Located on Birmingham's doorstep is the city of Coventry, I chose to visit Coventry on a whim with not much of a reason for my visit. I had been drawn towards Coventry to reunite with my Hallmark brothers just a couple of weeks ago so I wanted to revisit the home of Lady Godiva to execute a day of random adventure that would be teamed with a medieval discovery. So as the say going I was 'Sent To Coventry!'
Built in 1300, Coventry Cathedral stood before me not in its original state due to the heavy bombing it was beaten with during WWII. I noticed as the centenary year dawns for this once operational place of worship a phase of restoration was being carried out. Located less than thirty minutes from Birmingham I saw a day trip to Coventry the perfect antidote after handing in my draft Dissertation and a additional assignment as the pressure's been turned up at Uni. Making my way from the train station, through Broadgate to the cathedral took the pace for my Coventry city trip. I really liked the open air feeling of the original Coventry Cathedral so I felt it wasn't necessary to visit the back-up cathedral for the 1300 Coventry Cathedral served up a lot of Medieval Realness! The weather took a few turns for the worst with spots of rain but my time at the cathedral fared to be bright so my day began very well. I say we shouldn't hate on Cov because I think its a interesting city!
Coventry you say? I know the phrase 'Sent To Coventry' doesn't mean the best of terms so I wanted to put that meaning into my own interpretation. I had been to Coventry several times before my independent visit but I had not applied the same thought like I give to cities that don't get the best mention in the media. The recent demise of Coventry City Football Club probably hasn't been the best card dealt for the city so I bought my super cheap £3.40 return train ticket from Birmingham New Street station to do some investigating for myself! I know I do visit some odd places for Coventry isn't really on the general tourist map for England. Word on the street is that Coventry is getting its own 'TOWIE' style television show cleverly named 'Sent To Coventry' so I say watch this space!?
Like many places in the West Midlands and Warwickshire industry has played an integral part of their development and legacy. Coventry's Transport Museum stands out as a modern and informing place of learning to educate visitors that Coventry contributed immensely to the production of motorcars and motorbikes since 1896. The many exhibits on display at the Coventry Transport Museum painted a picture that Coventry relied on its motor production heavily. Displayed vehicles from the Singer Company and Jaguar looked great, so I gained a picture of what contribution this industry gave to Coventry's development as a city. I'm a transport buff so I love anything from trains, planes to even cars so it was a great way to see something in Coventry that was free! Certain trailblazers are highlighted at the museum such as; Muriel Hind who became the first woman to own and ride a motorcycle, I suppose in the 1900's it wasn't the done thing for a woman to do such a thing like that?!
Linking back to the Cathedral, Coventry received a beating during WWII with a series of heavy bombing during the Blitz, effectively destroying a larger proportion of the city. But why was Coventry hit the worst? I learnt throughout my day in Coventry that the Warwickshire city produced a large proportion of the ammunition for the British army to defeat the Germans, I don't see that a fit reason to shower Coventry with a storm of bombs? Could a Coventry made motor hit 763 mph? You could say that I was pleasantly surprised by the offerings that Coventry served to me during my day of discovery. Anyway, from cars, to concrete my day in Coventry was a welcome break from perfecting my Dissertation so I'm appreciative for that if nothing else! I wonder if Visit Coventry would approve of my experiences in Coventry so far?
