"Piece of Rover history from 1911 unearthed in city centre pub"

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"Piece of Rover history from 1911 unearthed in city centre pub"

Postby dutchman » Mon Apr 12, 2021 8:20 pm

It was discovered as part of an ongoing restoration project

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A fascinating piece of Coventry's motoring history has been discovered.

Lift machinery and a lift shaft (which is now a stairwell) has been found in the top floor and roof of the Litten Tree pub in the city centre.

It is thought the machinery is around 110 years old, and was used to transport Rover cars and parts up three flights of stairs to the top floor, which was a Rover showroom.

The building was constructed in 1911, and operated as a Rover showroom until 1934, when it moved to other parts of Coventry.

The building then went on to house a war time food office, a city architect's office, a bathroom showroom and eventually a pub as we know it now.

The discovery was made by Alan Denyer, a local businessman who is transforming the top floors of the pub into an arts space.

Once complete it will officially be called 'LTB Showrooms' (LTB stands for Litten Tree building) and will be run independently of the pub by Mr Denyer and a team of volunteers.

They have encountered a few relics of the past including retro cigarette packets, bicycles, and even an empty Santa sleigh from when the shop was a department store.

But this is a particularly exciting discovery that gives an insight into just how booming the motor industry was in Coventry.

It is fascinating to think we once had a prestigious car showroom in the heart of the city centre.

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Mr Denyer filled CoventryLive in on the building's history: "It's a beautiful space, a really nice space to be in, I couldn't quite work out, because there were references to cars being on the upper floors and I couldn't work out how they could have got cars up there.

"In the 1950s when the building was converted they must have taken out the original lift which doubled as a goods lift and passenger lift.

"It is nice to see all this 110 year old lift machinery sitting in the space."

Mr Denyer believes the lift chamber was then converted to a staircase.

The Litten Tree in one of the few buildings in Coventry at that time to have a concrete beam construction.

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This was significant, because the building was so sturdy it was 'blast proof', and subsequently became the city council's war headquarters during World War Two.

Mr Denyer explained it was built by the same architects behind the Owen and Owen building, Hellbourg Harris.

"They were the largest independent architect outfit in Coventry and took on some quite prestigious projects, they were the architects for the city face lift in 1955" Mr Denyer said.

As he cleared the space, he found a note from planners to say the building had a pre-stretched concrete beam construction, which is why it lent itself to becoming the city's war headquarters.

Mr Denyer said as part of his LTB Showroom project, he will incorporate the lift shaft into the space so people can enjoy a piece of city heritage.

Once completed, Mr Denyer plans for the LTB Showrooms to host DJ nights, open mic and comedy evenings, art exhibitions and performances.

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Re: "Piece of Rover history from 1911 unearthed in city centre pub"

Postby dutchman » Tue Jan 24, 2023 7:30 pm

And now to be bulldozed as part of the city council's vanity project...

Closure date for The Litten Tree confirmed ahead of demolition of Bull Yard

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A popular Coventry restaurant and bar has announced that it will be closing for the final time in the coming weeks. The Litten Tree, on Warwick Road, will shut ahead of the demolition of the Bull Yard.

Contractors are expected the demolish the building ahead of multi-million-pound redevelopment City Centre South. It will permanently shut on Sunday, February 5.

LTB Showrooms, based above The Litten Tree, was launched in 2021 and gave thousands of people the chance to exhibit their artistic works free of charge, but now faces closing permanently as the city council move forward with City Centre South. It will shut next month if the owner fails to find a venue to secure its long-term future.

A number of other businesses will also be forced to shut as construction works are set to begin on the multi-million-pound redevelopment of the city centre later this year. Hundreds of flats will be built on the land alongside a large hotel, retail space and leisure facilities.

A spokesman for The Litten Tree said: “It comes with great sadness to inform you that The Litten Tree will be closing on Sunday, February 5, 2023. Unfortunately due to the City Centre South redevelopment, the Litten Tree building will be demolished in the summer of 2023.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your past business and say that the last 10 years was truly a pleasure. We thank you for your continued support over the remaining weeks.”

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So what was the point of the restoration? :roll:
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Re: "Piece of Rover history from 1911 unearthed in city centre pub"

Postby dutchman » Fri May 12, 2023 8:25 pm

Community arts venue to reopen in former pub

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A community arts space is set to reopen after a council offered a free use lease.

LTB Showrooms (LTB) had occupied rooms over the Litten Tree in Coventry since 2021, but had to vacate when the pub closed in February.

Coventry City Council stepped in to help allowing the space to be used until November, said Alan Denyer, who runs the venue.

The group is funded by volunteers and supports the arts with free exhibition space.

More than 15,000 people have visited LTB since opening, with about 700 artists and musicians helped, Mr Denyer said.

"We’ve also now been able to include the ex-pub ground floor space too - which is really exciting as it gives us some great new exhibition areas, with disabled access.

"We’ll also be able to add to the exciting programme of culture events we’ve delivered here since August 2021."

The building, along with others in the area, will eventually be demolished to make way for the City Centre South development.

It was originally constructed in 1910 as a showrooms for Rover Cars.

The venue is set to reopen to the public on Saturday.

:bbc_news:
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