Coventry Council House
Earl Street
Coventry
The building is grade II listed -
1913-17 by Edward Garret and H W Simister of Birmingham in Elizabethan style. Sandstone ashlar. Mainly symmetrical front with central belfry, large central porch flanked by gilded armorial decoration under giant figures. Many gables. Clock-tower on right. Fine lead rainwater heads. historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/134292...
The Council House was the result of a competition held in 1910, to match the style of St. Mary’s Hall and the Police Station in Bayley Lane. It was won by Birmingham architects Edward Garratt and H. W. Simister. Henry Wilson was to enrich both the inside and out. His involvement did not start until 1915. Inside Wilson took charge of furnishing and embellishing the first-floor Council Chamber. Outside, he adorned all three storeys of the entrance bay.
In 1915 he was climbing the scaffolding to inspect the possible sitting of one of his stone sculptures when he was overcome by searing pains and was narrowly saved from falling. He had to be carried down and rushed to hospital, desperately ill with a stomach ulcer aggravated by exhaustion.
He dressed the Hay Lane tower with shields of civic office and carved the four patron saints of the British Isles, keeping watch over the city. On the other corner of St Mary’s Street, jutting out of the tower, he designed a cantilevered clock with the swept back wings of a golden Angel. The original clock had a seven foot copper disc face but this was damaged in the Blitz and was replaced with white glass with a light behind it.
Below the clock Peeping Tom is at his window looking for Godiva; but she is over the main entrance carved in white Portland stone along with Earl of Leofric and Justice in the centre. Interestingly the Godiva statue and Justice did not go up until 1924, as Henry Wilson had not been paid and he held them back until he was. This was due to the fact that the city council had put the money to pay Henry into an account, but had spent it by the time it was due! So when King George V opened it in 1920, it was not fully finished, with two main sculptures missing!
From -
Henry Wilson – the all round artist for Coventry Council House
www.coventrysociety.org.uk/public-art-in-coventry/council...
Coventry Council House
Earl Street
Coventry
The building is grade II listed -
1913-17 by Edward Garret and H W Simister of Birmingham in Elizabethan style. Sandstone ashlar. Mainly symmetrical front with central belfry, large central porch flanked by gilded armorial decoration under giant figures. Many gables. Clock-tower on right. Fine lead rainwater heads. historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/134292...
The Council House was the result of a competition held in 1910, to match the style of St. Mary’s Hall and the Police Station in Bayley Lane. It was won by Birmingham architects Edward Garratt and H. W. Simister. Henry Wilson was to enrich both the inside and out. His involvement did not start until 1915. Inside Wilson took charge of furnishing and embellishing the first-floor Council Chamber. Outside, he adorned all three storeys of the entrance bay.
In 1915 he was climbing the scaffolding to inspect the possible sitting of one of his stone sculptures when he was overcome by searing pains and was narrowly saved from falling. He had to be carried down and rushed to hospital, desperately ill with a stomach ulcer aggravated by exhaustion.
He dressed the Hay Lane tower with shields of civic office and carved the four patron saints of the British Isles, keeping watch over the city. On the other corner of St Mary’s Street, jutting out of the tower, he designed a cantilevered clock with the swept back wings of a golden Angel. The original clock had a seven foot copper disc face but this was damaged in the Blitz and was replaced with white glass with a light behind it.
Below the clock Peeping Tom is at his window looking for Godiva; but she is over the main entrance carved in white Portland stone along with Earl of Leofric and Justice in the centre. Interestingly the Godiva statue and Justice did not go up until 1924, as Henry Wilson had not been paid and he held them back until he was. This was due to the fact that the city council had put the money to pay Henry into an account, but had spent it by the time it was due! So when King George V opened it in 1920, it was not fully finished, with two main sculptures missing!
From -
Henry Wilson – the all round artist for Coventry Council House
www.coventrysociety.org.uk/public-art-in-coventry/council...