13 - april 2012

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April 2012 Monday, April 16 at 7.30pm Holy Trinity Centre (please note 3rd Monday ) (Old Bluecoat School), Priory Row. Reports on 201112. Was the last year’s business a success or failure? Followed by a presentation on a way forward for the Society by David Tittle and Adam Mottershead In response to plans unveiled for the redevelopment of the southern section of the city centre and following consultation with its members, the Society has submitted its comments to the City Council. This is an extract from the full response submitted by our Secretary: We are largely in support of current proposals for City Centre South and welcome the reconfiguration and ‘opening up’ of areas including Market Way, Shelton Square and the Bull Yard that are tired and in urgent need of regeneration. We view the decision to retain and build upon the existing Precinct Cross created by the Gibson plan as a positive one. The consensus among our members is that the opening up of the ‘bridge’ into Broadgate from Hertford Street and the better access to/from IKEA would greatly improve the flow of people around the central shopping area. We also support a mix of uses other than retail (specifically including leisure and residential) to ensure that the Precinct area has life 24 hours a day—sorely lacking from the area concerned at present. The Society also welcomes the decision to demolish Coventry Point. Design and Architecture We would like to see quality buildings with a commitment to the highest levels of design and architecture. Serious consideration should be given to the creation of a Design Brief for the area with Hertford Street quite different from the Market Way area. The aspiration for quality architecture should extend equally to the flag ship ‘anchor’ store as well as the general street pattern that is to be reinstated. The design of specific buildings/areas might come through competitions. We understand that the various ‘blocks’ of development would be developer led. However, Coventry’s primary shopping area is in desperate need of high quality architecture and we take the view that the frontages of the new blocks (if not the skeletal structures of the blocks themselves) should be architect led. One of the problems with Market Way, Shelton Square, Bull Yard etc. at present is that many of the buildings are uniform and monotonous. There is little architectural variety and consequently the area appears dull and boring. It is essential that Coventry does not repeat the mistakes of the past by again creating vast new monotonous blocks of development. Hertford Street We believe that particular consideration needs to be given to the design of Hertford Street. At the upper end a number of key heritage buildings exist including the NatWest bank and the former Post Office. A commitment should be given to the preservation and reuse of these buildings which easily lend themselves to mixed use conversion. New buildings which surround the upper end of Hertford Street should respect the height, scale and material palette of the former Post Office and NatWest bank. The lower end of Hertford Street also needs particular consideration. Single storey buildings (Northern Rock, Game Station, Eat 4 Less, etc) have little architectural merit. The height and scale of these buildings is considered to be inappropriate and opportunities to increase the height and reuse of these buildings should be explored. We would like to see greater residential use in Hertford Street. The recent conversion of the upper levels of the former Post Office buildings serves as an example. We would also like to see the removal of the split level arrangement and reinstatement of the single level incline. Methodist Central Hall This is a prominent landmark that should be retained and would readily enhance any new scheme surrounding it. This handsome building benefits from an excellent central location and could serve as a first class music venue, civic hall, independent departmental store should it no longer be required as a place of worship. New public realm improvements could follow. Fords Hospital There is an opportunity to vastly improve the setting of Grade 1 listed Fords Hospital. Every effort should be made to remove the (dark and narrow) tunnel that currently links Greyfriars Road to Hertford Street and create an open space to the front of the historic building. Mix of Uses We support the broad range of uses proposed, and consider a greater volume of residential and non retail uses should be incorporated, especially in Market Way. Some of our members expressed concern about the viability of a new cinema complex in such close proximity to the Odeon Cinema at the SkyDome. The scheme should compliment SkyDome and Spon Street areas, not detract from them. One possible alternative use for the cinema complex proposed in the Precinct area is a bowling alley. Small Independent Traders While we do not necessarily challenge the proposed demolition of the current City Arcade / Greyfriars Walk buildings, we are concerned about the loss of small independent traders from the city centre area. We see the loss of smaller units at lower rents as a backward step. A successful urban centre contains a mix of retail as evidenced by popular shopping destinations such as Leicester, Leamington Spa and Birmingham. We believe therefore that every effort should be made to both retain the existing small independent traders in the City Centre South area and also attract new small independent businesses. More imaginative schemes should be considered including a ‘premise / rent sharing’ complex similar to Afflecks Palace in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

