Earlsdon History Timeline

Abt 1830

John Moore builds a new farmhouse adjacent to Elsdon Lane.

1847

Following the death of John Moore his farmhouse and his 6 fields (Barn Close, House Close, Big Ground, The Slang, The Close at Elsdon Lane and Far Close) are sold at auction to William Pickering.

1851

The Freehold Land Society purchases the land at Elsdon Lane, between Styvichale Common and Hearsall Common, from William Pickering for development

1852

John Flinn builds 'Earlsdon House', the first house in Earlsdon Street and his workers cottages in Arden Street.
Henry Bates builds his cottage in Earlsdon Street.
John Moore's old farmhouse opens as the Bowling Green pub.

1853

The City Arms opens in Earlsdon Lane (later Earlsdon Avenue South).
John Hulk and Thomas Pearson build their watchmakers houses in Cromwell Street.

1854

The Richardson’s build adjoining watchmakers houses in Clarendon Street.

1855

The Grosvenor Road Footbridge (aka Anarchy Bridge) opens over Coventry marshalling yard.
James Walker builds ‘Woodlands’ in Earlsdon Lane (now Earlsdon Avenue South). The Bowling Green pub closes and is converted back into a house.
Henry Westrap builds ‘Holly Bank’ in Earlsdon Lane (now Earlsdon Avenue South).

1859

The Royal Oak opens in Earlsdon Street.

1860

Earlsdon’s first shop opens in Moor Street.

Abt 1865

The Earlsdon Cottage Inn opens in Warwick Street, converted from a watchmakers house.

1868

Joseph White purchases 'Earlsdon House' and the Arden Street cottages from John Flinn.

1875

Hearsall Common Inclosure.

1877

A small purification plant is built adjacent to Earlsdon Jetty.

1878

Robert Waddington builds 'Wythburn' in Earlsdon Lane (now Earlsdon Avenue South).

1882

Earlsdon’s first school opens in the old Ribbon Weaving Shed in Cromwell Street (now Berkeley Road South).

1883

Spencer Park opens.

1884

The Methodist Chapel opens in Cromwell Street.

1885

King Henry VIII School built.
The Nail Factory opens in Moor Street.

1889

The Earlsdon Coffee Tavern (later Albany Club) opens in Earlsdon Street.

1890

Earlsdon is incorporated into the City of Coventry.
Fred Allard opens Allard Cycles in the old Nail Factory in Moor Street.
The new Earlsdon School opens in Earlsdon Lane (now Earlsdon Avenue North).

1896

The Co-op open their first shop in Earlsdon Street.

1898

Albany Road is opened.
Production is transferred from the Allard Works to the new Rex Works in Osborne Road.

1900

Harrington's Bell Foundry moves to Clarendon Street.

1905

A direct tram route opens from Earlsdon to the centre of Coventry.

1906

The Co-op open their second and larger store (now Bedlam) in Earlsdon Street.

1912

Earlsdon Library opens.
Completion of the Newcombe Estate, linking Earlsdon with Coventry.

1913

St Bararba’s first Anglican church opens in Palmerston Road.

1915

Spencer Park Pavilion opens.

1919

Coventry’s first Cenotaph is unveiled in Spencer Park but is later removed.

1920

Harrington's Bell Foundry leaves Clarendon Street.

1921

War Memorial Park opens.

1922

The 'Broadway' Cinema (later the 'Astoria') opens in Albany Road.

1923

The Methodist Church opens in Earlsdon Avenue and replaces the old Chapel.
The Rex goes into liquidation.

1931

St Barbara’s 'new' Anglican church opens in Rochester Road.
The City Arms is demolished and rebuilt.

1940

The 'Imperial' Cinema closes due to bomb damage.

1947

The 'Imperial' Cinema reopens

1951

The 'Imperial' Cinema becomes ‘La Continentale’

1958

The 'Astoria' Cinema closes

1960

The Criterion Theatre Group take over the old Methodist Chapel in Berkeley Road South.

1962

DBS Furniture move to Clarendon Street.

1965

'La Continentale' Cinema closes and is demolished

1972

John Moore's old farmhouse is demolished to make way for a factory extension.

1978

The ‘Earlsdon 125’ celebration leads to the creation of the Earlsdon Society and the ECHO the following year.

1981

The Co-op opens a new store in Earlsdon Street.

1987

The old Osborne Road Works are demolished and replaced by a sheltered housing development.

2000

The Earlsdon Millennium Heritage Trail is launched by Mary Montes.