William Burbury left the army and returned to Coventry, where he resumed his trade as a silk weaver. Coventry was an important manufacturing centre noted for its watchmaking and textile industries, in particular fine ribbons and laces. Although the city walls and many of the old gates were long gone, it was still surrounded by common land controlled by the freemen of the city. An act of Parliament was required to enclose this land; only a very brave politician would move to curtail his voters' grazing rights, with the result that building was restricted to a well-defined area. By 1829 more than 29,000 people lived within a two-and-a-half mile circuit. Cottages were built in what had been the gardens of larger houses, forming enclosed courts of up to fifteen small, crowded dwellings with only one entrance from the street. Ribbon manufacturers, slaughterhouses, shops, hotels, warehouses, public buildings and stables were built right up to the walls of Holy Trinity and St Michael's churches. Dyeworks bubbled away at Spon End, where the river entered the city and was as yet unpolluted. Credit http://www.vision.net.au/~dburbury/texts/part_2.htm You can click on most images to see larger images or more information. We wish to buy Stevengraphs. One at a time or collections. We also seek photos, brochures or any item of related history. Malcolm J Roebuck, Copyright © 1999-2009 Stevengraphs Bookmarks & Postcards Etc.