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Holy Trinity Centre (please note 3rd Monday) (Old Bluecoat School), Priory Row. Three-storey: The top shops at the rear of Russell House in 2005 Contacts 123 Upper Spon Street, Coventry CV1 3BQ Tel: 07855 113973 Email: [email protected] If Twitter is your thing, you can follow us at https://twitter.com/#!/CovSoc We also have our own page on Facebook. You can also follow us there at http://www.facebook.com/CoventrySociety Keith Draper Picture by Colin Walker

TRANSCRIPT

April 2012

Monday, April 16 at 7.30pm Holy Trinity Centre (please note 3rd Monday)  (Old Bluecoat School), Priory Row.   Reports on 2011‐12. Was the last year’s business a success or failure? Followed by a presentation on a way forward for the Society by David Tittle and Adam Mottershead 

In response to plans unveiled for the           redevelopment of the southern section of the city centre and following consultation with its members, the Society has                       submitted its comments to the City              Council.  This is an extract from the full response submitted by our Secretary: We are largely in support of current               proposals for City Centre South and       welcome the reconfiguration and ‘opening up’ of areas including Market Way, Shelton Square and the Bull Yard that are tired and in urgent need of regeneration.  We view the decision to retain and build upon the existing Precinct Cross created by the Gibson plan as a positive one.  The consensus among our members is that the opening up of the ‘bridge’ into Broadgate from Hertford Street and the better access to/from IKEA would greatly improve the flow of people around the central shopping area.  We also support a mix of uses other than retail (specifically including leisure and residential) to ensure that the Precinct area has life 24 hours a day—sorely             lacking from the area concerned at               present. The Society also welcomes the decision to  demolish Coventry Point.   Design and Architecture  We would like to see quality buildings with a commitment to the highest levels of  design and architecture.  Serious              consideration should be given to the                 creation of a Design Brief for the area with Hertford Street quite different from the Market Way area.  The aspiration for quality architecture should extend equally to the flag ship ‘anchor’ store as well as the general street pattern that is to be reinstated.  The          design of specific buildings/areas might come through competitions.  We understand that the various ‘blocks’ of development would be developer led. However, Coventry’s primary shopping area is in desperate need of high quality architecture and we take the view that the frontages of the new blocks (if not the skeletal structures of the blocks                   themselves) should be architect led.  One 

of the problems with Market Way, Shelton Square, Bull Yard etc. at present is that many of the buildings are uniform and monotonous. There is little architectural variety and consequently the area appears dull and boring. It is essential that                    Coventry does not repeat the mistakes of the past by again creating vast new              monotonous blocks of development.                        Hertford Street We believe that particular consideration needs to be given to the design of                Hertford Street. At the upper end a           number of key heritage buildings exist including the NatWest bank and the            former Post Office. A commitment should 

be given to the preservation and reuse of these buildings which easily lend                  themselves to mixed use conversion. New buildings which surround the upper end of Hertford Street should respect the height, scale and material palette of the former Post Office and NatWest bank.  The lower end of Hertford Street also needs particular consideration.  Single  storey buildings (Northern Rock, Game Station, Eat 4 Less, etc) have little                   architectural merit. The height and scale of these buildings is considered to be          inappropriate and opportunities to               increase the height and re‐use of these            buildings should be explored.  We would like to see greater residential use in Hertford Street. The recent                    conversion of the upper levels of the            former Post Office buildings serves as an example.  We would also like to see the removal of the split level arrangement and reinstatement of the single level incline.  

               Methodist Central Hall This is a prominent landmark that should be retained and would readily enhance any new scheme surrounding it.  This handsome building benefits from an          excellent central location and could serve as a first class music venue, civic hall,             independent departmental store should it no longer be required as a place of              worship.   New public realm improvements could follow.            Fords Hospital There is an opportunity to vastly improve the setting of Grade 1 listed Fords                  Hospital. Every effort should be made to remove the (dark and narrow) tunnel that currently links Greyfriars Road to Hertford Street and create an open space to the front of the historic building.                Mix of Uses  We support the broad range of uses             proposed, and consider a greater volume of residential and non retail uses should be incorporated, especially in Market Way. Some of our members expressed concern about the viability of a new cinema              complex in such close proximity to the Odeon Cinema at the SkyDome.  The scheme should  compliment  SkyDome and Spon Street areas, not detract from them. One possible alternative use for the cin‐ema complex proposed in the Precinct area is a bowling alley.              Small Independent Traders While we do not necessarily challenge the proposed demolition of the current City Arcade / Greyfriars Walk buildings, we are concerned about the loss of small                  independent traders from the city centre area.  We see the loss of smaller units at lower rents as a backward step.                               A successful urban centre contains a mix of retail as evidenced by popular shopping              destinations such as Leicester, Leamington Spa and Birmingham.  We believe therefore that every effort should be made to both retain the existing small independent traders in the City              Centre South area and also attract new small independent businesses. More                         imaginative schemes should be considered including a ‘premise / rent sharing’              complex similar to Afflecks Palace in                         Manchester’s Northern Quarter. 

