Coventry Sports and Leisure Centre Visit
Image: Dylan - @dylanparrin
In recent weeks there has been discussion around the merits of the post war architecture in Coventry - this blog post is not a debate but a celebration of one such building! One major project following the war was the creation of the Sports and Leisure Centre on Fairfax Street.
An iconic part of the city centre, the centre was designed in 1956 and built between 1962-6 by Coventry City Architect's Department. This was under the stewardship of Arthur Ling and Terence Gregory with Michael McLellan principal architect and Paul Beney assistant in charge (Historic England listing 1997). It is a listed building and has a number of elements noted as being of Architectural interest. It has a striking winged roof design that utilises an unusual longitudinal plan and an impressive full height glazed south wall (Historic England listing 1997). Much of the building that housed the 50 metre pool had remained unchanged in recent years with the only major addition coming a decade after it first opened with the much loved “Elephant” building being adjoined to the existing structure via a “trunk” to provide further sport and leisure activities. Some photos of the construction and subsequent Elephant building can be seen here.
In Febraury 2020 the Coventry Sports and Leisure Centre on closed its doors for the final time. It had been part of the city story for 50 years and there was an emotional farewell. (Details of the last hurrah on Coventry Live.) A listed status does not mean a building must remain in its current guise forever and in February the time had come for closure with a creaking building and other facilities completed in the city. The sport services it provided have recently been replaced by newer facilities at The Wave (25 metre pool, waterpark, squash courts etc) and Alan Higgs (50 metre pool facility). The Fairfax Street site we visited was celebrated by a final Saturday '50p swim' hurrah where the council laid on a fish and chip van outside much like the former Fishy Moores that had occupied the site. The Coventry Observer ran a good article with historical photos from Photo Miners during that final week and you can see it here.
During that final period we were also lucky enough to get a look inside the sports centre whilst it was closed and had free reign (within reason) to take some final photos of the wonderful space. A group of F5igers took an amazing selection of photos that are showcased in this post below. The focus of the visit was to capture the Olympic Pool whilst it still had water but the already drained splash pool and seating areas also proved interesting vantage points for our photographers. Each photographer captured different elements which helped showcase every section of the building in a different light. There was far too much to see in the short time allotted but hopefully you can get a sense of the building and its story from what was captured.
It was an eerie but wonderful opportunity that the group enjoyed, thinking of the memories countless Coventrians had at the iconic venue! How many medals, badges and certificates were distributed during its operation? How many personal bests were completed? How many friendships began within its walls? It was amazing to think about these questions and more whilst wandering around the empty space. Hopefully it wont be the last time we visit!
As of January 2021 no plans have been announced for either the listed building (swimming baths featured in this post) or The Elephant building next door.
Here are a selection of photos from the trip inside with the photographers credited throughout.
Those in attendance were:
Aaron (Igers Coventry & Warwickshire) - @aaronjlaw
Brett - @notbrettk
Dylan - @dylanparrin
Earl - @epsinstameet
Tara - @lajeteeproductions
Massive thanks to the team at Coventry City Council who allowed us this access and to the brilliant Sports and Leisure Centre staff who showed us around.
