Coventry

It would appear most bloggers write about Coventry Cathedral and the Transport Museum.  I will endeavour to only briefly cover the Cathedral and will not mention the museum.  For those blog readers who are unaware Coventry was heavily bombed during the “Blitz” of WW2.  Many lives were lost and the city cathedral was destroyed.  The unanswered question is whether the British government had prior notice of the raid from intercepted Nazi intelligence, but took no action in order to protect the secrecy of the source?

A new cathedral has been built adjacent to the ruins of the original.  I didn’t take any photos of the new cathedral except the following, which is a bronze statute of an angel triumphing over Satan.  Well that’s my interpretation.

The angel’s modesty hasn’t been outraged but after looking up between Satan’s legs I can report he (yes Satan is a male) is well endowed and uncircumcised.

Wandering around the city centre I happened to glance down a narrow lane and saw an interesting building down the far end.

Ford’s Hospital

It’s an alms house dating back to 1509.  Originally it provided accommodation for five men and one woman but by the 1800’s it was exclusively for women.  The building was bombed during the “blitz” and subsequently rebuilt in 1951 using original timbers.  So despite appearance……… it not very old!

On the opposite side of the town centre is Spon Street. The Coventry Society website includes the following information about Spon Street.

“Spon End is one of the oldest areas in Coventry. In the 12th century it was known as ‘Sponn’ or ‘Spanne’, a wooded approach to the west of the city. It was an independent community, with its own common, fields, wood, mill and waste. Spon End was outside of the City Wall. It was the main approach to the city from Shrewsbury and Chester - important centres at that time. People entered the city through Spon Gate which was next to St John the Baptist Church, which is still standing and is a much loved and used Parish Church. The Spon Gate stood from circa 1391 to 1771. This was approached by a causeway (now Spon Street) which led to a packhorse bridge, in existence in the late 13th century.”

Spon Street

I’m starting to get slightly cynical about some of these “original” medieval streets and lanes.  If I recall my history the great fire of London spread rapidly because the buildings were so close together.  I also recall pedestrians had to watch out when walking below as chamber pots were emptied from upper windows.  This street looks too wide!  However the buildings are interesting.

Some of the timber beams are still held together with the original timber pegs.

And you also believe in the tooth fairy!

Back in the city centre I liked the design of the clock tower.

And so back to the Canal Basin.

This was only a brief trip to Coventry.  We will return at a future date for a more in depth look.