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Coventry revisited

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JohnB
Wokingham, Berkshire
1 of 46  Fri 26th Aug 2011 3:22pm  

Yesterday for the first time in 18 years I was able to spend a couple of hours wandering around Coventry on my own with my camera. I fortified myself with a Greggs sandwich, sausage roll (yum) & a doughnut & set off. The main changes that I noticed were: The Ikea building looks totally out of place. Spon Street is a total mismatch - I have never seen a kebab shop housed in a 15th c. building before! The butchers was one of the few shops in Spon Street that looked in character. Good to see that Ma Browns & The Shakespeare survive - happy memories. Sad to see Jim Holton's pub - The Rainbow closed up. Even sadder to see that the old Studio 21 building is now a LazerQuest. The Bablake Old Boys Club is still there but going through financial problems as I understand. The Thistle is long gone & the entrance appears to have disappeared. The whole of that area appears to have had cosmetic changes but nothing done to sort out the underlying decay. There are a lot of empty shops - sign of the times. Ristorante Etna is still going after all these years! What happened to the pub by Fords Hospital - was it the Penny Black? What are they doing by the Godiva statue - what a mess! Had a wander around the Guildhall - first time I had actually looked at the building in detail - what a fabulous place. Spent time in the old cathedral soaking up the atmosphere. Saw the Priory Gardens for the first time - pity about the yobs hanging around! The Alhambra has truly gone & the Silver Sword appears to have been renamed What is the idea of the area outside the Motor Museum - appears to be wasted space? Walked along the blue bridge over Lady Herbert's Garden. Unfortunately I didn't quite get it - didn't go anywhere or cross anything. Lots of pawnbrokers around - again sign of the times. The front of the theatre looked nice however I used to like it when someone put fairy liquid in the old fountain! Overall the old appears to sit uneasily alongside the new as it has always done. There does not appear to have been a long term cohesive plan. Just my thoughts after a long period away - you may agree or disagree! John
Memories and Nostalgia - Coventry revisited
dutchman
Spon End
2 of 46  Fri 26th Aug 2011 4:30pm  

I can live without the modernised entrance to the Shakespeare, it's totally out of character. The big joke with the butchers shop in Spon Street, when the giant Co-op food hall opened behind it everyone predicted the butchers would go out of business. In the event, it was the butchers shop which thrived and the Co-op which disappeared! The Penny Black was last used a hi-fi shop I think and is currently awaiting conversion to student accommodation.
Memories and Nostalgia - Coventry revisited
TonyS
Coventry
3 of 46  Fri 26th Aug 2011 5:26pm  

On 26th Aug 2011 4:30pm, dutchman said: The Penny Black was last used a hi-fi shop I think and is currently awaiting conversion to student accommodation.
I cannot believe how much Student Accomodation there is in and around the city! If it's not already, and it's empty, then there must be planning permission applied for!!! What is the uni going to do when their numbers drop due to the high fees?
Memories and Nostalgia - Coventry revisited
TonyS
Coventry
4 of 46  Fri 26th Aug 2011 5:37pm  

On 26th Aug 2011 3:22pm, JohnB said: What is the idea of the area outside the Motor Museum - appears to be wasted space?
It was originally intended to use it as a public display area and for "events" - oh, just like the "new" public space in Cross Cheaping, ahhh, and the brand new public space (aka mess) being created outside Cathedral Lanes! It has been used for a few years around November/December time when we have had (so-called) celebs switching on the Xmas Lights - but then the organisers have to spend thousands putting temporary flooring down to cover The 'Time-Line' Clock which is embedded in the floor. I heard ages ago that this was going to be removed - but its still there.
Memories and Nostalgia - Coventry revisited
TonyS
Coventry
5 of 46  Fri 26th Aug 2011 7:10pm  

Not a very good photo I'm afraid..... Alhambra
Memories and Nostalgia - Coventry revisited
TonyS
Coventry
6 of 46  Fri 26th Aug 2011 7:20pm  

And also these.... Smile Rear of Silver Sword Silver Sword
Memories and Nostalgia - Coventry revisited
InnisRoad
Hessle
7 of 46  Fri 26th Aug 2011 9:19pm  

