Hundred years since first stone laid at Council House

[dutchman]

It is 100 years since the first stone was laid at Coventry's Council House.


Foundations are laid for one of the city’s most striking buildings

Despite its Tudor-styled looks, work on the famous building only began a century ago - with today (Wednesday) marking exactly 100 years since a ceremony saw the laying of the foundation stone.

The idea for a new Council House had first been proposed in 1891 by Alderman James Marriott, who said a new building was needed to house the Council's increasing number of departments.

But the plans were hit by many delays.

There were arguments over choosing the building’s exact location while shops and other properties already on the site needed to be bought out.

The design and purpose of the building were also the subjects of long discussions, with original plans for the entire frontage on Earl Street to include shops with the Council buildings behind, before amended plans for shops on the ground floor with Council offices above.

Councillors were split over the issue until 1908, when new instructions were given for a building without shops. A design competition was held with Edward Garrett and HW Simister, of Birmingham, being chosen for their design reflecting the grandeur of the city’s medieval past.

But even when work started things didn't run smoothly.

The Great War lead to a shortage of labour, and even architect Edward Garrett applied for exemption from military service to see the job through.

Then the national Great Builders Lock-out of 1914 halted construction again from January to August in a row over non-union labour.

But finally, in 1917, the building seen today was created, with three storeys, 16 bays and features including the three figures of Leofric, Godiva and Justice above the main entrance and the clock on the tower to the east side of the building.

The building - apart from its stained glass windows - survived the Blitz but still came under fire from the local press.

The Coventry Graphic commented ‘the exterior of the Council House is being overloaded with gaudy ornament’ while an article in the Coventry Herald said the new Council House had a ‘slightly vulgar’ look to it.

The council said the building's main aim was to be a centre where the people of Coventry could visit those that represented them and get help.

Departments have since come and gone with new buildings created over the road in Little Park Street, with a bridge connecting them to the old Council House created in 1976.

But the old building has remained true to the original design and is still one of the city’s most striking landmarks.

[dutchman]