City centre shopping precincts

I walked down there this morning, and was wondering how it looked when it was the same style on both sides. I must say, I think West Orchards was a pretty bad botched job - why did they make it narrower and introduce weird shaped chunks of land around the ends? And the brick and stone of the original buildings is far more interesting than the cheap clad walls of West Orchards.

"And the brick and stone of the original buildings is far more interesting than the cheap clad walls of West Orchards." Yes, that is true. But, the earlier shops were individual units so were quite small and the Coventry Precincts had far too many small shops. The city required larger internal spaces to attract the large multiples such as Debenhams and their ilk - hence the monstrosities of West Orchard and Cathedral Lanes. Though I hate the caterpillar (thanks Morgana for that description) which intrudes on the Upper Precinct, I assume it was considered reasonable way of resolving the problems of fire exits for the building.

The unit at the far end (directly opposite the City Arms) was intended to be a pub. There is no record of what it would have been called. I suspect the idea was dropped when the route was closed to traffic.

I think you may mean City Arms, not Market Tavern!

Doh, thanks MR. Original post now ammended.

Just found this photograph of tree planting in the Precinct sometime in the 60's (?); also shows the underground toilets in the background...

Great find Garland Joke Shop those were the days humans could go to a toilet when shopping close by. Now we have to wait till you get to the market or Pool Meadow

What do you mean Pixrobin can't get up or down those stairs, like this do you mean

Aerial view of the Precinct under construction in 1953: Top right: Broadgate House Centre right: Original Arcade Bottom right: Woolworths Bottom left: Original Co-Op Centre left: Marks & Spencer Top left: West Orchard Market

Another new one to me - not seen many post-war development images showing the Precinct looking west before Mercia House had been built.

Xmas Eve 1963 I believe? The old buildings on the extreme right are in Fleet Street and the warehouse to the left of them is in Conduit Yard I think. That same band these days would be playing outside one of the out-of-town supermarkets rather than in the precinct.