Broadgate

Hi Kaga, I can't put an exact year on it, but we can deduce the earliest and latest possible dates. The temporary shops are gone, and grassed over, and they were demolished in 1974 followed closely by an extensive archaeological dig. Then about 1989 the ground was cleared ready to build the Cathedral Lanes shopping centre. Zooming in a bit on the image suggests that some of the men in the picture are wearing flared trousers - so my guess would be mid to late 1970s. Of course, if it's a postcard with a date on the back, then perhaps someone can get closer with the year?

Thank you Rob, Really, did the trees grow so large and blot out everything including Prudential, etc? My God, she must have thought 'This is were I came in centuries ago.' They should have left it like that, looks more peaceful and quiet.

I agree Kaga, it looks so peaceful, and virtually everyone who lived in Coventry in the 70s & 80s seems to miss that lovely version of Broadgate. Now all we're left with is "if only".

What I can't work out is how there was room for it all. The area looks massive.

Just looking at your pictures Rob in Historic Coventry, Broadgate you have one on there that has a lot of trees which could be about the same time. That picture is dated 1982, and I would have said early 1980's. I can't remember it like that, my era was the nice grass area in the middle with Lady Godiva and the buses conveniently going round, 1960's and early 1970's. After we left Coventry I rarely went shopping there.

I cannot remember Broadgate ever being that big, and with so many trees, like a country park. Dismissing any notion that it's been photoshopped, I wonder if someone has used the old estate agents' trick, i.e. wide angle lens to make the place look bigger...? By the way, I know very little about photography, so am guessing.

Broadgate surely same size then and now as when garden island was built with hundreds of spring bulbs (gift of the Dutch) and trees also donated. It just looks big in the photo because there is nothing surrounding it with the boundaries of stone removed! That's my take on it.

It seems to be forgotten that the "Garden Island" aspect of Broadgate was only around for about 20 years (1955-1975), a relatively short period of time in the history of Broadgate. Prior to 1929 the photos show that Broadgate was more of a wide road and tramway running from High Street, Greyfriars Lane and Hertford Street in the south through to Cross Cheaping in the north. 1929 saw the widening of High Street and Hertford Street and then 1936 saw the demolition of Butcher Row and the building of Trinity Street and the original Owen Owen "island" Following the destruction in the war the eastern side of Broadgate was replaced by the temporary shops which formed one side of the "square" with the bank, the Precinct and Owen Owen forming the other sides. This was the "Garden Island" that everyone remembers. However in 1974 the temporary shops were demolished and after archaeological investigations in the mid 70s the area between Broadgate and Derby Lane was landscaped and trees were planted. This lasted through to the late 80s when works started in preparation for Cathedral Lanes. One of the reasons that Cathedral Lanes was able to get planning permission was that there was no history of the area having been an open space, having always been a retail area. I'm not absolutely certain of this but I believe the facade of Cathedral Lanes follows the original line of the east side of Broadgate. So a timeline would be as follows: Pre-1936 - Old Broadgate 1936-1940 - The modernisation begins 1940-1955 - The whole area is pretty much destroyed leading to the modernist reconstruction of the Precinct and the "Garden Island" 1955-1975 - The "Garden Island" period 1975-1989 - The extended Broadgate 1990 - Cathedral Lanes Only those of us of a "certain" age will have any real memories of the classic Broadgate!

Prof, Yes and the garden island was opened in October 1949, with grass lawns and monument of Godiva, and the people fully expected it to last forever in remembrance to the fallen of the city. The place was packed and the service to the people who have borne so much and striven so bravely during those eventful years of the war.

Like many who enjoyed seeing the 'garden island' in the city centre I always thought it was developed to stay that way, but like everything else anything built/developed in Remembrance is doomed and at the fate of the ones holding the councils purse strings. Even statues and monuments are moved for the sake of progress or maybe put into mothballs till they decide where to put them. Oh forgot, some young bright academic may see a statue suddenly appear on his way to the Uni and think what's that doing there. When I hear talk of the city's garden island I have a feeling there is something in the air. While I am on my soapbox I think the idea of closing all the outer suburb shopping centres to push more trade into the city is ok for the young and spendthrifts. Up go the prices but not everyone is able to do so and have come to rely on those suburban retailers. I don't mind having to travel for a new pair of shoes, but not for bread and milk.

Deirdre Conroy

Nice one Prof, a pleasant blast from the past. I had forgotten the steps were there.

No walking across the grass though mind!