Council House, Coventry

The Council House, Coventry is a tudor-style civic building which acts as the meeting place of Coventry City Council and was built in the early 20th century. It is a Grade II-listed building.[1]

Council House, Coventry
The Council House
Council House in its setting at Council House Square
General information
Architectural styleTudor
Classification
Listed Building – Grade II
Designated24 June 1974
Reference no.1342927
AddressEarl Street
Town or cityCoventry
CountryUnited Kingdom
Coordinates52.4072°N 1.5079°W / 52.4072; -1.5079
Construction started1913
Completed1917
Opened11 June 1920 (1920-06-11)
OwnerCoventry City Council
Technical details
Floor count4
Design and construction
ArchitectEdward Garrett, Henry Walter Simister
Website
www.coventry.gov.uk/directory_record/66/the_council_house

History

The Council House was commissioned to replace St Mary's Guildhall as the headquarters of the mayor and city corporation.[2] It was designed by Edward Garrett and Henry Walter Simister of Birmingham in the Elizabethan style[3] and built between 1913 and 1917.[4] It was opened by the Duke of York on 11 June 1920.[5] Statues were installed around and above the entrance to depict Leofric (who founded monasteries in Coventry), Godiva (who was patron of the local monastries) and Justice.[6]

During the Second World War, the bombings on the night of 14 November 1940, known as the Coventry Blitz, gave rise to some damage to the building including the destruction of the stained glass windows.[7] The former Duke of York returned to the Council House as King George VI to survey the damage in the aftermath of the raid.[7]

  • The interior corridors have decorative plasterwork and leaded windows
  • The coat of arms of Coventry over the entrance to the Council House. Coventry's motto Camera Principis translates as "The Prince's Chamber", used because Coventry was regarded as the chamber of Edward, the Black Prince.

References
  1. Historic England. "The Council House, Coventry (1342927)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  2. "St Mary's Guildhall". Culture24. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  3. "Council House Called Late To Politics". Coventry and Warwickshire News. 23 August 2000. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  4. "Coventry Council House". Visit Coventry and Warwickshire. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  5. Orland, Rob. "Council House, Earl Street". Historic Coventry. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  6. "The Council House". A History Tour of Coventry. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  7. "Council House". Britain Express. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
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