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

Drinking in an Old English Town

Pope's Head, The Butchery

Possibly named after Alexander Pope (1688-1744), a writer and translator. In 1756 two soldiers were billeted here. Two soldiers were also listed as being billeted at the POPE'S HEAD, Bayley Lane, but this seems to be a case of the same pub being counted twice. In 1765 Jobsons Coventry Mercury refers to the Popes Head, Derby Lane. In 1868 Poole is already saying that formerly there was an inn near the end of Derby Lane called the Pope's Head and the entry which forms the back way to several of the houses in Broadgate and Derby Lane was called Pope's Head Alley. This would seem to be a north-south alley between, and providing access to, properties in both of those streets. The map pin below is approximate, based on Poole's and newspaper descriptions, but will be within a few yards either way.

Street plan of 1851

Google map location (Due to the scaling on old maps, the pin location might not be 100% accurate.)