Grade II* listed, the Blue Coat school buildings were designed by James Murray and constructed in 1856-57. They now house Holy Trinity church centre.
The columns in the left foreground are remains of the west wall of St Mary's, Coventry's first cathedral, destroyed after the Dissolution. The remains of the north west corner of the cathedral served as foundations for the school building. Before excavation the ground level to the right was several feet higher at a level with the entrance to the school (see SP3379 : Old Blue Coat school, 1974). The ruins are grade I listed.
The restored Tudor-style building in the left foreground now houses a tourist information centre and gift shop.
The building that this mosaic SP3379 : Mosaic detail in Cov Centre. decorates was originally the Locarno ballroom, hence the jolly design. The artist was Fred Millet.