What happened on THIS day in Coventry's history?

27th Oct 1819 Prince Leopold (later King of Belgium), passed through Coventry, and was presented with the freedom of the City.

28th Oct 1841 St. Peter's Church, Hillfields, opened to meet the religious wants of the increasing population of the district.

29th Oct 1608 Shakespeare performed at the Guildhall in Coventry. 29th Oct 1954 Thriller writer Lee Child (real name Jim Grant), known for the Jack Reacher series, born in Coventry. 29th Oct 1990 Coventry first appeared on the TV in the opening episode of sitcom 'Keeping Up Appearances'.

On 29th October 1967 the groups Dream, the Herd, Traffic, Marmalade, the Tremeloes and the Who played at the Coventry Theatre, not bad value at 7/6d? Today you'd have to pay 100 times that to see just one of these groups, and even then it would just be a tribute band. Programme

30th Oct 1057 Earl Leofric, a man 'very wise in all matters, both religious and secular, that benefited all this nation', passed away. 30th Oct 1937 The closing of the Old Hippodrome on the Saturday prior to the new one opening on Monday 1st November. (See this topic )

31st Oct 1961 Coventry boxer Mick Leahy challenges Brian Curvis for the British and Empire Welterweight title at Empire Pool, Wembley, London. Unfortunately Mick was unsuccessful and was knocked out in the eighth round.

Time for a quick recap.... With thanks to some super contributions we're slowly closing in on completing the year for Coventry-related events - there are now only 15 vacant dates to fill in (including February 29th, which won't be easy!). Here are the days we still need something for.... January 9th February 5th, 6th, 18th, 23rd, 29th March 11th April 4th May 15th June 26th July 4th, 5th August 5th, 21st December 18th

1st Nov 1556 From 1556 on, the mayor usually assumed office on this day. 1st Nov 1937 The New Hippodrome opened - later the Coventry Theatre.

2nd Nov 1772 On this night Charles Pinchbeck, keeper of the Stoke toll-gate near Binley, was robbed and murdered in his own house by two burglars named Farn and Howe.

3rd Nov 1970 Coventry City beat Bayern Munich 2-1 at Highfield Road in the second leg of the second round of the European Fairs Cup. Unfortunately Bayern Munich had already beaten us 6-1 in the first leg, so on aggregate we lost 7-3.

4th Nov 1605 Three of the Gunpowder Plotters, including Coventry man and ringleader, Robert Catesby, set off from the Black Bull Inn in Smithford Street to try and capture Princess Elizabeth from Coombe Abbey.

For those brave enough to watch Gunpowder, have they included that plot twist in the plan to kidnap King James' daughter and indoctrinate her to be a good Catholic queen? No doubt to marry her off to a Catholic husband. Some of the historians opinions' suggest that a lane named after the Catesbys was stripped of the name and allowed to be forgotten because of the plot. However many of the lanes lost their names naturally as they changed hands. Since the Catesbys' lost their lands to the crown, the lane would likely have changed its name, shame or no shame. The lane ran just south of the Sherbourne on the west side of Cross Cheaping. Called Court number 3 on later maps. On the Board of Health it was called the Lancastrian Yard. Presumably after the pub in front that was later called the Fountain Inn.

5th Nov 1605 Princess Elizabeth is brought into Palace Yard in Coventry to keep safe from the Gunpowder Plotters.

6th Nov 1815 Coventry's City Council visits the Prince Regent (who becomes King George IV 5 years later) at Coombe Abbey.