Three Spires

Morning AD. Couldn't we once see the view of the three spires whilst travelling by bus along the Allesley Old Road into the city?

When was this? If it's pre-80's I'm afraid I won't be able to help. I don't remember being able to see them all. You can from Winsford Avenue and Buckingham Rise although I don't know how long that may last with the tall buildings going up. But it's not really a place that many will see them from so if it were lost in exchange for really good views that could be useful for both locals and visitors then I'd be more than willing to lose them, nice as they are.

AD. Early 60's that would have been for me but I would imagine there have been a few changes since then. I see the old Three Spires pub has changed its name again to the New Spires (so many changes to that place). You are not far from the Co then, if it's still there.

Yes, I read somewhere that a rusty 'spire' at street level was to be erected somewhere. I wrote to the Telegraph rubbishing the idea and said, "So you will rename Three Spires Avenue in Coundon as Four Spires Avenue?" Who dare mess with the City of Three Spires, its birthright!

Hi Dreamtime. Yes, not too far from the Co-op - 5 minute walk. I'm near the Brook and the Minstrel Boy pub.

I've always felt that the three precinct tower blocks were supposed to be a modernist take on the three spires anyway.

There was never a plan for a 'rusty spire' to be erected somewhere at 'street level'. There was a mooted plan for a 'fourth spire', but it was never really a concrete plan and didn't get anywhere. Prior to the reformation, there would have been more spires, as the Benedictine Abbey would have have at least three towers (who knows if they had spires on them?) and Whitefriars would have had one. There may have been seven spires. What was that about three spires being 'its birthright'? When Coventry was 'born' is probably had one small Saxon church. No one really knows what that would have looked like. It may be hard to accept, but city skylines change over time.

I don't remember a 'rusty spire' idea either - just the 4th spire idea which was more akin to the Shard. Technically there is a fourth spire with St Osburgs - I've occasionally mistaken it as one of the Spires in the past. I also must admit that I've played with the idea of a new spire occassionally on SketchUp. Did one based on the Golden Ratio that I quite liked, and one more like an Obelisk I called The Needle. I think my favourite was around a tower-style block that had an array of lights like WWII searchlights on the top to form a spire. So it was and wasn't a spire at the same time while paying homage to various aspects of the city history - medieval church spires, post-war modernist towers and the Blitz.

I have question for the Coventry Kids. Where in Coventry can you see all three together, I have failed so far to find a good spot.

See post #19 and replies

At one time I believe you could see the three spires together from the railway bridge on Warwick Road. Now modern day buildings may obscure. Tennyson wrote "I waited on the bridge at Coventry and watched the three tall spires."

From the grounds of Coombe Abbey on a dull day in 2006....

And from Napton on the Hill - 13 miles as the crow flies. A bit hazy, and I can't actually tell if Christ Church spire is in view or not. One day I'd like to return with a better camera - unless someone already has?

Ah, nearly forgot - Baginton provides a decent view, too.... That was 2007 - can't remember if recent buildings have obscured the view at all.

Sorry Tony, I didn't have my camera to hand but you can still get a fine view of all three spires from Spencer Park/Anarchy Bridge UPDATE - quick Google and (c) Amanda Slater from Flickr -