Books on Coventry

If only he had said his knife was for cutting his pie

You will love that book when it arrives Foxcote, it is indeed a winner! I managed to get myself an original 1888 copy, which was extremely lucky because, according to the author in the preface, only 100 copies were ever made! I only know one other person who has a copy, and we both rate is as one of the nicest books written about Coventry, with genuine and amusing tales of life in the city leading up to that time. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.... and well spelt, by the way! Another old book I can highly recommend is "Old Coventry and Lady Godiva" by F. B. Burbidge, 1952. It's colourfully subtitled as "Being some flowers of Coventry history gathered and arranged". It begins with a nice run through of Coventry's history and ends with more reminiscences - some of an equally humorous nature!

How lovely, I am looking forward to it now more than ever. I didn't even see an original. There was another one by Benjamin Poole, Antiquities or summink, £670 seemed a bit of a Dugdale affair. I have a facsimile of the Antiquities of Warwickshire but you can see it for free on 'internet archive', nice engravings and maps. Mine is under the sky box cos it is the same dimensions and it is easier to look online than heaving it out Oh do look in the back of the Benjamin Poole, that's where I found the 'Tree transportation to the Cemetery'. The time-line with the removal of City Gates and all sorts was great. That's ordered as well

Another free book to view, the Churches of Coventry, with some good illustrations and a few photo's. Coventry Churches

As per the recommendation on another thread (Coventry from the air), I have bought a copy of "Master & Artisan in Victorian England" and what an excellent book it is. In two parts, the first section is the diary William Andrews which he kept for just a few years until he set up in business on his own. What surprised me was the way in the early 1860's he took himself off to France and Switzerland looking for work when the ribbon weaving trade fell on hard times in Coventry. I have now just started on the second section. This is an autobiography by Joseph Gutteridge who stayed as an artisan all his working life. The first few chapters about his early life growing up in Coventry are fascinating. He could remember when Hillfields were just fields and primroses actually grew on Primrose Hill. To call him just an artisan does him a disservice. He was a highly educated man, with interests ranging from astronomy, botany and ornithology as well as being a craftsman and skilled mechanic. As I mentioned on the other thread, several copies of this book are available for under a pound, plus postage, from ABE books.

Glad you are enjoying the book. We paid a lot more than a pound, but well worth it.

Thanks, I have just purchased one from abe, under £4 with the postage

If you have a Kindle or a similar device you should be able to download the "Coventry Churches" book for free from Project Gutenberg.

Thanks for that tip, when you open up the Coventry Churches book, the first, clear photo of 'The Three Spires' is a good one and an unusual shot of the buildings don't you think?

The Coventry Telegraph has reported on this new publication called "A Coventry Kid" Should make an interesting read

Slightly out of Coventry so hope no one minds, but just in time for Christmas. Went to a book launch in Stoneleigh Church last night (hard pews, still recovering) about a member of the Leigh family, Cordelia Leigh. She was a great friend of all the estate workers who went off to fight in the Great War and kept an in-depth diary recording the happenings of that terrible time. The book 'A Strange Time' looks at the diaries and scrap books kept by Cordelia and has been compiled by Sheila Woolf (ex teacher from Henry VIII) and Chris Holland, both of whom are quite well known in local history circles. Nicely put together book and worth having on the book shelf.

Hi Heritage & thank you for your post. Our Historical Coventry Forum, is not limited by our city boundary. If it was, half of the posts on here would be off limits. What we try to ensure is that our site is not hi-jacked by anyone or group, where Coventry has no significance. I have ancestors buried at Stoneleigh, as well as living relatives in Cornwall & Scotland, which may from time to time have a relevance to a Coventry topic. Our founder has roots in Northamptonshire which may become part of a topic being discussed. This gem of info only came to light when I was describing one of my days out that way. We love to read your posts Heritage. You provide good info, which always adds depth & understanding to our site. Thank you.

My pleasure.

I have seen a book called..'Coventry in Camera', John H Drew, I wondered whether anyone could recommend it. I have also seen John Ashby's,'The Character of Coventry', (the brilliant Pub reference one), I own one but there's one on the Bay at the moment. In fact there are quite a few good bargains on at the moment on there.

I'd be wary of that particular book second hand Foxcote. Despite having taken very good care of my own copy the spine eventually cracked and pages now fall out. The early editions are also now glaringly in need of an update so I would wait for a reprint. Many of these books come back into print at this time of year as they make excellent Xmas presents for people of a certain age.