Coat of Arms Bridge

This peaceful scene is of a bridge built in 1844 and popularly known as the Coat of Arms Bridge. The reason for the name stemmed back four years previous to 1840 when the railway company announced plans to build a branch line which would pass through the grounds of several Stivichall land owners. After opposition by many locals, in 1842, a Mr. A. F. Gregory finally agreed to sell the required amount of his land to the railways but stipulated that he have his family's coat of arms displayed on the bridge.

The scene today is still extremely pleasant and has remained quite rural, despite being within the boundary of urban Coventry, although modern galvanised fencing and the tarmac road do detract slightly from the more rural looking view of a century before.

The two scenes below show the appropriately named Coat of Arms Bridge Road in the early 1900's and in January 2006. It's an urban view that I believe is quite unrivalled for beauty anywhere in Coventry.

If you'd like to read the memories of a young girl walking along here on her way to school, please click here for the "Your Memories" page.