references essential; apply Coventry Arms, Broadgate.
4th October – Lost white wire-haired Fox Terrier puppy. Name “Roy”. Finder rewarded, return to Coventry Arms, Broadgate.
15th October – Barmaid (Smart) wanted week-ends Fridays, and Saturdays. Apply Coventry Arms, Broadgate.
25th November – Bar General wanted. Good home and wages, must be used to business. Closed Sundays; references essential. Apply Coventry Arms, Broadgate.
3rd November – Cook General (good) wanted; good home and wages – Apply Coventry Arms, Broadgate.
27th November – Bar General wanted, good home and wages, must be used to business. Closed Sundays; references essential – Apply Coventry Arms, Broadgate.
It was requested that the hours of opening be from 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm on each first day afternoon, which coincided approximately with the times of the arrival and departure of the farmers. The facility would be treated as a privilege and would not be abused in any way.
1925
22nd / 23rd July – Agricultural show held in Coventry. Pubs in town, including the Coventry Arms allowed to open 2 pm – 6 pm. Last time the show came to Coventry was five years previously.
1926
3rd February – Barmaid wanted weekends, quick trade – Apply Coventry Arms.
1927
4th May – Bar General wanted, wages £1 per week, live in, closed Sundays, good references essential, apply Coventry Arms.
27th June – Aftermath of the carnival – Mrs F. Wallace was trying to climb onto one of the window sills outside the Coventry Arms in order to get a good view of the Carnival Procession, when she slipped and fell to the ground, cutting her head. She was detained in Hospital.
23rd September – Cook General wanted; must be a good plain cook. Wanted £1 a week; live-in references required. Apply Coventry Arms.
19th December – Coventry Arms allowed to open at 5 pm next Thursday instead of 6 pm on the occasion of Waratahs’ match with Warwickshire.
1928 2nd March – Corporation in negotiations with owners to purchase the property for street widening. The General Works Committee Invites Tenders for Demolition of the Coventry Arms & National Provincial Bank premises, Hertford Street.
13th April – The Brewers plan to pay £2,000 to the corporation to surrender The Coventry Arms licence.
1928
21st June – Bar General Wanted, experienced, smart and quick. Wages £1 weekly. Closed Sundays; good references essential – Apply Coventry Arms Broadgate, Coventry.
10th July – Bar General wanted, experienced, smart and quick. Good references essential. Wages £1 per week. Closed Sunday – Apply Coventry Arms Broadgate.
1928 11th September – Demolition of Johnson and Mason’s Premises behind Coventry Arms on Hertford Street in progress. Great difficulty will be experienced in taking down the front portion of the premises, which is fifty feet high. Messrs W.H. Jones and Son of Lockhurst lane await the ‘ownership’ of the Coventry Arms.
In the foundations of Messrs Johnson and Mason’s a number of building stones have been found that are thought to belong to the Coventry Castle of ancient days or the old monastery which was destroyed by Henry VIII.
15th October – Magistrates Court listing of a case for possession of the Coventry Arms. Case labelled “Mayor & Corporation of Coventry Vs Edward Reynolds.” The case was dropped before it was heard in court.
29th October – Corporation takes possession of the Coventry Arms pub portion. Possession of the dwelling areas to be taken on the 5th November.
Demolition of The Coventry Arms begins November 1928
7th November – The famed 17th-century oak panelling in one of the ground-floor rooms is to be carefully removed for safekeeping. The woodwork includes a huge carved oak fireplace reaching from the floor to the ceiling with the date 1621.
When the panelling was removed, a 14th century carved stone fireplace was uncovered in marvellous condition. Approximately 9ft 6″ high, 8ft 6″ wide, with a depth of 12″. Originally constructed with an open hearth with a wide chimney. The open fireplace allowed for approximately 4ft high and about 8ft wide. Above the fireplace, there is a carved frieze approximately 8ft wide, 2ft 6″ high 10″ thick. Containing five panels, each with a shield, upon which traces of coats of arms can be seen. The central panel contains a carved figure of an ecclesiastical character. The fireplace obviously came from a building of great wealth and importance.
Above the frieze is a wide stone recess, providing a stone shelf, while along the top is a further stone lintel containing handsome mouldings, with a further central figure that has a bearded face and folded arms. Unfortunately, the concentrated heat upon one side of the fireplace has crumbled the stonework. The stone fireplace is to be carefully removed.
A second discovery – In the room above there was a second oak panelled apartment. Again, when the panelling was removed, a second stone fireplace was discovered, situated immediately above the one already described. Though somewhat similar in size, the upstairs fireplace is not so lavishly ornamented as the lower one. It is 9ft high 6ft 2 in wide, and has a carved frieze rail 1ft 6 inch high. The panel is diamond-shaped, about 11 inches square, also containing shields. The coats of arms and a gilded lion can be clearly seen.
8th November A party from the Corporation, including the Mayor, inspected the wonderful old carved stone fireplaces discovered in the “Coventry Arms” demolition.
1928 13th December Lost white fox terrier dog, address collar Coventry Arms Broadgate, please return to 2 St Osburgs Road or Police Station – Reward.
