IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Winsford Avenue, COVENTRY, CV5 9JH

On the morning of Saturday 8th December 1990, a heavy localised snowfall accompanied by strong winds caused chaos on the roads in the area. Here, in the afternoon, cars are jammed in the left carriageway, near the junction with Winsford Avenue. Other vehicles are attempting to keep moving by taking the right hand carriageway to get to the junction.

This sculpture of St Christopher by Walter Ritchie stands against the wall of St Christopher's Primary School (a wider view: Image] ). He is depicted carrying the Christ child on his shoulder and struggling against waves whipped up by a strong wind. The work was commissioned for the school at the time it was built in the 1950s and can be seen from the road (through a metal fence).

The photographer's first school. Allesley Old Road. The sculpture portrays St Christopher carrying the infant Christ. The school's badge however is Pegasus the winged horse.

A group of shops on the corner of Grayswood Avenue serving this area of pre-WWII housing.

Mid 60's infill on a 1930's avenue. Originally the site was occupied by one single house.

1930's corner shops. The white fronted building was the local Post Office. The pillar box is now the only reminder.

At one time there used to be a drive leading off to the left at the cedar trees which led to a property shown on 1936-7 OS maps as High Field. In the 1960s Image] was built on the site, with access from Dulverton Avenue. Surrounding housing is of ca. 1930s vintage and is set several feet above the road. For many years this road was part of a coach route from London to Holyhead and at this point it climbs a low rise between the River Sherbourne and a tributary stream so it is possible that, in the days before adequate road surfaces, the roadway wore down into a holloway.

Looking towards one of the Victoria Court blocks of flats from the junction of Pyt Park with Pangfield Park.

At one time all five of these shops would have been supplying goods: groceries green grocer, butcher, hardware and similar supply shops but now none of them do. Service companies have replaced small shop keepers. Two are closed, one is a hair dresser, one is a photographer, one is a maintenance company. In July 2012 a former local resident wrote: "Thanks for the somewhat nostalgic but sad photo. I lived and grew up just round the corner in Dulverton Avenue. Your assumptions about the shops past identities are correct. I did part of my Geography O level course work on these shops in the early 1970's they were in decline then. I'm sure it's up in the loft somewhere. One of these was an ironmongers which sold paraffin oils and the like. It had its own special smell. Around November time it had one of the best selection of fireworks around. Almost every empty space would have a bonfire on it. Thanks for reviving a memory from the past."

This is an area of 1930s housing development. The view here is looking towards the junction with the Allesley Old Road.