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

Drinking in an Old English Town

Mechanics Arms, 30 Spon Street

These premises have been known by different names during their history:	FROM	TO	NAME
	pre1838	1850	Harrow
	1850	1912	Mechanics Arms
The proximity to local factories probably meant that a lot of the customers were mechanics. Or was the first licensee perhaps a mechanic? The Coventry Standard of 6th September 1850 reports that F. J. Wood moved from the Plough at 9 Spon Street to the Mechanics Arms, taking over the license from Charles Laing, whose pub had previously been called the HARROW. It closed on 7th May 1912.
LICENSEES: 1850 Charles Laing 1850 - 1851 Michael Francis (F. J.) Wood (moved from the Plough, 9 Spon Street, and on to the Harrow, 26 Spon Street) 1851 - 1853 James Barratt 1853 - 1854 Thomas Neale 1854 - 1858 John Hancox 1858 - 1869 John Kelly (moved to the Cross Keys, Earl Street) 1869 - 1870 Richard Yardley 1870 - 1874 Thomas Pearman, watch motioner 1879 - 1881 Frederick Yardley 1886 Richard Hands 1890 - 1905 W. Hewins 1909 - 1912 John A. Webb
Street plan of 1851