Broadgate Coventry

Images of the heart of Coventry 1948-2009.

Once again I've used my own images and those of Rob Orland who is the brains behind the excellent "Historic Coventry" website.

http://www.historiccoventry.co.uk

Cheers Rob!

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Coventry
• Broadgate
• Primark
• Lady
• Godiva
• Owen
• Hotel
• Leofric

[fez41]

I remember the summers of the late 70's, the landscaped garden area would be populated by cider swilling punks. They may not have enhanced the area for tourists but it will be a shame if the greenery is fenced off. I'd buy a dozen tickets for a lottery to swing the first wrecking ball into cathedral lanes. More green less concrete!

[shawry1970]

Yeah I remember punks and skinheads drinking there and hassling tourists.

Also remember some new year's celebrations at the Lady Godiva statue ... with the police watching on and giving people 5 minutes to enjoy themselves before clearing the area.

Cathedral Lanes has to be one of the biggest disasters in a long line of planning disasters to afflict Cov over the years.

[fez41]

Frank Black & The Catholics?

[shawry1970]

The Pixies ... it's on "The Songs of Leonard Cohen" tribute CD by various artists.

[KsaundersPI]

@Steerpike07 I am also from Coventry and born in 1962. It was beautiful in the 60's and even the 70's. They ruined with Cathedral Lanes and that horrible canopy. I live in South Carolina but have fond memories of Broadgate when it was also the bus terminus like pool meadow.

[elainerob1967]

I much preferred Coventry in the 1970's and 80's much greener, the worst thing they ever built was Cathedral Lanes, getting rid of the lawn surrounding Lady Godiva and getting rid of the old library was a travesty.

[midsaint776]

hi there , i was born in coventry in may 1963 and we moved to leicester in september 1968 as my dad got seconded there , with his job. we lived on crossway road off green lane. i hate what they'r doing to coventry. but coventry will always remain in my heart cos it's a great place. even if i have lived in leicester for 42 years.

[ClashAce]

The 60s and 70s really did show Broadgate at its best, not like now......an absolute monstrosity! The planners should hang their heads in shame!

[Steerpike07]

Those old pictures show how green and pleasant Coventry used to be. It's not just our imagination; it really was nicer. There's so much clutter and mess now. Recycling bins, ugly poles and CCTV and concrete everywhere - plus inferior humans littering everywhere.

I was born there in 1963 and left in 1981. I'm so glad I got out and certainly never visit the modern dump it's become. It can never be restored again in our lifetimes.

[jbirkin91]

Really good video, nice photos of old broadgate. Unfortunately i have grown up with the tent and cathedral lanes so never saw the garden and i cant see why they decided to ruin such a great centre piece that would attract far more tourism and look far more attractive as you can see greenery and the cathedral. Luckily the new jerde plans will get rid of cathedral lanes and replace the garden, we'll have to wait and see.