John Rastell 1475-1536
coventrysociety From his prison cell, John Rastell reflected bitterly on the crushing nature of his downfall after a life of startling achievement. He was, he wrote, ‘now by long imprisonment brought…
April 2020
Coventry Society Annual Report 2019 – 2020
Chair’s report It’s a strange and difficult time we find ourselves in at the moment with Covid19. I am writing my second Chairperson’s report knowing that the AGM will not…
Going Smokeless in Coventry
It was 69 years ago that Coventry became the first UK city to go smokeless. March 1st, 1951 became ‘No Smoke Day’, heralding Coventry city centre as the UK’s first…
A Half Century of Earth Day
Today, 22nd April 2020, marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. A global event in more than 193 countries. In 1969, at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco, peace activist…
The White Lion Inn, Smithford Street
The White Lion Inn, Smithford Street – from murderous deeds to philanthropic endeavour News was recently revealed that an old pub sign, made of ornamental tiles and bearing the name…
Profile of our new Chair – Vincent Hammersley
On Monday 20th April 2020, what would have been the date of our AGM, a new person takes on the leadership of the Coventry Society. Our existing Chair, Paul Maddocks,…
St. Nicholas Church, Radford – soon to be demolished!
In his talk to the Coventry Society in February 2020, architect Aidan Ridyard, focused our attention on St. Nicholas Church in Radford. It is an interesting example of post-war Church…
The Knights Templar
One of our planned Summer visits was to Temple Balsall in Solihull to learn something of the Knights Templar and their connection with the area. Sadly, because of the ongoing…
Selina Dix – the Campaigning Head
Selina Dix was the daughter of Edward Dix, a lace machine smith and his wife Emma, and was born in Beeston, Nottingham, on 15th March, 1859. She took over the…
Coventry – Climate Change City
Coventry was one of the first cities in the UK to produce a Climate Change Strategy. Back in 2012 the Council set a target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in…