Spencer Park

The city owes a debt of gratitude to Coventry benefactor David Spencer, for the gift of land for Spencer Park which opened in 1883. David Spencer was born in Chapel Lane, Coventry on November 19th 1805, son of a ribbon manufacturer and set up as a draper in Hay lane. He had acquired land in Earlsdon which he donated for a park long before his death in 1888.

David Spencer is commemorated by a memorial which says: "This tree was planted in 1925 in memory of David Spencer (1805-1888) a generous benefactor of Coventry who presented this park to the people of Coventry City in 1852."

Originally the park stretched from the railway bridge (the iron part of which was constructed in the 1850s to maintain a public right of way through the new railway marshalling and goods yard) to Dalton Road, unbroken by what is now Spencer Avenue. The section of road that runs through the park was added in the early 1900's to link the existing Spencer Road with Albany Road. The formal park at the Dalton Road end, was laid out with bowling greens and tennis courts were added in the summer of 1915.

Spencer Park 1919

Close to the footpath alongside Spencer Avenue a small stone acts as a reminder of the Cenotaph unveiled on 12th October 1919. The Cenotaph was erected after the ceremony depicted in this postcard but was removed when the City's war memorial was unveiled in Memorial Park. At the same time an oak was planted that had been grown from an acorn gathered at Verdun in 1916. This original ceremony in 1919 was Coventry's first attempt at a memorial to its dead from the First World War. Despite being performed in very poor weather the ceremony was reportedly attended by thousands who gathered after a procession from Pool Meadow. They collected the Mayor and sword and mace bearers on the way past the Council House. The Mayor, who performed the unveiling ceremony, referred to the cenotaph, not unkindly, as ‘quite home-made affair' as it was constructed of wood in the form of an obelisk surmounted by a cross painted in black and white. It had been designed, built and paid for by discharged soldiers. Clearly a larger memorial had not been planned at this stage as it was hoped that the wooden cenotaph would be replaced by an identical stone one.

The Pavilion and Tennis courts, circa 1920

Spencer Parks other claim to fame is that it was the subject of a painting by British war artist Dame Laura Knight. 'The Barrage Balloon'  depicts members of the ATS preparing a barrage balloon in Spencer Park during the Second World War. The Coventry skyline can be seen in the background.

The Barrage Balloon (Coventry) by Dame Laura Knight