Corporation Street

The AXA building is going to be converted to student flats. I don't mind the building, but it's bizarrely located - doesn't seem to be 'anywhere' sort of tucked away behind other things. Doesn't this mean that whole area is now nothing but student flats? I think most of the offices around Corporation Street are being converted.

When was the 'AXA' Building built, Flapdoodle? I've only ever seen it a couple of times and wasn't aware it was empty! This is on the site of the old Gas Showrooms, isn't it?

I remember that when the gas showrooms were demolished, the scaffolding collapsed, blocking the road. This could have been very late 70s or early 80s, can`t put an exact date to it

Despite having been demolished for years, the term 'Gas Showrooms' seemed to have been used for a long time for defining that part of the city centre. I clearly remember being on the Number 7 bus, and a lady passenger tendered her fare asking for the 'Gas Showrooms' (yes there was still a conductor in those days, but it wasn't that long before they had all been removed). The conductors totally blank and puzzled reaction was a picture. It meant absolutely nothing to him. He was Asian and clearly new to the city. Old habits die hard....

Hi Ron, I recall some sort of function room in that building, it may have been council run. I vaguely remember attending function there?

An ad for the Gas Showrooms

There used to be restaurant. Worked there as a waitress in the school holidays in the early seventies.

You'll find it mentioned in the "City Restaurants" thread

I think it was built in the mid to late 1980s, maybe earlier? That narrows it down. It's been empty for a while. AXA sold that division to... 'someone else' (Friends Provident?) who then closed it down. AXA still have a small office up in Canley. Shame, really, although I wonder why the city never tried to consolidate the offices with other offices to create a business district? AXA was probably a good employer for the city, as it encouraged graduates (which it employed) to stay. Maybe Severn Trent will have the same effect? Edited by member, 31st Oct 2013 7:36 pm

Interesting one for me. I worked there from when I left school in 1993 through to being made redundant at the end of 2011. From what I remember, the building on Corporation Street was opened in about '86 and the larger building behind on Chapel Street was opened in about '91. Corporation Street was converted to student accommodation just before I left. We always thought Chapel Street would end up the same way as we couldn't see any other large employer wanting something in central Cov. I do remember the fantastic views from the 11th floor restaurant - especially to the East. On a clear day, you could see all the way to Rugby (the cement works being very clear). The merger with Friends Provident (to become Friends Life) finally killed off the site. Our other site was a huge complex in Bristol which I believe holds about 2000 employees and many times over my 18 years there, we felt there was always a big bias towards the Bristol site and that it was only a matter of time before Cov was closed. Eventually our work was moved down there (along with some of Friends Provident's).

I got this pic today of a demolition job we did. I was told the building on the left is the telephone exchange, and the building being demolished is the Masonic Building. Before I put it in my gallery: is it Greyfriars Lane or Little Park Street? (yes it was a windy night!) Edited by member, 20th Aug 2014 6:34 pm

Neither Norm, it's Corporation Street! So it must be the Gas Showrooms

The building to the left of the photo is still there and can easily be recognised on Google Street View

Sorry to be so vague on this MR. My younger brother recently passed away and the photo was amongst other demolition pics he had. I agree it is the Gas Showrooms, and yes I have looked on Google at the other building - thanks for that Cliff. Edited by member, 21st Aug 2014 9:34 am

I think it's Study Inn