City Arcade as it was...

[dutchman]

Since it was mentioned on another forum I thought I'd post it here:



At the end of the tunnel you can just see the drill-hall.

We used to spend hours messing around on the upper levels on a Sunday afternoon when there were no shoppers around. I wonder if the little girl in the picture is now reading this?

Edit: the giant bird cage appears to be on the extreme left hand side just out of picture and is attracting the attention of the little girl and her mother. Funny, I always remembered it as being closer to the staircase? Was there not also a Coventry Climax racing car engine in a glass showcase at this end?

[pollyanna]

Do you know what year this picture was taken Dutchy

[dutchman]

Do you know what year this picture was taken Dutchy

As some of the shops are not yet occupied I suspect it was taken very shortly after the Arcade was completed in 1962. It was originally to have been a market hall with a single open space but the advent of the circular market made that idea redundant. The basic outline of a market hall still remains.

[rebbonk]

Brings back a few memories!

For so long that particular part of town has been so neglected and run down.

Do I remember a very good pub at the bottom of the arcade on the left hand side? Possibly about where the "Beauty" salon is these days?

[dutchman]

Do I remember a very good pub at the bottom of the arcade on the left hand side? Possibly about where the "Beauty" salon is these days?

Indeeed you do Rebbonk. The Thistle opened in 1962 and closed in 1991.

[pollyanna]

I remember the Thistle and often went in there.

There was also a baby shop near The Thistle called Betty Preece. She was married to Ivor Preece - the Rugby International - and what a lovely bloke he was. I had the pleasure of working with him and he was a true gent.

[creteskyblue]

Dutchman

You are correct about the Bird cage,I think they moved it when they removed the balcony and the conventional staircase & put in the steel spiral staircase.

Regards.

[creteskyblue]

PS.

The Climax Engine was there to be associated with the "Coventry Climax"pub. I think that was the correct name of it

Regards.

[pollyanna]

You're right Creteskyblue - there was a pub there called the Coventry Climax - and until you mentioned it had completely forgotten all about it

[Midland Red]

Just "The Climax" as I recall