Lady Godiva statue, Coventry 1977
$20.00
Instant royalty-free digital download. No watermark. You will receive a JPG image of between 3000 and 4000 pixels on the longest side. Perfect for prints, books, media, creative projects, and more. The download link will appear in the checkout after successful purchase.
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This authentic 1970s colour photograph captures the iconic Lady Godiva statue in Broadgate, Coventry, West Midlands, as it appeared in 1977. Commissioned in 1937 by local industrialist W.H. Bassett-Green and sculpted by Sir William Reid Dick, the bronze equestrian monument was unveiled in 1949. Entitled “Self Sacrifice,” the statue depicts the legendary 11th-century noblewoman’s ride to protest oppressive taxation.
By 1977, the statue remained a central focal point of the city’s post-war modernist regeneration, symbolising rebirth following the devastation of World War II. The Portland stone plinth is inscribed with lines from Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s poem “Godiva”. This archival record provides a factual account of the statue in its original south-facing orientation before it was rotated to face west in the late 1980s to accommodate the construction of Cathedral Lanes. It serves as a valuable resource for local historians and collectors of Coventry heritage and British public art.
About Retro Stock Photography
Retro Stock Photography specializes in genuine vintage color photographs from the 1950s through the 1990s, all available as royalty-free instant downloads. Our photos are popular for editorial features, books, magazines, websites, documentaries, advertising, social media, local history projects, creative design, and as unique gifts when printed.
All of our images are scanned directly from original slides and negatives, preserving their authenticity, detail, and character. And because we own the original photographs and copyrights, all of our collection is exclusive to us and not available elsewhere.
Buy any 5 downloads and receive 15% off your entire order.