News

CovSoc founder member, Paul Maddocks, reviews a book written by one of Coventry’s best known tour guides, Jo Phillips. Paul writes…… A new book has been published called “In the company of the Coventry Coroner, the life and legacy of Charles Webb Iliffe”, by Josephine Phillips. “Step into the smoke-filled streets of Victorian Coventry, a… Read more: In the Company of the Coventry Coroner

Historian and CovSoc member, Peter James, tells us about the history of Smithford Street. Peter writes….. Smithford Street once a key artery connecting Fleet Street to Broadgate played a vital role in the city’s development. In the 12th century travellers crossed the River Sherbourne at a ford known as Smythefford which existed between 1161 and… Read more: Smithford Street Hostelries

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has reported that former council offices in Broadgate House could be turned into apartments after they were deemed to be surplus to requirements. Staff working for Coventry City Council currently work on the upper five floors of Broadgate House, a Grade II listed building at the entrance to Hertford Street,… Read more: Broadgate House to be Flats?

In 2023, Coventry Society member Peter Hunter wrote an article about proposals for a solar farm on Lentons Lane, located on the city’s northern boundary. He also submitted comments on behalf of the society to the local planning authority regarding these proposals. The City Council refused the 2023 planning application for several reasons, the main… Read more: The Return of the Lentons Lane Solar Farm

Over the last decade Coventry has suffered from several major developments on land in the green belt e.g. Eastern Green and Keresley. Solihull Borough Council is now consulting on an outline planning application it has received for a site of over 65 hectares for new housing and a multi-faith cemetery in the green belt between… Read more: More Housing in the Green Belt?

A group of 25 CovSoc members and guests visited Stoney Road allotments on 2nd August to see the three listed summer houses which have been renovated. Stoney Road Allotments, originally known as an urban pleasure garden, is Grade II* listed and contains the last remaining plots of the Cheylesmore Estate’s Park gardens, which were established… Read more: Summer Houses Restored

Historian and CovSoc member, Peter James, tells us the history of one of Coventry’s most important benefactors and his ongoing influence. Peter writes …….. Early Life Thomas White, born in 1492 in Reading, Berkshire the son of William White a prosperous clothier moved to London at a young age. Thomas began his apprenticeship with Hugh… Read more: The Life and Legacy of Sir Thomas White

Five intrepid CovSoc members went “river caving” in the fine city of Sheffield last week.   The visit was courtesy of the Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust. The trust has been set up to promote the daylighting of underground rivers in Sheffield. Before going underground, we spent the morning looking at the city centre from… Read more: CovSoc Goes Caving in Sheffield

Part of an important business park in Westwood Heath is to be redeveloped for more student accommodation for Warwick University. The Mercia Business Village in Torwood Close is to be demolished to make way for a 1,006-bed ‘student village’, Existing units will be demolished and replaced with four residential blocks to be known as Mercia… Read more: Business Site to be Used for Student Accommodation

Coventry Society founder member, Paul Maddocks, worked for many years for the City’s Museum Service, even before the Transport Museum was established. In this role he was involved in displaying some of the city’s most interesting technologies. One theme which caught his imagination was industry’s short flirtation with jet cars. Paul writes…… Many of you… Read more: Whispering Revolution