A small group of people, including some members of the Coventry Society’s Committee, had the opportunity to view the magnificent mural at the former St. Mark’s Church on Stoney Stanton Road at a special viewing in March. The mural, which has been locked away for many years, is now recognised as a major work by German refugee artist Hans Feibusch. Feibusch, who was Jewish, was awarded the German State Prize for

painters in the 1930’s. But a few years later he had to flee the Nazi regime when his name was included on Goebel’s list of “degenerate artists”. He moved to Britain and built a reputation painting murals on churches and public buildings around the country. The mural at St. Mark’s was painted in 1963 and was one of his last works as his eyesight deteriorated. The Coventry Society is working with Coventry Diocese’s Divine Inspiration Project to secure the mural for the benefit of future generations.

St. Mark’s Church is a Grade II listed building, but is currently vacant following the relocation of the Outpatients Unit to the new hospital in Walsgrave. The mural will be open for wider public viewing during Heritage Open Days on September 8-9. We have also been fortunate in securing the support of well known lecturer and Feibusch authority Gaynor Williams to give a talk about the artist and his work. There will be more details in the Heritage Open Days programme. John Payne

Those who know Rob Gill’s bookshop in Gosford Street will be interested in the discovery of a 14th century            sandstone pit beneath his old kitchen/washhouse.                   The Victorian single‐storey had always suffered                        subsidence and now Rob knows the reason why, as                  excavations for a new extension progressed. Development along this row in Gosford Street dates from at least the mid‐14th century when the nearby Whitefriars Carmelite friary was founded.  The building next door—a butcher’s for at least a century and a half, but since 2000 a pub, has some smoke‐blackened 14th century timbers in its roof structure and is listed II*.   Rob’s shop is entirely Victorian including the cellar, and replaced an earlier building in the 1850’s.   Former City Conservation Officer George Demidowicz established from documentary              evidence that on the site stood the Mercers’ Company Pageant House, described in a lease of 1602 as “lately being a pageant house.”  Here would have been stored the pageant vehicle which served as a stage, costumes, and properties for the company’s part in Coventry’s              Mystery Plays. Rob’s kitchen had been built over two large medieval pits, 

one lined with sandstone blocks and roughly eight feet by 12 feet internally.  The site has been rich in small finds, including roof tile               fragments in quantity, animal bones, teeth and horn cores; and pottery shards.  There was much evidence of small‐scale                          metalworking—slag, crucible                fragments and wire. Thanks to Rob Gill for this                    fascinating insight into Gosford Street’s medieval scene. 

14th century finds 

We have it on good authority that the original bricks were saved after demolition of the historic wing to 31 Allesley Old Road and                         reconstruction will take place in the near future. That’s very good news for one of Coventry’s most historical buildings as the three‐storey range was equipped to manufacture high‐class watches and represents the inauguration of the Chapelfields                        watchmaking district in early Victorian times. Originally known as Russell House, it was built by W.H.Hill one of the leading lights of the trade, who was twice Mayor of the city.  His firm, registered as ’Talbott and Talbott, gained awards for its watches in     international competition. 

Despite efforts on our part to have the building listed English Heritage were            unimpressed and soon the building  fell into disrepair and became the target of arsonists.   The Society has always been puzzled that it should not be on the National List, but is  pleased to know that our  persistence has paid off and a full  restoration and                rebuild should start soon.  

Three-storey: The top shops at the rear of Russell House in 2005 Picture by Colin Walker

Topshop rebuild 

Contacts 123 Upper Spon Street, Coventry CV1 3BQ Tel: 07855 113973 Email: [email protected] If Twitter is your thing, you can follow us at https://twitter.com/#!/CovSoc We also have our own page on Facebook. You can also follow us there at http://www.facebook.com/CoventrySociety

Several members have yet to renew their subscription for 2012‐13 and we enclose renewal details again for your convenience.  We do need your support especially when your committee has put such effort into influencing a wide range of planning matters.  We often manage to bring the  professionals from a number of fields to meet you at our monthly meetings. But we can only do all of these things so long as we              continue to have the support of the membership. If you cannot make the AGM please return the enclosed form with your cheque.       Keith Draper  

More news and views on our website: www.coventrysociety.org.uk

Feibusch Mural Subscription renewals