Broadgate

Hi all, The mention of Broadgate, more often a term meaning our city centre, is in our local news again for the same reason, another store closing. Why is it news & why should we be surprised? I venture into Coventry several times each week, but rarely to buy goods. My near neighbours can't remember the last time that they visited Broadgate. I have my groceries delivered or like my neighbours, visit my local shopping mall, the Arena, where there is free car parking. Why should they go anywhere else? Most folk can only consume so much, no matter how well off they are, so with at least five Coventry outskirts comprehensive shopping malls, what else did the planners expect when developing these retail parks, than the current headline that Coventry is a ghost town. They are not my words. That's a local paper headline. Ghost town Coventry.

Tamworth is exactly the same Philip. The only time I go any where near is the doctors or the dentist. Extortionate parking fees. Who is going to pay that when you can go to the large shopping centre, Ventura Park, park free and get what you want. I think the towns who had the foresight to join their shopping on to the existing town have done better, like Solihull.

Hi Anne, Thank you for that. My Drs & Dentists are local in Holbrooks.

Wilko now closed.

Another from David Fry - unknown (Godiva Procession?) event -

And another circa 1859!

I've always loved that atmospheric old photo, it's super! He has the same one as me, but they're cropped differently.

I almost missed the first one. Great angle. I don't think that I've ever seen the roof detail and windows on the City Hotel before.

I love the wrought iron balconies.

The 'standard' postcard view of the era (probably from Owen's?) but a new postcard one for me - not sure what the decorations were for but looks late 30s and a good capture of the Deco'ed Boots building.

Good evening all. Any Christmas decorations up in Broadgate yet ?

A really great and early image of Broadgate. I could never work out why it was in two halves but having got a copy I realise that it's a big print. The image itself is about A2 but the whole sheet is about A1. My copy is quite light damaged and if it originally had colours, they're long gone but the text at the bottom is still intact. Drawn and Lithographed by John Sunman Austin, Architect, Bedford. Published by G + F King, Booksellers, Stationers Etc, Coventry 1855. To the Mayor, Corporation and Inhabitants of the City of Coventry and it's Vicinity. This plate is most respectfully dedicated by the very obedient servants G and F King Bookseller Printers of Coventry Well something like that. The glass is too dirty to see clearly and the scrolled lettering is too ornate to read easily. I bought it at auction from Bolton! Some of the best pictures in private hands have been scattered far from the city. At 1855, this is a fantastic link to the 1850 Board of Health maps.

Love that picture Helen, so nice to see both sides and the end of the street all together. Haywards shop on the left has the date 1623 on it which is amazing. What is it about sheep in pictures of towns ? I have seen several of Stratford with sheep.

I know what you mean Anne. There are pictures of Far Gosford Street and Spon Bridge with sheep. I suppose sheep might have been a regular part of street traffic and artists put them in for interest? 1623 amazing! I wonder if that is the original date of the building or when it was styled? On my copy, the building on the right has ANS on it but there are no more words visible on the left. I will have a look see if I can't identify those businesses later.