Three Spires

This thread has been created to accommodate those posts which evolved in the "Bishopgate" thread, which was heading off-topic Note: The three spires each have their own individual thread within the forum - this thread is intended for discussion about the "Three Spires" as a whole

Let's hope we will still be able to see the world famous 3 spires eh?

You will be able to from the top of the towers Greeny

World famous spires? They're not even famous in the UK. Definitely change the skyline, and hopefully with retail units on the ground floor increase footfall and bring businesses in.

You got it in one Flapdoodle. It was the problems with the high rises and families also petty crimes that I was thinking about. However, I still think, from what I pick up regarding the new builds around Coventry, there seems to be an abundance of student accommodation happening, but I appreciate the fact that I am not living there so cannot see for myself. Having said that, they were homes to a great many families less fortunate than most. Also when I lived in Chapelfields and could see the three spires every morning down the Allesley Old Road I wondered if that view still existed. Have a good day everyone.

Don't think you can from Allesley Old Road, Dream, but still a great view from the top of Winsford Avenue. I think that's the highest point in Coventry.

Flapdoodle said, they're not even famous in the UK. Well the 'Three Spires' were the only thing in Coventry that was famous for centuries. Built on the top of the hill,and with nothing higher than a tree to compete, they stood majestic on the skyline for all to see from any direction for many a hundred year. In my day we were proud of our heritage, a great refreshment to the spirit. Beautiful and artistic inside, you do not have to be religious to see the 'Spires' in contrast to the corruption of the present day. p.s. I wish I had the education to put this in better words.

How right you are, Flapdoodle. When we were kids we were always told that the city's main claim to fame was those three spires. The truth is that if you asked people in other cities what Coventry was famous for, (or which city was famous for three spires) then few would have a clue about any of them. Coventry is rightly famous for many things. Most of these are about the people, such as being the home of cycle, motorcycle and car manufacturing. These are the things people always mention when I have been on my travels, along with the demise of a once-famous football team. Three random churches with spires - never mentioned. As for this mythical 'view' of them, I just tend to think "Here we go again...." They are not located in places where they would create any sort of view. Although no doubt someone will suggest that they would all miraculously line up in a view if Cathedral Lanes were demolished!

Kaga. Nothing at all wrong with your words, I read all of them and wish I had your knowledge about Coventry and admire your devotion to the city. Also your respect for the history it holds, not just the thriving industries - that was - but for the memories too that most of the Forum members hold dear. As for the Spires, thank goodness there are those who admire them when they do enter the city no matter from what aspect they see them. Cheers Mate!

Thank you Dreamtime for your kind words, as long as I do not offend anyone then I'm happy.

They seem very distant viewed from Winsford Avenue In fact there appear to be four spires as St Osburg's is visible And Christ Church is still well hidden by 20th century buildings

Of course they are famous, To ensure lasting fame you have to include them in a rhyme. My mother (originally from Manchester) used to remind my father of the following famous saying about Coventry. Three Spires, Humber Fires, and Blooming Liars The survival of two out of three isn`t bad going and it`s heaps better than "being sent to Coventry"

If you go back before Henry VIII there were another 3 spires, although not as tall as Holy Trinity and St Michael's. For a city with few buildings over 3 storeys and most of them just two, the spires would have been amazing. In the late 18 hundreds and early 19s the city was becoming dominated by factory chimneys and the factories themselves. Their loss is a tale of destruction, demolition and decline but it's not a catastrophe that they're no longer a feature. I don't think that it's a bad thing that the spires share the skyline with modern high rises. The alternative is urban sprawl and an ever spreading demolition of the countryside. Accommodation in the city equals people, equals trade, equals prosperity, equals facilities. Equals money and enthusiasm to maintain those spires and the other historic gems left. Despite the high rise buildings in most capital cities, people still visit and admire what's left of the past. Indeed the main reason to visit is what goes on in the modern buildings. In an ideal world the spires would share a skyline with elegant or at least inoffensive modern buildings. Of course you then get into the argument of what the modern buildings should look like and I'm not sure that we know for decades what will appeal to us long term. We now appreciate big Victorian warehouses and factories that swept away large swathes of earlier vernacular buildings. Basically, there's no pleasing us

An interesting response Helen, thank you. I always say it's a good job we don't all think alike, wouldn't that be boring.

Took this photo yesterday - it's one of the better public places from which to get a view of the famous three spires - because Christ Church is at the bottom of the hill on which the other two stand, one is really limited to the south side for a photo No doubt there are better views from inside some of the tall buildings