ONE of Coventry’s iconic Victorian buildings – which featured in the legendary Italian Job film – has opened its doors after being restored to its ‘former glory’.
Figures from city heritage group the Coventry Society joined Lord Mayor John Blundell to celebrate the official opening.
Developers Morris Homes reconstructed the building into luxury apartments in its historic city setting on Allard Way.
A plaque to record the building’s history was installed and a ribbon was cut by the Lord Mayor to officially welcome the first residents.
The regeneration was spearheaded by a long-running Coventry Society campaign to save it from vandalism and disrepair several years ago.
The restoration of the iconic building began in April 2016 to transform it into a range of apartments while retaining its original charm and character.
The grange was built in 1872 and boasts historic connections to the film industry.
A scene from the Italian Job, starring Michael Caine, was filmed in the grounds of the site in 1968.
The three minis can be seen driving through sewer pipes, which were assumed to be in Turin, but were in fact part of the Grange’s golf club.
The Coventry Society’s Les Fawcett said: “We’ve been delighted ever since Morris Homes announced their plans to restore Copsewood Grange to its former glory after it had been zoned for industrial development by the council.
“Having the Lord Mayor present for the official ribbon cutting was a special moment for all of us, especially after the years we’d spent campaigning to save the building.”
Regional managing director at Morris Midlands Cindy Cade said: “We’ve worked incredibly hard to ensure this historic building, which has been a landmark for Coventry for many years, was restored with the care and attention it deserved.”
“Bringing The Grange back to life has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and The Coventry Society have been incredibly helpful along the way.”
It is part of a wider Coventry Society campaign to save historic buildings on former industrial land – including the smaller Copsewood Lodge on the same site.
The Grange was built by James Hart, a ribbon manufacturer, and later sold to the General Electric Company (previously Peel Conner Telephone) in the 1920s, the society says.
It was used by GEC during the 1980s for students and apprentices until it fell into disrepair following a major fire.
The society says it acted as the club house for the Marconi golf club and still remains on the grounds of the Copsewood Grange golf club.
