Coventry

:For alternative meanings see: Coventry (disambiguation)

History

:The main article is at History of Coventry, the following is a summary

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Coventry is traditionally believed to have been established in the year 1043 with the founding of a Benedictine Abbey by Leofric, Earl of Mercia and his wife Lady Godiva. Current evidence suggests that this abbey was probably in existence by 1022, therefore Leofric and Godiva most likely endowed it around 1043. In time, a market was established at the abbey gates and the settlement expanded.

Related Topics:
1043 - Benedictine - Leofric, Earl of Mercia - Godiva - 1022 - Market

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

By the 14th century Coventry had become an important centre of the cloth trade, and throughout the middle ages was one of the largest and most important cities in England. Coventry was granted city status in 1345, and later became a county in its own right.

Related Topics:
14th century - Cloth - Middle ages - City status - 1345 - County

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hostile attitudes of the cityfolk towards Royalist prisoners held in Coventry during the English Civil War is believed to have originated the phrase "sent to Coventry", which in Britain means 'to be ostracised'.

Related Topics:
Royalist - English Civil War

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

There is another unverified local story which says that Cofa had his enemies and prisoners executed by being hung from the tallest tree on his land, this being known as Cofa's Tree which became corrupted in the word Coventry we now know. Being hung until dead was the penalty for being sent to Cofa's Tree this is why no words are spoken to those "Sent to Coventry" as they are dead and unable to speak.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the late 19th century Coventry became a major centre of bicycle manufacture, with the industry being pioneered by Rover. By the early 20th century bicycle manufacture had evolved into motor manufacture, and Coventry became a major centre of the British motor industry.

Related Topics:
19th century - Bicycle - Rover - 20th century - Motor - British motor industry

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Coventry suffered severe bomb damage during World War II, most notoriously, a massive German air raid on the 14th November 1940, destroyed most of the city centre and Coventry's historic Cathedral.

Related Topics:
World War II - German - 14th November - 1940 - Cathedral

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the post war years Coventry was largely re-built, gaining a new pedestrianised shopping precinct and a new much celebrated Cathedral. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s Coventry remained prosperous. However the decline of the British motor industry during the 1970s and 80s hit Coventry hard, and in the early 1980s up to 20% of the workforce was unemployed. A hit record about Coventry "Ghost Town" by local band The Specials summed up the situation in the city. In recent years Coventry has largely recovered with newer industries locating in the city.

Related Topics:
1950s - 1960s - 1970s - 80s - The Specials

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On March 1, 2003, Coventry was granted Fairtrade City status.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~