Coventry Crosses

Hi NL - got it, thanks! It's hard to find an angle, from the road view, that matches the image in the earlier post, though.

The rebuilding of the Coventry Cross at its former original site having fallen through, a committee decided that a marble statue be erected on Greyfriars Green to the memorial of Sir Thomas White in its place, unveiled in 1883 by the mayor A.S. Tomson. Apart from the images Alderman Brockle removed most of the rubbish from the cross for his garden paths. Cartloads of it, and horses were a source of power in those days - drawing oils painted on gateposts used to stop a horse. Sometimes a donkey would be put in a field to stop them trying to escape, they would not leave without the stubborn donkey. Horsemen passed on knowledge of plants of value to the treating of illness and diseases, apples sliced and left to rot until infested with antibiotic-carrying fungi treated a lot of horse complaints. Horses were kept at prisons for a time as therapeutic value, they changed a man's character, but costs came in. There is nothing more beautiful than a meadowland of wild flowers, swallows swooping low to catch the insects, the hum of the hoverflies, dragonflies and bees. All this would have greeted Alderman Brockle at Image House.

JW - The photograph on Post 72 appears to be a view of the rear of the house which is now somewhat altered by the addition of a modern conservatory. The other window spacing appears to be the same. It must have been taken from the fields at the back, perhaps there was something obstructing the front view or maybe the estate agent thought this view more attractive. All these years later it has given us something to exercise our brains on.

Have we seen the end of the Coventry Cross? Or will Coventry City of Culture come up trumps? Anyone know? Any suggestions?

Hi Prof - from what I know the bulk of the lower half was destroyed in the removal - the rest is supposed to re-appear closer to the original location (nearer Primark) at some point but given all the current issues and lack of funding for anything I don't think it'll see the light of day for some time

I did wonder if the thing would be severely damaged as they removed it.

The fact that half of it has apparently gone does not augur well for the re-instatement! Typical of Coventry! What's more it was a gift to the city. The flags held by the heraldic beasts snapped off because they were fixed and not allowed to swivel. I also think Godiva is not in the best position. There was all that space surrounding it on the island, so I don't see why it could not have stayed where it was.

Holy Trinity with Coventry Cross. Post copied from topic Holy Trinity Church and Bell Tower on 25th Mar 2021 12:24 pm

I'm still cheesed off they got rid of the Cross even though it was a replica and no news of where they've put the fragments they could only save in pulling it down.

In my view, the Coventry Cross was an enhancement to the Conservation Area, and also an untenable reason for its removal!

"Planned return" report

I'll believe it when I see it Cliff. I had heard the lower third was destroyed when they dismantled it.

Rob, Over a dozen old streets have been lost to Coventry centre. Besides the cross you are not ever bringing the old city back, not even as I knew it. These modern signs are not in the same place, wrongly built, and don't have the same intention, so what are you wanting? From what I can see, little notice of this forum will change the council. The modern cross is an invasion of the Cathedral grounds. The ancient cross was described: "Dazzling to look on when the sun was on it". "No place compares with this city for a most beautiful cross of large dimensions and height, adorned with beautiful statues, figures and sculptures laid out with gold and set out with becoming colours". Prof, 27th Aug 1771, the council, agreed by the house, that the inhabitants of Cross Cheaping be at liberty and hereby authorised to take down the cross etc. Only a Major Beake saved Coventry's cross in puritan times. Warwick lost their cross to the puritans.

I heard the same Neil. I did wonder if 'selected bits' was code for a rockery built out of the best bits of rubble.

Hi Kaga, What is this in response to? I've not posted anything on this topic since 2018, and it was only a moan about the needless removal, in my opinion, of a pleasant monument. Nobody is talking about bringing the old city back, and nobody on this forum believes that we have any power to change the council (sadly). It's a discussion forum, so we members are simply discussing things that we like or don't like. I'm not quite sure why our expressing an opinion is an issue to you?