Belgrade Theatre Relief Panel

Belgrade Theatre

Exterior Wall - facing Corporation Street

This large relief panel was created and designed 

in 1958 by James C Brown, sculpture.

Below is a full description I found in records of the

Public Monuments & Sculptures Association's

website which I quote.... 

'Sculptured concrete panel over the main entrance to the Belgrade Theatre symbolising the city of Belgrade and is based on a 1684 engraving by Giacomo de Rossi.  The relief shows a fortress on a hill above a walled city, surrounded by the river Danube. The city arms and its name in Cyrillic script on a banner are at the top of the relief. The dark colour of the textured panel provides a visual interruption form the smoothness of the surrounding windows. The relief shows a fortress on a hill above a walled city, which is surrounded by a river. At the top left, the city's coat of arms appear and at top right, its name is shown on a banner in Cyrillic script. The city is presumably Belgrade, given the name of the theatre. 

James Brown was asked by the city architect to design and make the relief. The Yugoslav Embassy was consulted about the project, and they supplied the Giacomo de Rossi engraving upon which Brown based his design. Brown first made the relief in brick clay and then had it cast in cement fondu with Penmaenware granite chippings for aggregate. 

The theatre was named after the Yugoslav city as a gesture of friendship between the two cities and in recognition of a gift of timber to furnish the interior of the building.'

Apologies for a large amount of text, but

I thought it best to quote the full description.

The Belgrade Theatre is a live performance theatre, seating 858 people.

The Belgrade was the first civic theatre to be built after WWII in Britain.

Participating in Monday Mural

Olympic Tribute Mural

Walkway between Spon End and Croft Road

This mural celebrates

champions from in and around Coventry 

who have participated in the Olympics.

Above (left to right) 

Naomi Folkard (Leamington Spa) - Archery 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 Olympics

Rachel Smith (Coventry) - Rhythmic Gymnastic 2012 Olympics

Mandip Sehmi (Leamington Spa) - Wheelchair Rugby 

2008, 2012, 2016 Paralympics Games

Below (left to right)

Mandip Sehmi (as noted above)

The Olympic Torch - 12,100 torches all made in Coventry for 2012 Olympics

Neil Adams, MBE (Rugby) - Judo Silver Medals 1980 & 1984 Olympics

Marlon Devonish, MBE (Coventry) - Running Gold Medal in 2004. 

Participated 2008 Olympics

Below:

Nick Skelton (Bedworth) - Horse Jumping Gold Medals 2012 & 2016 Olympics

It is a big mural.  I'm so glad I found it.

Participating in Monday Mural

Growth Of The City

Sainsbury's, Trinity Street

Diagrammatic map - part painted on

Swedish Pearl Granite

by Artist, John Skelton in 1964.

You can see the words 'Cofas Tree' in the centre.

It is thought that Cofa's Tree is mostly likely the source of 

the name 'Coventry'.  The gold leaf buildings are the City Gates.

Please pardon the reflection.  This map shows the

growth of Coventry from 1748 to 1932.  

It is located by an emergency exit door of

 Sainsbury's grocery store

 and is not visible from outside.

Participating in Monday Mural

Happy Birthday, Richard!

Restored Ghost Signs

120 Upper Spon Street
Part of Black Swan Terrace
Built in 1454

In the second half of the 20th century this premises was
occupied by wholesale & retail tobacconist, H. E. Jones
and later the London Laundry.

In the photo below you can see 3 of the 6 terraced cottages.
They were originally built by the Benedictines in the
15th century as a group of live-work units.
People had their business and lived in cottages
with 3 rooms only (2 downstairs and 1 upstairs).

In the 1990s the buildings were close to being demolished
but the Spon End Building Preservation Trust
was able to restore and reflect different periods of history
as part of the restoration project.  I will revisit :).

If you would like to know more about the
history of Black Swan Terrace, please follow the link HERE.

Participating in Monday Mural

"We Saved It"

Starley Road Mural

I have included more detail about the story 

behind this mural (further down the page).

(Below) are some of the late Victorian houses that

line Starley Road close to Coventry City Centre.

The road was named after James Starley,

father of the bicycle industry.

The story goes something like this:  

The bombs that fell on Coventry during the Blitz

in WW2 missed Starley Road leaving this road in tact.

In 1970s the Council came up with an unpopular plan 

to demolish this inner-city terraced street

and replace it with a tower block. 

The local residents had other ideas.  

A mural was painted (not the one you see here)

on this end terraced house.  It was a picture of a tower block

 with an X through it and the words 'Starley Road - Save It'.

By September, 1978, the residents did just that.  

They formed the City's first ever housing cooperative

and replaced the mural with the one shown here today.

Below is the full size mural declaring

'We Saved It'.

There is a small children's park next to this building.

Participating in Monday Mural

Flyover Mural

Coventry Ring Road

Over Gosford Street

I get rather excited when I notice any murals

around Coventry.  That means I can join others at

Monday Mural.

In these photos you can see a small portion of the

2 mile Ring Road which circles Coventry City Centre.

I'm not sure what this mural is all about

but I was delighted to be able to photograph it.

It is on a portion of the Ring Road which cuts through

Coventry University.

I hope you had a Happy Easter.

I do like those big chocolate Easter eggs :).

Mixed Messages

William Morris Building

Gosford Street

The message above seems straight forward

until you see the sign on the wall opposite (below).

Spot the difference between these two ghost signs :).

The William Morris Building, now part of Coventry University,

has a most interesting history.  The University added

two floors in early 2000.  Before that in early 1900's 

ARNO cars and motorcycles were built here. 

After that HOTCHKISS ET CIE produced 50,000 machine guns

during WWI and then produced engines for Morris cars.

