Half Moon, Earl Street (Half Moon Yard)
This pub was built in 1728 to replace the mediaeval Drapery. It was built opposite St Michael's Church and, having take the place of the drapery, the linen, flannel and cloth fair was moved to St Mary's Hall. For many years the cloth manufacturers of Yorkshire attended the annual Coventry fair and held sales both in the courtyard of St Mary's Hall and in the large room at the tavern.
In 1756 six soldiers were billeted here. In accordance with the entertainment of the day, in 1780 the Irish giant, O'Brien, was exhibited at the Half Moon, along with a baboon called the 'Ethiopian Savage', and a cassowary. In a similar vein the City's freemen also had meetings here.
It seems that the Half Moon stood in its own yard, where a row of tenements also stood. It was referred to as 'a principal tavern in the city', which would correspond to its use by the freemen for meetings. On the north side of the tavern was a stone bearing the letters MGP and the date 1728, which commemorated the end of the old drapery. In 1771 a post chaise service was set up from the Half Moon.
As early as 1828 discussions took place as to the dilapidation of the tavern, and it was proposed to create a new street from Half Moon Yard to give splendid views of the churches and old buildings - a proposal that had some opposition, and even plans to completely restore the property. Things did not move quickly, but soon after March 1861 the tavern was taken down to make way for St Mary Street, which still exists running alongside the present Council House. Erected on the site of the tavern were the dwelling for the Superintendent of Police and the fire engine house.
 Earl Street pre-war featuring St. Mary Street on the left. Photo courtesy of David McGrory. Presumably the half moon was a simple, easily recognised, pictorial sign. | |||
LICENSEES:1822 - 1823 Robert Allen 1829 - 1837 John Horsfall 1837 - 1839 William Wells 1839 - 1844 John Soden 1844 - 1847 H. B. Cox 1848 - 1853 William Thornback 1853 - 1855 James Rumsey (declared bankrupt Apr 1855) | |||
OWNERS:c1861 Coventry Corporation | |||
 Street plan of 1851 | |||
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Google map location (Due to the scaling on old maps, the pin location might not be 100% accurate.) |