Coventry in the 1960s

Here's a couple of films of Coventry from the early 1960s, when the pioneering shopping precinct and cathedral were newly open.

The first is from 1961 and shows the pedestrianised shopping precinct in action, and the cunning new solutions for parking cars. The footage is silent but remarkably good quality and interesting, full is brilliant people-watching opportunities, and some handsome shots of the circular cafe and the Locarno.

The second has sound and colour, and is from 1963. It's rather fuzzier, so the people-watching is less satisfactory, but there are lovely shots of Basil Spence's newly finished cathedral.