The Definitive Guide to the History of
Pubs and Beerhouses in Coventry

Drinking in an Old English Town

Half Moon and Seven Stars, 39 Much Park Street

These premises have been known by different names during their history:	FROM	TO	NAME
	1684	?	Black Bear Inn
	c1706	1780	Half Moon and Seven Stars
	1781	1839	Coach and Horses
	1839	1841	Old Coach and Horses
	1841	1924	Coach and Horses
Possibly a combination of two pub names. In a document dated 1706 Thomas Roberts senior was 'of the Seven Stars, St Michael's parish'. In 1756 eight soldiers were billeted here. Then in 1793 the pub was leased by Richard (I) Hopkins to Cleophas Ratliff. It had also been occupied by Elizabeth Ratliff. As above, the name of this pub was often shortened to just the SEVEN STARS. In some early newspapers the street name has been misreported as Muchford Street or Misford Street. The Coventry Standard of 31st January 1780 advertised the sale of this pub "known by the Name of the SEVEN STARS, situate in Much-Park Street". By April the wording of the advert had tellingly changed to "lately known by the Name of the SEVEN STARS". In October 1781 the Coventry Standard was advertising its sale again, this time the description being "late the Half-Moon and Seven-Stars, and now the Coach and Horses", also explaining that the sale was forced by the bankruptcy of Benjamin Lapworth, who appeared to use it only as a dwelling house from 1780 to '81.
LICENSEES: 1706 Thomas Roberts senior ? Elizabeth Ratliff 1777 - 1779 John Hand
Street plan of 1851