Bird Cage and City Arcade

Here's some photos I've found here and there (Facebook, videos, etc.) of the Coventry Bird cage that used to be at the end of the City Arcade

First thing you saw when coming out of the Climax.

Designed by Anthony Armstrong Jones, Princess Margaret's husband. I think it's been removed. Does anyone know where it ended up - it's both a bit of art and a bit of history.

'Bug and Black Bat' Pub (Formerly 'The Climax')

Not sure @Lindatee2002, knowing the council it was probably just scrapped and destroyed. But I may be wrong? Never knew that about the design, thanks ♡

--- a. (The JR James Archive, 2013) b. (The JR James Archive, 2013) Last two photos ('a' and 'b') The JR James Archive. 2013. City Arcade. [Online]. [Accessed 20 October 2024]. Available from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jrjamesarchive/9462881139 and https://www.flickr.com/photos/jrjamesarchive/9462881445 Creative Commons: CC BY-NC 2.0 (images unmodified, fair use compliant): CreativeCommons License (Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic)

Oh, Garland's, these are some of the saddest photos I've seen of not so historic Coventry. The pictures of the Arcade dressed up for Christmas or just crowded on a regular day show how shoppers liked to spend time and money there. I think it was not appreciated at the time but I also think council neglect as far as keeping it clean and encouraging businesses to stay, maybe by lowering the rents, would have helped. If you were in Italy or Spain a place like this would have several cafes or bars. I see in one photo bright sun umbrellas on an upper story. What was that?

Having only spent 27 years living in Coventry and now live overseas I have little right to comment on such things, I do though remember the birdcage and the lower precinct/arcade area quite well. I had my first ever cricket gear set bought from the sports store down there. From what I'm seeing now is that the life from the city centre has been sucked right out of the place, always a concrete warren in some ways but the weekends were full of shoppers. Such a shame.

And soon to be all gone! I must admit, out of all the parts being demolished soon, this Arcade is perhaps the only bit I might miss a little - the rest is looking very tired and dated.

Aubrey Hill ?? Used to get my football boots from there as they were a bit cheaper than Davies's.

Hi Rob, this re-development shall be the second during my lifetime. I remember the old Victor Value supermarket, John Cheatles and the original bowling Alley. Then the Arcade being built, with the Climax. Perhaps this topic could morph into . "Urban Impressions"