 Morris took over and the premises became MORRIS ENGINES LIMITED in 1923.

By 1930 NUFFIELD MECHANISATIONS produced armaments during WW2.

After the war it became the 

Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance.

If you would like more detail, follow the link HERE.

The arrows (below) show where

the two ghost signs are located (with their conflicting information).

I enjoyed trooping out in cold today searching

for the sign below.  I was really surprised when

my husband spotted a second sign.  Well done, that man!

Participating in Monday Mural

Water Supply Sign

6 Hay Lane

The is a WWII painted water supply sign

giving instructions to blitz fire-fighters.

 This is what I love about living in Coventry -

hidden treasures reminding us of Coventry's past.

Unfortunately, the paint has faded considerably.

I could only make out some of the words.

Last week I mentioned The Golden Cross pub.

The image below shows the pub in Hay Lane

and the location of the painted water supply sign.

Participating in Monday Mural

Daimler Empress 1955

Coventry Transport Museum

Garage Door

Cook Street

The License Plate - MBRT 1

I believe the initials relate to the museum by its former name,

Museum of British Road Transport.

Admission to the Coventry Transport Museum

is free and well worth a visit.

Participating in Monday Mural

Painted On The Wall In 1590

St. Mary's Guildhall

Mercers' Room

Mercers Company Coat of Arms

The Mercers' Room is located in the

Guildhall's Gatehouse (built 1340-42).

In 1590 the room was leased by the

Mercers Company to be used as their meeting hall.

The Mercers Company in Coventry had a membership

merchants and traders.

* * *

I wish I could say I have a photo

of the actual room.  I don't.

I took this one of the mural in 2012

on a Heritage Open Day and came across it the other day.  

I recall deleting room shots because they were poor.

Ironically, I used to work in St Mary's Hall

years ago.  Why didn't I take a loads of shots then :). 

Participating in 

Monday Murals.

Ceiling Mural

Touchwood Shopping Centre, Solihull

About 20 miles from Coventry.

Taken at Christmas, 2015.

Unfortunately, Coventry doesn't get a mention

on this map.  

So, I fixed that by adding it (below) so you can

see where I am :).

At last I have found a mural so I can 

participate in Monday Mural.

Hooray!

Ghost Sign Mural

Lower Holyhead Road

On a very dull day last week.

I realise that the eye might tend to home in on the

'Booze' sign but it is the Nestle's ghost sign that I'm hoping will

qualify as a mural :).

I took a similar photo of this sign in 2012 and there is no change.

Look close and you'll see there is another 

older Nestle's advertisement underneath.

Participating in Monday Mural

Calcott Brothers Manufacturers

Calcott Bros. Ltd., Far Gosford Street

Established in 1885. Made bicycles in 1886 and moved here in 1896.

Built motorcycles in 1905 and in

1913 they began manufacturing motorcars until 1924

when the company was taken over by Singer.

I am hoping that the window on the left will 

qualify for Monday Mural.  Here is a closer look below.

I do like these historical windows.

This Renaissance-style exterior has always caught my eye.

It is red brick with cream terracotta.

The company offices faced the road here.  The factory complex was

to the rear.  The building is now used for student accommodation.

Below is a clever sign in the shape of a

Calcott radiator which tells the whole story.  You will

need to click on image to enlarge.

So there you have it - 

1896

Calcott Bros. Ltd.

Participating in MONDAY MURAL

A Little Coventry History

Hay Lane

Window Displays showing Coventry from 1910 to 1937
by permission of the
Coventry History Centre, The Herbert Museum & Art Gallery

Since so many buildings were destroyed in WWII, it is
wonderful that the Museum has created these permanent window displays
showing a little of Coventry's history.

The photo above is of High Street c1910.

Below is Hay Lane.  When you walk

down this Lane the window displays are

in the building on the right.  

Below is another one of the big windows reminding us 

that there were trams in Broadgate in c1937.

It you want to see the window displays of
Coventry Cathedral, have a look at my blog post yesterday.

Participating in Monday Mural

Study Inn

Trinity Street, Coventry

Wall of Maps

Coventry has two top universities -

Coventry University and University of Warwick.  

It is not surprising that student accommodation has become

big business.  I'm not partial to the color scheme of the 

building but I do like the mural of flags.

The way things are going, Coventry

will soon be a university campus city.

This building (one of 3 located right in middle of City),
is formerly an office and is now full of VIP studio flats.
There are various weekly fees which cover utilities,
internet, appliances, housekeeping and security, etc.

Participating in Monday Mural

PS Photos were taken on 26th Oct back in the sunshine days :).

Postcards from California - Wall Mosaic

Santa Monica, California

On a recent trip to California I saw this house

and thought of 'Monday Mural'.  Made me smile.

Someone spent a lot of time

covering the entire exterior with mosaic tiles.

...and it was lovely and warm outside too.

Participating in Monday Mural

Man's Struggle

Earl Street

Created by Walter Ritchie. 

These are images of 2 large Portland Stone carved relief murals

located on the outer wall of the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum.

Titled:

Man's Struggle to Control the World Outside Himself (above)

and 

(below) Man's Struggle to Control the World Inside Himself

Walter Richie created these murals between 1954 and 1959.

They were originally located in Coventry's Precinct and

later moved to this location at the museum.

THIS website gives an interpretation of the work

and more background info.

In the two photos below you can see Earl Street in both directions.

 (Above) Looking towards Cox Street and

(below) Looking towards Council House and City Centre beyond.

Cathedral is just behind Council House.

Woman's Struggle :)

I can hardly believe that it has been a week since

my last blog post.  For that reason, I think it wise

to take a little break.  Rest and recreation sounds like fun. 

See you here in October.

Take care all in the meantime.

Participating in Monday Mural

using my iPhone.