History of Coventry

Coventry is a place of discovery and hope, a city with stories to tell, full of historical events. Coventry is a city of movement; we were transport makers in the past and are a welcoming city for refugees and those in need, it is a city of peace and reconciliation.

Take a look at some of the events which made Coventry what it is today.

1043

Benedictine monastery

Earl Leofric and Lady Godiva create Coventry by endowing a Benedictine monastery. The myth of Godiva’s naked ride is first mentioned in Roger Wendover (1235) ‘Flores Historiarum’, over 100 years after Lady Godiva’s death.

1153

St. Michael's

St. Michael’s, now Coventry Cathedral, is given to public use under the supervision of St. Mary’s Priory by Earl Ranulf II in his deathbed charter. Previously it was within Coventry Castle as ‘St. Michael’s in the Bailey’. St. Michael's

1182

A Royal Charter

Henry II grants a Royal Charter, allowing Coventry to grow commercially.

1345

Royal Charter of Incorporation

Edward III grants a Royal Charter of Incorporation, allowing Coventry to become the first municipal Council in England, electing its own Mayor, John Ward.

1385

St Anne’s Monastery

St Anne’s Monastery founded by Richard II, later becoming Charterhouse.

1451

Coventry granted ‘county’ status

Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou grant Coventry ‘county’ status with authority over local settlements, stretching as far as Ansty. This status remained until the 1842 Boundary Act, when Coventry returned to ‘city’ status within the County of Warwickshire.

1456

The Royal Court to Coventry

Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou move the Royal Court to Coventry, with 91 Coventry Councillors supporting the Lancastrians. Coventry is de-facto the country’s capital city until 1459, when Yorkist Edward IV becomes King and capital status returns to London.

1509

Ford’s Hospital

Ford’s Hospital founded on Greyfriar’s Lane.

1538

Coventry loses its cathedral city status

Whitefriars, St. Anne’s, Greyfriars and St. Mary’s are dissolved, and their wealth confiscated by Henry VIII. Coventry loses its cathedral city status and its population shrinks from 7,000 to 3,000.

1648

St. John’s

Oliver Cromwell imprisons Scottish soldiers in St. John’s Church on Fleet Street. It is said that whilst exercising outside they were shunned by locals, thus leading to the term ‘sent to Coventry’.

1714

Blue Coat School

Blue Coat School founded on the site of the former Priory of St. Mary’s.

1801

Whitefriars

The Former monastery of Whitefriars becomes Coventry’s ‘House of industry’, giving work and alms to the poor. The workhouse remained until the Second World War when it became a Salvation Army hostel.

1828

Ira Aldridge

Ira Aldridge becomes Britain’s first black theatre manager at the Coventry Theatre.

1843

Coventry College of Design

Coventry College of Design founded, later becoming Coventry University.

1896

Coventry car industry

Coventry car industry founded with the building of the Daimler factory on the site of the Widdrington Cotton Mill near the Canal Basin. By 1913 there were 23 motorcar manufacturers.

1918

St. Michael’s Church

St. Michael’s Church gains Cathedral status.

1938

Donald Gibson

Donald Gibson as City Architect begins his plans to modernise Coventry City centre. Post War planning and reconstruction

1940

Coventry Blitz

Coventry is bombed by the German Luftwaffe, destroying Little Park Street, Earl Street, Coventry Cathedral, the Rex Cinema and factories in the Hillfields and Foleshill area.

1948

Broadgate opens

Broadgate is opened as the first civic space reconstructed after war. The precincts and other spaces soon followed as Gibson’s team took to rebuilding the city in a modernist style. Post War reconstruction