City Wall and Gates (inc. Cook Street)

Whenever someone comes up with a new picture or fact I can use, I'm like a kid at Christmas.

Rob. Thanks, but I have waited about 80 years for someone to write the 'real' history of the city, and in my last few years it has happened in a way I could never have imagined, spread far and wide people have come back through this Forum to add their knowledge, not only knowledge but their friendship as well. How can I not thank you all.

Here is the plaque which tells the history of Gosford Gate and Bridge with St George's Chapel attached.

Thanks, Prof - this marks its location (2010 photo):

Thank you Midland Red, next visit to Coventry I will look for it!

In real life (2010)

More recently (2004)

'Now isn't that champion', as my father-in-law used to say. A lovely one that, MR, thanks.

Hi MR - good to hear from you, as always! Interesting that the lower levels of the gate are clearly sandstone (presumably locally sourced), but the upper levels look more like a granite. Is there a story here????

Coventry sandstone is soft, which makes it great for shaping but not so good over centuries of weather. They repair the Coventry buildings now with harder sandstone - from Runcorn I think - that looks the same. The Cook Street gate was in a sorry state when they repaired it as part of building Lady Herbert's garden. The upper parts don't look very compatible in stone or similarity to the original design but they didn't worry so much about things like that back then. Regardless, had they not repaired it, I think there would be very little left of it now.

Dreamtime, my grandad also said "Champion" if he was impressed! A phrase of a certain age and time, though it may have passed my lips too on occasion.

Prof -