Old cinema in Earlsdon could be added to Coventry's historical assets
Coventry City Council is asking for the public's views on whether two more sites should be added to the city’s Local List of Heritage Assets
A wartime anti-tank defence on the edge of Coventry and an old cinema in Earlsdon could be added to the city council’s Local List of Heritage Assets if the public agree.
If successful, the spigot mortar off Shilton Lane and the Astoria on Albany Road would join the likes of the Calcott Cycle Works in Far Gosford Street and the Aardvark pub which was known as the Hen and Chickens when it first opened in the 1830s.
A report to be considered by the cabinet member for housing and communities, Cllr Naeem Akhtar this week explains that the cinema had been nominated by a member of the public while the council’s archaeology officer had put forward the spigot mortar.
The report says: “Locally listed buildings are buildings and sites within the local planning authority’s area which make a positive contribution to its local character and sense of place because of their heritage value. Whilst these buildings or sites may not be nationally designated, the local list identification of these sites and their significance then merits consideration in future planning decisions.
“A Local Listing designation does not serve to restrict development of a site or building which holds the designation, rather any application for redevelopment would need to evidence impacts to the designation, and where any loss is proposed, demonstrate that the benefits of a proposal outweigh the loss.
“Coventry City Council has maintained a Local List of Buildings of Special Architectural and Historic Interest since at least June 1974. The list has evolved over time as nominations have been considered and if endorsed, placed onto the register.”
The Blacker Bombard spigot mortar is located along the Oxford Canal off Shilton Lane. It forms one of a pair along the canal but the other one is outside the city boundary. It was one of a series of defence structures built from the summer of 1940 against the threat of German invasion. These anti-tank
defences were designed by Lieutenant Colonel VVS Blacker and were placed as part of linear defences schemes such as ‘stop-lines’, composed of a number of structures designed to obstruct the enemy’s advance.
The Astoria opened as the Broadway Cinema in November 1922 when it served as one of Coventry’s principal inter-war entertainment venues. It is said to reflect the growth of the cinema industry in early 20th Century Britain and although some decorative finishes have been removed or altered, the main structure, façade and internal arrangements remain largely intact. The building is currently home to the Nexus Institute of Creative Arts.
The cabinet member is recommended to approve a period of public consultation to consider including the two locations on the Local List of heritage assets.