The Silver Sword used to be known as the Dirty Dagger. The Etna is where we generally have lunch in Coventry when we visit. It's still a traditional Italian. I used to be a member of Bablake Old Boys, although I never went to Bablake. It was a good venue for a chat and a drink (not to mention a go on the bandit) back in the 1960s. In the eighties, my fellow OU student, now my wife, and I were in the Windmill one evening. Suddenly, she turned to me and said "Do you realise that we're twice the age of anyone else in here" We were in our forties at the time. When I used to go in there in the 1960s, we were some of the youngest there. How times change!
Regards Innis Road

Memories and Nostalgia - Coventry revisited
Tricia
Bedworth
8 of 46  Fri 26th Aug 2011 9:48pm  

On 26th Aug 2011 9:19pm, InnisRoad said: The Silver Sword used to be known as the Dirty Dagger.
When my husband and I used to go the the Silver Sword, the back door, as shown on the photo of the Alhambra, was known as the Dirty Dagger. This door was used to go into the lounge. Thumbs up Cheers Cheers Cheers
Memories and Nostalgia - Coventry revisited
Midland Red

9 of 46  Sat 27th Aug 2011 3:30pm  

On 26th Aug 2011 9:48pm, tricia said:
On 26th Aug 2011 9:19pm, InnisRoad said: The Silver Sword used to be known as the Dirty Dagger.
When my husband and I used to go the the Silver Sword, the back door, as shown on the photo of the Alhambra, was known as the Dirty Dagger. This door was used to go into the lounge. Thumbs up Cheers Cheers Cheers
Here it is today !
Memories and Nostalgia - Coventry revisited
TonyS
Coventry
10 of 46  Sun 28th Aug 2011 8:40am  

Not sure which I prefer!! Smile
Memories and Nostalgia - Coventry revisited
JohnB
Wokingham, Berkshire
Thread starter
11 of 46  Mon 29th Aug 2011 3:51pm  

I can't remember what the entrance to the Shakespeare used to look like but I was surprised to see that the Penny Black had gone John
Memories and Nostalgia - Coventry revisited
JohnB
Wokingham, Berkshire
Thread starter
12 of 46  Mon 29th Aug 2011 3:52pm  

On 26th Aug 2011 5:37pm, TonyS said: .... the organisers have to spend thousands putting temporary flooring down to cover The 'Time-Line' Clock which is embedded in the floor. I heard ages ago that this was going to be removed - but its still there.
Time clock ? I didn't see that?
Memories and Nostalgia - Coventry revisited
JohnB
Wokingham, Berkshire
Thread starter
13 of 46  Mon 29th Aug 2011 3:57pm  

On 27th Aug 2011 3:30pm, Midland Red said:
On 26th Aug 2011 9:48pm, tricia said:
On 26th Aug 2011 9:19pm, InnisRoad said: The Silver Sword used to be known as the Dirty Dagger.
When my husband and I used to go the the Silver Sword, the back door, as shown on the photo of the Alhambra, was known as the Dirty Dagger. This door was used to go into the lounge. Thumbs up Cheers Cheers Cheers
Here it is today !
I thought that "The Loft" was sitting where the Silver Sword used to be. It looked a bit of a dive to be honest John
Memories and Nostalgia - Coventry revisited
19FoleshillRd
Allesley
14 of 46  Mon 29th Aug 2011 4:20pm  

On 29th Aug 2011 3:52pm, JohnB said: Time clock ? I didn't see that?
The aluminium "rails" with blue LEDs that zig-zag across the display area represent the world time-zones, not really a "clock". The Jaguar Drivers' Club used this area in April to show 60 or so Classic Jags. It made me chuckle because as soon as we'd parked, a chap from the Motor Museum rushed out pushing a trolley full of carpet samples to place under our cars in case any oil dripped on the white slabs. As if!! Big grin
If all else fails, read the instructions!

Memories and Nostalgia - Coventry revisited
morgana
the secret garden
15 of 46  Sun 6th Nov 2011 10:56am  

As a child in the fifties I recall going to work with my mum who worked in the Silver Sword, Ricky was the landlord at the time Cheers .
Memories and Nostalgia - Coventry revisited

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