Broadgate

Great photo. Like you I wish it was still like this.

A truly great photo of Broadgate. Not all will agree with me I know, but I consider that one of the biggest blunders for Broadgate in its redevelopment. I am very surprised Lady G. hasn't been moved altogether, but I sincerely hope it never comes to that. By the way, have they cleaned her up after all that disgraceful show of graffiti?

The island was once sacrosanct, I believe few would have walked across the grass.

Yes, this is the island the people of the time hoped for, the people that had fought the war, the people that survived the war, they wanted an island of peace and quiet, and quiet solitude and reflection and remembrance, for generations to come, better than a cenotaph of concrete. And yes, people did respect it for what it represented for a time, but alas, others thought different.

Lots of people visible in Broadgate here! (Be good if somebody in this group recognizes somebody in the photo!)

Roger T I remember Lyons Corner House in Coventry Street, London. Taken there on a school trip. Also remember the tubular ices wrapped around with paper and trade mark. Here is Coventry Lyons in Broadgate

Nice post card of our Coventry Lady

cooperline.com

Then I guess you didn't go into town on a Friday or Saturday night! There were often plenty of people good-naturedly enjoying themselves in the centre after the pubs and clubs had chucked out. Some would even climb the plinth and sit on the horse behind Godiva. I am certain that I am one of many Coventrians of a certain age who had been there. The police were never bothered by it, probably because there was no requirement not to be there as I recall. Really? I do wonder what sort of decrepit state those appalling temporary shops would be in by now.

Probably the decrepit state as the 'Leofric' and 'De Vere' Hotels are now! Once the 50's/60's and latterly 70's iconic luxury city centre hotels!

MisterD-Di Now I don't believe you or any of your friends climbed on the horse, or anyone else for that matter. During the fifties there was always a policeman in Broadgate when the Empire emptied after the last show, but in those days five minutes after the cinemas closed the town was dead - the last bus to anywhere was about ten-thirty. I used to stroll through there about 11 o'clock at night and hardly see a soul, nor did I see anyone cross the grass - people had a little more respect so soon after the war. As for the shops why mention them - everyone knew they were temporary and would not get decrepit.

The 'appalling' temporary shops were a necessary stop-gap to allow trading to resume as quickly as possible. They served Coventry well and did the job until more money was available to build new ones. I worked in one of them myself in Earl St until the Precinct was built and John Manners had a new one on both levels (lower and upper)!

Couldn't have put it better myself, Kaga old lad.

Kaga, you can choose to believe what you like, but I am talking about the 70s and I can assure you what I said was correct. I do wonder what there was to 'respect' as it was not a prohibited area. No damage was done, unlike the recent graffiti, and there was never any trouble. The last-bus scenario had gone, night clubs didn't kick out until 2.00am and people used cars or taxis to get home. The city centre was probably at its most vibrant ever in the 70s. It even had mains electricity by then! The reason for mentioning the temporary shops is that someone stated they wished it was still like that. I merely stated that they were an eyesore, albeit temporary, and certainly outlived their usefulness as they were there for about 30 years. Of course they did a useful job at the time.

When I was growing up they were just shops to us. I don't remember ever being told that they were temporary they were ordinary shops. The ones I remember most were the ones by the 16 bus stop in Broadgate. I am sure we would have been very lost without them at the time. I seem to remember one of those shops sold fabric so it was like an Aladdin's cave to me.