stone plaque · Coventry

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This stone plaque commemorates the enduring bond between the cities of Volgograd and Coventry. Unveiled in 1972, it signifies the official designation of 'Volgograd Place' within Coventry. The dedication acknowledges the shared wartime suffering experienced by both communities, aiming to transform this historical hardship into a foundation for international understanding and peaceful cooperation. It serves as a permanent symbol of a unique civic friendship that emerged from adversity.

The memorial plaque dates from a period when cities scarred by conflict often sought to forge international links, fostering a spirit of reconciliation and mutual support. Coventry, famously devastated during World War II, developed numerous twinning relationships to promote peace. Volgograd, formerly Stalingrad, also endured immense destruction during the war. This shared experience of wartime devastation created a poignant backdrop for their bond, reflecting a broader movement in the post-war era to use urban diplomacy as a means of building bridges between nations and preventing future conflicts. The naming of a public space further entrenches this commitment to international fraternity.

The plaque can be found in Coventry, specifically located in Volgograd Place, beneath the Ringway Swanswell. Visitors will find it in a prominent public area, inviting quiet contemplation of the historical significance it represents. The setting, nestled within the city's infrastructure, allows for easy access and forms part of the urban landscape. It stands as a modest yet powerful reminder of international amity within the everyday environment of the city.

Inscription

THIS PLAQUE WAS UNVEILED BY THE FIRST DEPUTY MAYOR OF VOLGOGRAD MIKHAIL ZOLTARYOV IN THE PRESENCE OF THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL THE LORD MAYOR OF COVENTRY COUNCILLOR WILFRED SPENCER ON SATURDAY THE 25th NOVEMBER 1972 TO MARK THE NAMING OF THIS AREA VOLGOGRAD PLACE AS A SYMBOL OF THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN VOLGOGRAD AND COVENTRY BORN OUT OF THE SUFFERINGS OF BOTH CITIES DURING WAR TIME AND NOW DEVOTED TO INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING AND PEACE
Transcribed from the stone plaque at Volgograd Place - under Ringway Swanswell.

Background

This plaque was unveiled by the First Deputy Mayor of Volgograd Mikhail Zoltaryov in the presence of the Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Coventry Councillor Wilfred Spencer on Saturday the 25th November 1972 to mark the naming of this area Volgograd Place as a symbol of the friendship between Volgograd and Coventry born out of the sufferings of both cities during war time and now devoted to international understanding and peace

Source: Open Plaques. Geographic data via OpenStreetMap.

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Data sources

Location records are drawn from open, licence-clean datasets, kept here with attribution and gratitude to the people who maintain them.

  • Open Plaques, dedicated to the public domain (CC0). See openplaques.org.
  • Wikidata, available under the CC0 1.0 Universal dedication.
  • © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database Licence.
  • Historic England, National Heritage List for England, used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. War memorial records are drawn from open community datasets (OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, NHLE) - never from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which is excluded.

Editorial descriptions, photography and tribute links are original TributeLegacy work, layered on top of the open data.

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