Rover Showroom / Food Office / Intershop / Litten Tree

Really I shouldn't be on this forum, to understand the world of my generation would take great imagination and curiosity. Where the building of ration books was, is of little importance to my generation, the nearest real memory was Churchill's great speech in 1945 from the balcony of the Ministry of Health. That was the way things were done. And to be trained in brutal savage warfare was also normal. Over 30 million soldiers lost their lives on battlefields in the second world war. But 1945 was a pivotal year when people faced the wreckage, great cities reduced to rubble, populations decimated, we were full of despair, and yet great hope. In countries that had been occupied, harsh revenge was meted out, horror to come, but it was also a new beginning. Democracy.

As it's been mentioned on here - Alan Denyer (the chap who is currently running the LTB - Litten Tree building as an Arts/Music space) unearthed these from May 1956. There are plenty in its other forms but not many as Foulkes.

Great photos and information Neil! Funny to see the description of a "handsome face" being put on the showrooms - I don't like it! Modern, plain and boring, I'd rather have the older bay windowed fascia!

I know what you mean Rob but I guess at the time it looked smart and modern. Can you imagine how they felt when the round cafe went up! That must've seemed space-age compared to what was on old Smithford Street! BTW that's the Liberal Club on Union Street in the background on the second one, and I had to look up Lady Barnett!

Interesting that she was born in Aberdeen. I believe the store became 'Benley's' in the 1960's where people shopped on the cheap and nobody admitted to shopping in there!

Ooh, Benley's. This wannabe mod bought a gorgeous full length suede coat from there in 1964. I wonder what happened to that?

A great mix of the old and newer. The Peeping Tom has gone but the original Three Tuns is still there and you don't get to see that old row down Bull Yard. © Coventry Digital

Due to close next month, prior to demolition

FYI, there's a petition on the Council website to save LTB here.

Nice one, Ian, our whole family has signed it! As the former Rover Showroom, I feel it's an important part of our city's heritage and one of the few remaining links with our former huge car industry. The Empire venue up Hertford Street managed to get a reprieve from demolition, so fingers crossed for the LTB getting fair consideration.

Thanks Rob. Spread the word.

The petition is not against demolition, as I read it, Rob, only for a stay of execution of the closure of the culture area until May... "The volunteer group that run LTB have requested the council consider allowing free use of the building after the pub exit - until such point as City Centre South (CCS) redevelopment scheme requires vacant possession (likely, end May '23, unless delayed phasing is a possibility)." And, of course, it isn't the former "Rover Showroom", but a 20th century retail outlet on its site.

Yes, it was the Reform Club, though I could not have described fully the interior. When my grandma had relatives to stay they were required to register at the Food Office for a temporary ration card.

No, Prof, the Reform Club was next door - and is still there, although they don't seem able to rent it out to anyone

Yes, only a stay of execution for now, but we can remain hopeful for a total reprieve. Not the former "Rover Showroom"? I'm pretty sure it was! The building was refaced with its current plain (boring) frontage, but it is largely original, and retains many elements of its past with Rover, including the huge lift shaft where the cars were brought down to the ground floor for display.