The first manufacturer to take up residence on the Earlsdon estate, indeed probably the first new settler of all, was John Flinn. He was born in 1807 and came originally from Prescot — Lancashire’s own great watchmaking town — though he had moved to Coventry by 1827. In 1851 he was living in Moat Street in the city’s watchmaking enclave, with his wife and seven children and a flourishing business.
From the moment the new Earlsdon estate was first mooted, Flinn was interested. He was one of the signatories to the Petition sent to the Waterworks Committee in May 1852, and quickly secured a prime site on Earlsdon Street. His house, Earlsdon House, was the largest and most important to be built in the area for at least the next fifty years. As well as the house he also constructed a row of workers’ cottages in Arden Street for his employees.
After sixteen years Flinn left the area — possibly due to financial difficulties; we have no firm record of the reason. We know he exhibited a case of gold and silver watches, including an ‘Improved going-barrel’ at the Coventry and Midland Manufacturing and Art Exhibition held at the new Market Hall in 1867, for which he gained an illuminated certificate. His name as a local manufacturer is greatly overshadowed by that of his successor at Earlsdon House, Joseph White.
We do at least have a detailed description of Earlsdon House when it was put on the market in 1868. The advertisement in the Coventry Standard of 14 February described it as: ‘Family residence and Manufactory at Earlsdon near Coventry — containing a good Hall, dining and drawing rooms, 5 bedrooms, two large attics, best and cooking kitchen, china closet, pantry, cellar, coach house, and two stall stable, piggery and shedding: also excellent watch factory and offices, together with vinery, Pleasure and kitchen garden and paddock.’
Flinn and Co continued at 14/15 Broadgate into the 1930s.