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What is this? I had to drive back to check if the cat was ok so that our eldest didn't worry about it all night. It's still there a month later. Why would you do this? Why haven't we?

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Getting a little source-y

What a great city needs is a great river running through it...so just like Paris and New York, Coventry has the Sherbourne...and in usual Coventry style we concreted over it. Mostly culverted since the 60s you can find where it all begins at the source to the North-West of the city in Hawkes End.

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Feeling A Little Horse?

Designed by Parisian born James Brown in 1960 as part of his portfolio of work across the city, from the Belgrade relief sculpture to carvings for Coventry Fish Market...these elegant horse benches, originally intended for Belgrade Square, can be found on Little Park Street.

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Mosaic in the Basin

Tucked away in front of The Tin in Coventry's Canal Basin this mosaic covers most of Coventry's history and it's ongoing passion for art. Cars, motorbikes, watches, weaving, spires and that lady with her assets out all beautifully feature in this artwork created by Rosalind Wates in 1997.

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The Mystery House

Empty and neglected for as long as I've lived in Coventry and more than those 25 years according to locals. Even though there is a building site next door there are no signs that the mystery house is in danger. According to Network Rail recently, "the property on Albany Road was purchased by Network Rail’s predecessor Railtrack around the turn of the century due to its very close proximity to the railway. Like many disused lineside buildings, it remains on our property portfolio. There are no immediate plans for the plot at this time.” A trainspotter's AirBnb opportunity?

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Old Line, New Line

Much like when they dug up the tram tracks in Sheffield to lay down the new Supertram line, so we find the peaceful Kenilworth Greenway being ruined so some business people can save 20 minutes getting to London for a meeting they could do over Zoom on a train or from home. From 1844 to 1960 this was a branch line from Kenilworth to Berkswell and for the last 70 years has been a popular 6.5km running, cycling and walking route...until HS2 moved in. Still worth a wander.

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In Paint We Trust

A project started in 2021 by the Coventry BID (Business Improvement District) commissioned local, national and international street artists to bring some colour to the city centre.

Manchester based Nomad Clan were commissioned to create the largest mural in Coventry & Warwickshire’s on the side of the now unused New Union Street car park. The mural represents the city’s past, present and future, and draws inspiration from Coventry’s watchmaking past. Surrounding the watch is a space scene which allude to the fact that the Coventry based watch maker Samuel Watson made watches and clocks for Sir Isaac Newton.

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Coat of Arms Bridge and Road

Built in 1844 this Grade II listed structure, which it became in 1955, the bridge and road is named due to the large coat of arms in stone on the central arch. The coat of arms is that of the Gregory family of Stivichall Manor, and it was agreed by the London and Birmingham Railway Company that when Mr A. F. Gregory sold the land needed for the Leamington-Birmingham line the family would be recognised.

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Well, well, well

Tucked away between rows of 1930's houses just off Holyhead Road you can find St. Catherine's Well...but you can't get past the locked green fence unless you are lucky enough to find it open during a Heritage Open Weekend (not in 2023 :( ). Dating from the 1400's the well is a small stone chapel-like building sitting on a raised stone plinth. Containing a well that used to supply the West side of the city with water (now dried up). Saved for future generations to not be able to go near due to it becoming a Grade II listed building in 1955.

More photos of the well from beyond the fence.

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IkReA Aldridge

So it's not Ikea any longer and I'd argue it's not really Ira Aldridge either. A personal opinion but this prize-winning scuplture, created as part of Sky Arts Landmarks series in 2021 feels lost and vague on the side of the empty behemoth next to the ring road.

The statue is holding a massive pocket watch, nothing to do with Coventry's history of clock making but as a representation of people who change the time around them....o...k. Ira of course was the first African American to manage a British Theatre, The Coventry Theatre, in the 1800s...an inspiring human indeed...but is this actually a statue of him? you decide...then pop along to The Belgrade Theatre to see the much more impressive wall art of Ira.

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Herbert's Medieval Undercroft

The outline that can be seen in the pavement outside the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum marks the location of a medieval undercroft. Access to the undercroft is from a staircase inside the atrium of the Herbert but needs to be arranged in person or you might be lucky on a Heritage Open Day. The Herbert claim the undercroft is one of the oldest cellars in Coventry and famously haunted...so be careful!

For a virtual tour you can go here: www.theherbert.org/whats_on/1534/virtual_tour_of_the_undercroft

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Hanging around

Gibbet Hill is a road running on the edge of the University of Warwick and gives its name to the Medical School/Biological Sciences campus at the top. However the name is derived after the crossroads at the top of the hill where a scaffold for public hangings called a gibbet used to stand. This was used from 1765 through to the 1820s.   

Sadly, the adjoining area Cryfield isn’t named after where mourners gathered following an execution but it is derived from ‘croiles felda’ meaning ‘open land by the fork’. This name most likely refers to the path of Canley Brook which passes through the area.

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Before the blitz

Coventry’s museums and myriad history books are filled with amazing images of Coventry before the blitz and back to medieval days. A beautiful city much like York and crammed with wood framed buildings and cobbled streets. They say a photo can tell a thousand words but Peter James Knight has gone 1000x further and is spending his free time rebuilding Coventry, using 3d modelling and VR technology. You can visit Coventry on his Coventry Rebuilt page and YouTube channel.

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Deep fried but healthy

A blog, however fascinating, can’t tell you everything about Coventry so why not pop along on a Saturday and take part in a 2.5 hour walking tour. Paul will walk you round the medieval walls, sometimes on them, and entertain you, and bless you if you’re good, whilst dressed as the Deep Fat Friar. Follow the Friar, then follow him on a tour.

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Sit on it

The ‘new’ Coventry Cathedral from the 60s can often seem like an art gallery filled with interesting sculpture and architectural form...well the Coventry Chair certainly fits the bill. The iconic chair was designed by Dick Russell, brother of more well-known Gordon Russell and from our cathedral can now be found in other cities cathedrals, such as Winchester and Wells. Sadly at the moment although the chair is back in production it isn’t available for public purchase.

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Little Comfy Sessions

BCS no longer are active due to the closure of the bookshop.

I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to use this platform to promote the Big Comfy Sessions. The brain child of one man, Rob Bridge (from Nuneaton so his awesome music photography has no place on this blog ;o), the BCS are one sofa, a pot pourri of local, national and international acoustic musicians, 2 camera men (one much older than the other, almost a father figure) and one grumpy but loveable bookshop owner at the Big Comfy Bookshop in Fargo Village. One awkward interview, one original song and one cover...simples. Enjoy.

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UndisCOVered #2 - Barry from Whereford?

If you’ve been waiting for a sign, this could be it. @shivharrison spotted this on the Binley Road recently and wondered who Barry is and why does he need to find his way home. According to sources on Twitter this addition to the sign has been in place for a few months so far. Do you know Barry? what’s the story here?