What happened on THIS day in Coventry's history?

16th Mar 1830 Christ Church foundation stone laid. Formerly Greyfriars', it had been disused, the spire standing alone, since the dissolution under Henry VIII. The church was rebuilt and renamed Christ Church in 1830-31. Of course, since WW2 the spire stands alone once again.

16th Mar 1968 50 years ago today, Coventry City beat Manchester United 2-0 at Highfield Road with goals from Ernie Machin and Maurice Setters. It was City's debut season in the top flight and they were battling relegation, while Manchester United would go on to become European Cup winners a few weeks later. It was a memorable day in the club's history as it saw the second highest attendance Highfield Road ever, 47111, despite the main stand being gutted by fire only a few days before. The result was significant later in the season as City avoided the drop by a single point, while United lost the title to Manchester City by two points.

Telegraph photos taken on 17th March.

17th Mar 1936 Armstrong Whitworth's Chief Test Pilot, Alan Campbell-Orde, piloted the maiden flight of the prototype Whitley bomber from Baginton Aerodrome.

Telegraph photos taken on 18th March

18th Mar 1734 This day was passed 'An Act for making the Church of Bablake, in the City of Coventry, a Parish Church, and for appointing a District or Parish thereto'. (Since the Civil War 90 years earlier St. John's had been out of use as a parish church.) 18th Mar 1765 On this Friday night Thomas Edwards, a farmer, was murdered near Whoberley, on his return from Coventry, by Moses Baker, a weaver, and two Dragoons named Drury and Leslie, who had come from their quarters at Warwick.

Telegraph photos taken on 19th March

19th Mar 1959 Terry Hall, singer with The Specials, born.

Telegraph photos taken 20th March

20th Mar 1945 John Bailey Shelton appointed a City Chamberlain of Coventry. 'JB' was known as the father of Coventry archaeology, and his archaeological finds formed the foundation of the current Herbert Museum collection.

J B Shelton is something of a hero of mine for obvious reasons. I'd have loved to have met him.

After Levi Fox's "Coventry's Heritage" kicked off my interest, I met Mr Shelton several times in St Mary's Hall - he was always happy to talk to me as a youngster (I was only 11 when he died) See our Famous Coventrians index

Telegraph photos taken on 21st March

21st Mar 1918 Sergt. W Danks, son of Mr and Mrs Danks of the Bull and Anchor Inn, Exhall gained the Military Medal for conspicuous gallantry and good work. 21st Mar 1944 Hurricane LE655 of 577 Squadron collided with trees at Bedworth. The Polish pilot, F/Sgt A Bialecki, was killed. 21st Mar 2013 Forum member scrutiny (far right) was made a Freeman of the City.