March 2017
Coventry, with its ever growing population is ranked as the eighth largest city in England and the eleventh largest in the UK, yet we make little or nothing of our cultural attractions. Isn’t it time we re-invented them and shouted from the rooftops? ….a fantastic resource. Something special to offer. Recently the Coventry Telegraph highlighted nine possible attractions that could make Coventry a better place to live. With Coventry bidding to become City of Culture 2021, at least two of the ideas could be made a reality. They could even help to save threatened buildings to the benefit of all. We anxiously wait for news on progress at Drapers’ Hall, an important building that will hopefully open as a centre of musicianship. News from the Priory Visitor Centre is promising. It’s re-opening is apparently scheduled for the end of April with a social enterprise business at the heart of the new operation. 6
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Listed: The bird-like form of the Swimming Pool from Cope Street The Central Swimming Pool will surely be closed as the new leisure centre in New Union Street opens in late 2018. We have yet to hear of an exit strategy for the listed building but believe it should serve the people of Coventry in a new capacity. An entertainment complex together with The Elephant next door would bring a much needed facility to the city centre. One of the Telegraph concepts is a seaside beach. Why not? It would fit well with a winter garden in the swimming pool area. The Telegraph also raised the question of a central concert venue. With the squeeze on the public purse that seems as unlikely as ever, unless the possibility of refurbishing the upper floor of The Elephant is explored. It might well make a fine 500-seater performance space. Both schemes could bring new life to the city
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1. Drapers’ Hall 2. The Herbert 3 New Cathedral 4. Cathedral Ruins 5. Priory Visitor Centre 6. Transport Museum 7. Central Baths 8. The Elephant 9. Faculty of Art 10. St Mary’s Guildhall
Activity: Playing badminton in the upper sports hall of The Elephant
centre especially with a reconfigured entrance from an upgraded Cope Street. Coventry University has a fine reputation for its work at the Faculty of Art and just opposite is the Ellen Terry Centre for the Performing Arts. Surely these two venues could play a more active role in the fortunes of our city. Our map shows how easily a cultural quarter could be created. The Herbert, Drapers’ Hall and New and Old Cathedrals with St Mary’s Hall make a convenient cluster. We indicate how the Priory Visitor Centre is accessed from Priory Street, while the Central Swimming Pool and The Elephant could have a new entrance from Cope Street.
Re-opening: The Priory Visitor Centre showing the upper level access
At the beginning of March the Department for Culture, Media and Sport released the list of all the cities we’re up against in the race to become UK City of Culture in 2021. We are one of 11 cities vying for the title, and this is the full list of runners: Portsmouth, Swansea, Paisley, Sunderland, Coventry, Hereford, Stoke on Trent , Perth, Warrington, St David’s and the Hundred of Dewisland, Wells.
More news and views on our website: www.coventrysociety.org.uk