dutchman Spon End All posts by this member
| 1 of 244 Wed 23rd Mar 2011 11:10pm Member: Joined Mar 2010 Total posts:2975
Architecture: Cluttering up Gibson's Coventry
I especially liked:
Most intrusive of all is the escalator, covered in green glass, that juts into the middle of the Upper Precinct like a derailed train.
and:
The frontage of West Orchards, on Smithford Way, has a light grey covering that makes it look like a giant convector heater. It is totally out of scale with its surroundings. |
Town Planning and Development - City centre shopping precincts |
Genghis Smith Ireland All posts by this member
| 2 of 244 Thu 13th Oct 2011 6:06pm Member: Joined Apr 2010 Total posts:69
My mate in Bristol has just sent me this photo of the Precinct. Would anybody have an idea of the date? I'm guessing 66-67. Also, any ideas what the GPO ticket-type machines are next to the phone boxes? (Stamps?) I kind of remember town being like that, but you know what childhood memories are like. Thanks.
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Town Planning and Development - City centre shopping precincts |
dutchman Spon End All posts by this member
Thread starter | 3 of 244 Thu 13th Oct 2011 6:18pm Member: Joined Mar 2010 Total posts:2975
Market Way looking towards Smithford Way. Woolworths on the left, British Home Stores on the right.
Yes they are stamps and I bought some I didn't need just to see how the machine works! 
There was also a huge scrolling map in a glass display case nearby with "You are here" marked on it.
You're not far off with the date, I would guess a bit earlier, 1963-65 as the trees are still very immature.
Oh and I bet the girl with her knickers showing is sorry she ever signed up here now! |
Town Planning and Development - City centre shopping precincts |
Genghis Smith Ireland All posts by this member
| 4 of 244 Thu 13th Oct 2011 6:41pm Member: Joined Apr 2010 Total posts:69
Thanks, Dutchman. I was born in '63, so I probably remember a later version. Still familiar, though. |
Town Planning and Development - City centre shopping precincts |
Genghis Smith Ireland All posts by this member
| 5 of 244 Thu 13th Oct 2011 7:12pm Member: Joined Apr 2010 Total posts:69
Here's one of the arcade from the same book.
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Town Planning and Development - City centre shopping precincts |
dutchman Spon End All posts by this member
Thread starter | 6 of 244 Thu 13th Oct 2011 7:36pm Member: Joined Mar 2010 Total posts:2975
Great pic, thanks!
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Town Planning and Development - City centre shopping precincts |
Genghis Smith Ireland All posts by this member
| 7 of 244 Thu 13th Oct 2011 8:09pm Member: Joined Apr 2010 Total posts:69
The pics are from a 1968 book about shopping in Coventry. I will post more when I get them. Thanks. |
Town Planning and Development - City centre shopping precincts |
dutchman Spon End All posts by this member
Thread starter | 8 of 244 Thu 13th Oct 2011 8:29pm Member: Joined Mar 2010 Total posts:2975
On 13th Oct 2011 8:09pm, Genghis Smith said:
The pics are from a 1968 book about shopping in Coventry.
In that case your estimate of the date for the pictures is probably much closer than mine
On 13th Oct 2011 8:09pm, Genghis Smith said:
I will post more when I get them. Thanks.
Looking forward to those |
Town Planning and Development - City centre shopping precincts |
TonyS Coventry All posts by this member
| 9 of 244 Fri 14th Oct 2011 1:57pm Member: Joined Jan 2011 Total posts:1549
On 13th Oct 2011 7:12pm, Genghis Smith said:
Good grief!
The sign in the top-left (showing an ear and the words "HI-FI") was above the shop where I worked in 1965!
It was RES (Radio Electrical Services). I worked all-day part-time on a Saturday there for £1 a week. The government then reduced the hours that a young person could work to just 4 hours so my earnings halved overnight.
I then went on to work full-time at their branch in Far Gosford Street when I first left school (for £5 a week) - moving back to the City Arcade around 1966. It was brilliant, I would go out in my lunch hour, up to Jill Hansons record shop in Smithford Way to buy the latest records (which was actually to the left of the telephones in the first pic - next to Woolies), then return and play it full blast on one of the rather expensive hi-fi setups that we had on display upstairs in the showroom.
I also used to buy my lunch from the bakers shop, fifth down on the right - with a "loaf" sign above it (no more clues) I would get two (yes TWO) big baguette type batches filled with hot pork and apple sauce. Actually they were made from a long french stick which would be cut into three - for 2 shillings each - I've just realised, I spent nearly a quarter of my earnings on my lunch!
Happy days! 
[Edit] To the OP, what is the name/ISBN of the book - I'd love to find it
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Town Planning and Development - City centre shopping precincts |
TonyS Coventry All posts by this member
| 10 of 244 Fri 14th Oct 2011 7:40pm Member: Joined Jan 2011 Total posts:1549
Can anyone remember the gents barber shop that was the first shop on the right as you entered the arcade from the birdcage?
I can't recall whether it was part of the Timpsons shoe repairs or was it a separate to the right of that in the pic?
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Town Planning and Development - City centre shopping precincts |
PhilipInCoventry Holbrooks All posts by this member
| 11 of 244 Sat 15th Oct 2011 8:31am Moderator: Joined Apr 2010 Total posts:4236
Greetings from the Coventry 'Riviera'

It's good to be back home. Hope all are well. |
Town Planning and Development - City centre shopping precincts |
Genghis Smith Ireland All posts by this member
| 12 of 244 Sat 15th Oct 2011 7:45pm Member: Joined Apr 2010 Total posts:69
I don't have a copy of the book myself, but I think it was a privately printed/commissioned booklet, so I don't think it has an ISBN, will look into it. |
Town Planning and Development - City centre shopping precincts |
TonyS Coventry All posts by this member
| 13 of 244 Sat 15th Oct 2011 8:07pm Member: Joined Jan 2011 Total posts:1549
That would be great - thanks.
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Town Planning and Development - City centre shopping precincts |
Genghis Smith Ireland All posts by this member
| 14 of 244 Mon 17th Oct 2011 10:52am Member: Joined Apr 2010 Total posts:69
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Town Planning and Development - City centre shopping precincts |
Midland Red Cherwell All posts by this member
| 15 of 244 Mon 17th Oct 2011 11:38am Moderator: Joined Jan 2010 Total posts:5608
Thanks for the link! Great to see |
Town Planning and Development - City centre shopping precincts |