William Mitchell's History of Coventry mural revealed

[dutchman]

The History of Coventry mural had been covered until it was revealed last year



A significant mural that was covered and left unseen for decades has been revealed and will be relocated as part of a city centre development.

Sculptor William Mitchell created The History of Coventry in the foyer of a former office block set for demolition.

The 8.5m (28ft)-wide piece depicts moments and icons from the city, including Lady Godiva, the peasants' revolt and cathedral fire.

Other afffected artworks would also be kept or relocated, developers said.

Architectural sculpture historian Dr Dawn Pereira said the piece was "a lot more significant" than had been originally thought.

Created in Hertford House in 1974, it was carved in situ by the artist before being hidden by a plaster stud wall and was only uncovered in 2022.

Until then it was not known whether the mural had been preserved.

There were some images of parts of the art but not the whole thing, she said.

"And no one knew the condition of the piece," Dr Pereira added.



Mitchell was commissioned by the city council to create the piece which runs the full length of the foyer.

It is constructed from faircrete, a soft plaster-like concrete which was applied to a wire mesh and then carved as it dried, explained Dr Pereira.

"It's a really good-quality, detailed piece in very good condition," she said.

It was unusual as it displays the artist's signature, she added.

"He rarely signed a piece and it makes me think he was very happy with the result," she said.

The work has been documented by Historic England as part of a report into art and historic buildings affected by the City Centre South redevelopment.

It is thought it could have been covered up in the 1990s.

The artist, who died in 2020, was "one of Britain's most innovative post-war sculptors," said the Twentieth Century (C20) Society.

He has more works listed on the national register than any other artist and is known for creating distinctive large public pieces.

The organisation had previously lodged objections to the application, warning it endangered the city's post-war heritage.



Other city works by the artist, including the listed Three Tuns mural in the Bull Yard, will be relocated as part of the scheme, developers said.

"A public art strategy is being prepared in consultation with Coventry City Council and Historic England to relocate the public art both onsite and within close proximity to City Centre South," said a spokesperson from Shearer Property Regen Limited.

"The existing artwork across the site is an important part of the overall masterplan and a detailed historic building record has been undertaken as part of this process," they commented.

The C20 Society said it welcomed proposals to "safeguard, conserve and relocate" the art.

Local group the Coventry Society said it was "delighted" developers had confirmed the works would be retained.

"The preservation of public art is one of the challenges of a scheme like this and it appears that the developers are taking it seriously," the organisation's chair, Pete Walters, said.

Coventry Society member Aaron Law, who has been working to raise awareness of the artist's work in the city, also welcomed the news.

"There was talk of maybe replicating it," he said, "but it's brilliant news that the original piece will be on view to the public again."

The developers have yet to reveal plans for how the mural will be moved.

[dutchman]

it was carved in situ by the artist before being hidden by a plaster stud wall

Looking at it I can't say I blame them!