White Lion, Smithford Street

Rob Yes thank you, but I believe the blitz covered the mosaic, and they didn't know or bother with it knowing sooner or later it (Lion) would be removed altogether. I didn't use it till around 1950 I believe, and at that time we used the rear entrance as they were working on the Precinct. Whatever, a lot of my friends started off in the Lion, ended up in my place. You don't wish to know that, but the Lion was a most friendly place to me.

When Charles Griffith, an eccentric but clever lawyer, contested the city in the year 1866, he issued an address on June 2nd and made the White Lion his headquarters, and a few days later made a speech from the front window, of which the sashes were taken out. But as the head of the lion, which was over the front door, was in the way, the mob cried out, "Get across the Lion, Griffin and let's look at yer", when he chanced to spy the postmistress next door, looking on and smiling upon him from a window two storeys higher than the window that he was standing on, whereupon he raised his hat to the lady, to the great amusement of the crowd. It is said that Griffin's supporters, but three or four voters only, to say they were a larger party the formed committees, one in the bar, one in the smoke room, one in the coffee room, and by this means, it was kept in the dark of their movements.

A good shot of the White Lion in 1946 at Britain From Above Most of the rubble cleared away. The roof was damaged and the back buildings were significantly hit. I recon they could have rebuilt the roof but the disadvantages of flat roofs weren't fully appreciated at that point.

Great find again, Helen Still can't see that mosaic, though!

I think that the mosaic possibly vanished before the war. It was a time where old street materials were being replaced (even before the war damage) and possibly the mosaic ended up below the level of the new pavement. Rather than leave it as a trip hazard, they might have just covered it over.

Helen, what do you mean the mosaic vanished before the war? Rob's just photographed it as fitting around the Lion before the war.

Kaga, it clearly fit the building but that doesn't mean that it was still visible before the war. It may have been a victim of changes in the paving material/level before the war or just after as the council evened out the bomb damaged paving with the quickest/cheapest materials. It probably wasn't the choice of the owners of the White Lion. How many times does modern fancy paving get repaired by nasty sections of tarmac?

If you look of the photos of the rediscovered mosaic, you can see how many layers there were above it!

To me there are 5 layers in the photo. Left is brickwork that could be the foundations for the front wall of the building but I think was the surface of a coach passageway to the back courtyard, which is over 170 years old. Then there is the mosaic which we think was installed about 1920. Then there is a tarmac layer either pre or post WW2. Then there is a layer of gravel which probably dates to when that part of the shopping precinct was built but probably had paving slabs originally 50s/60s? There is a layer of sand and block paving, late 80s or early 90s. Finally there is a big hole, circa 2020.

Why the White Lion became sentimental to me. A young family, parents, boy and girl, were buried in a shelter in the blitz, but were dug out seemingly unscathed. 1954 Sat lunchtime April time I walked into the White Lion, nodded to a friend of a friend, of a friend, who followed me to the bar. Eddie said look Kaga you don't really know me, but would you come and talk with me and my dad, I have just lost my mother and we are both a bit low, so yes, I sat with them for over an hour. the aftermath and trauma of the blitz she had not recovered fully. About four months later I received a phone call, it was Eddie very distressed, he had now lost his father from a broken heart. He had to get away, from the house the city, everything or the same would happen to him. I asked him if he could meet me on Coventry rail station next morning, I took him away to Cannes (I have posted this before), got him on the warm sunny beach and quiet. He recovered over time, we went several times over the next few years, firm friends, Yes the White Lion was something special to me.

Not sure if this image has been posted before It clearly shows the line of Smithford Street compared to the Precinct

Good picture MR. The relationship (or lack of) may explain why I find it very hard to orientate myself between the two. You can also see why the White Lion was doomed.

Good photo MR. It looks to me as though the man has part of the front facade in his arms ready to place in front of the door, then that fence was extended. I believe even at this time the rear entrance was open.

In the city today I noticed that Skillington the building conservers were looking at the White Lion mosaic, so hopefully they are looking to preserve it.

The White Lion mosaic has been covered in black plastic so I presume conservation has started/resumed. There was somebody taking a tracing a couple of days ago. Peter.