Upcoming Events

April 2024

Thursday 11/04

19:30 – 21:30
CovSoc AGM

Monday 15/04

19:00 – 21:00
Coventry Society Committee Meeting
Recurs monthly

May 2024

Thursday 09/05

19:30 – 21:30
CovSoc Meeting
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Monday 20/05

19:00 – 21:00
Coventry Society Committee Meeting
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June 2024

Friday 14/06

All Day
CovSoc Visit to Pershore

Saturday 15/06

All Day
Civic Day

Monday 17/06

19:00 – 21:00
Coventry Society Committee Meeting
Recurs monthly

July 2024

Monday 15/07

19:00 – 21:00
Coventry Society Committee Meeting
Recurs monthly

Thursday 18/07

14:00 – 16:00
CovSoc Visit to Maxstoke Castle tbc

August 2024

Thursday 08/08

14:00 – 16:00
CovSoc Visit to Sherbourne Valley Project

Monday 19/08

19:00 – 21:00
Coventry Society Committee Meeting
Recurs monthly

September 2024

Wednesday 18/09

19:30 – 21:30
CovSoc Meeting

Monday 23/09

19:00 – 21:00
Coventry Society Committee Meeting

October 2024

Wednesday 09/10

19:30 – 21:30
CovSoc Meeting
Recurs monthly

Monday 14/10

19:00 – 21:00
Coventry Society Committee Meeting

Saturday 19/10

All Day
Heritage Conference

November 2024

Wednesday 06/11Friday 08/11

Feister gathering

Wednesday 13/11

19:30 – 21:30
CovSoc Meeting
Recurs monthly

Monday 18/11

19:00 – 21:00
Coventry Society Committee Meeting
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December 2024

Wednesday 11/12

19:30 – 21:30
CovSoc Meeting
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Monday 16/12

19:00 – 21:00
Coventry Society Committee Meeting
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January 2025

Wednesday 08/01

19:30 – 21:30
CovSoc Meeting
Recurs monthly

Monday 20/01

19:00 – 21:00
Coventry Society Committee Meeting
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February 2025

Wednesday 12/02

19:30 – 21:30
CovSoc Meeting
Recurs monthly

Monday 17/02

19:00 – 21:00
Coventry Society Committee Meeting
Recurs monthly

March 2025

Wednesday 12/03

19:30 – 21:30
CovSoc Meeting
Recurs monthly

Monday 17/03

19:00 – 21:00
Coventry Society Committee Meeting
Recurs monthly

Public Artwork on the National Provincial Bank (now the Nat West)

National Provincial Bank - before Broadgate House built

This very impressive building, which faces both High Street and Hertford Street, is the NatWest Bank, previously known as the National Provincial Bank. It looks like a Greek temple but it was built in the late 1920’s and opened in 1930. The building was designed by F.C.R. Palmer & W.F.C. Holden Architects. Around the building are some very interesting carved reliefs.

Above the main entrance portico, with Tuscan style columns and metopes, is a line of circular symbols based on mythological emblems and designs on coins running around the architrave. Larger roundels above the window around the building are relief sculptures of different mechanical objects that represent Coventry’s industries, done by sculptors G. & A. Brown.

Sculpture on the Nat West Bank

A watch escapement, a spark plug, a hypoid gear on a differential, a crankshaft and piston, a screw jack, a vice and tap. Coin inspired designs around the architrave over the entrance.

The silver-coated folding entrance doors are very interesting. Each contains twenty different studded panels. Each panel has a unique coin inspired relief chased onto them. The doors were designed by the architect W.F.C. Holden and made by Mr. Pearson of the Birmingham Guild. When the doors are open they concertina and are folded back into a recess. But there are four extra panels above the doorway ceiling which can only be seen when the bank is open but then half of the door panels can not be seen or noticed. The ear of barley comes from an Ancient Greek coin. Other panels are based on Egyptian, Assyrian and Byzantine coins showing Myths, animals, birds, a crab and Gods. These include Hercules performing his labours – killing the Nemean lion and killing the serpent. There is Saint George killing the Dragon, a royal crown with lion, a King in a chariot, a musical instrument, the lyre, and the tripod of Apollo. They look wonderful and the designs are repeated in plaster reliefs inside the bank as well.

The doors at the Nat West Bank

The doorway today

The emblem above the doorway

Return to the Public Art Page