Coventry Precinct

A definitive collection of images of Coventry's famous shopping precinct. In addition to my own postcard scans and photos I have been privileged to have been given consent to use a number of other people's pictures in this production.
Many thanks to "Allhails" (A.H.) who gave me permission to use the stunning pictures he took as a schoolboy of the Precinct. In this video they follow the redevelopment proposals and have the month / year they were taken on them. The last one is a marvellous colour shot from April 1957 which shows a completed Upper Precinct with part of Smithford Street still standing where the Lower Precinct would soon be built. To see more click this link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/allhails/sets/72157604930432466/

Following these pictures are a collection of postcard scans and photographs which take us all the way up to St. George's Day 2009. These include 3 classic shots taken in the 1960's by John Weir of a man wearing a sandwich board to advertise Benley's in the Lower Precinct. Many thanks to John for giving me permission to use these. I've also used a couple of pictures of the St. George's Day festivities this year taken by John's grandson, Antony Weir, so many thanks to him also for allowing me to use them. [Photography clearly runs in that family!]
John Weir's 1960's Coventry photographs are hosted by Antony in this flickr set:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/antonyweir/sets/72157600001075501/
Antony [generalzorn] has a diverse collection of his own photographs on flickr here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/antonyweir/

Last but not least, my thanks to Rob Orland for allowing me access to his Coventry archive. On Rob's fabulous "Historic Coventry" website, Coventry's post-war redevelopment is covered here:
http://www.historiccoventry.co.uk/postwar/postwar.php

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Precinct
• Coventry

[98Johnrobert]

Nice to see "Old Happy" @ 1:53, who used to walk around the City Centre with a Benley's Billboard.

[lilemi98]

i love cov

[DazedConfused1969]

@JessicaLouiseMusic I feel the same way jess, born in 90's too and would give it all to be a teen in the 50-70's coventry looked amazing, and now it just sucks

[victorlosses]

@JessicaLouiseMusic I think you'll find there are more 'Coventry's' out there than you imagine. But please don't let us hold you up with your plans for emigration. C'mon hurry, get those bags packed.

[JessicaLouiseMusic]

Wish I was a teen in 1955. Unfortunately, I was born in the 90's and Coventry now is a prision to me. It's just horrible everywhere I look. I don't go shopping in this part now, I go elsewhere. If that means driving for 2 hours idc, as long as it's away from there. Although it's my hometown, idc. I'm not proud of it. Can't wait to move out of England!

[JayneyB3843]

Coventry I miss you

dearly.

Jayne Bury St Edmunds

[pauljanny]

MY HOME TOWN :-) MEMORIES...

[midsaint776]

i love this , i was born in coventry in 1963 , but we had to move to leicester as my dad got seconded there with his his job in september 1968 . but coventry is still in my heart and will remain there , cos i've got so many fond memories of the short time living there. we lived in crossway road off green lane . early recollections are the carousel in the market , barnbys toy store ( god i wanted every toy in there) . the reindeer ride in thr co-op at christmas and the carnival every year.

[MonkeyVaughan]

Well done, looks better on some of the photo's than I remember - and you've revoked some very fond memories. Cheers.