ST. MICHAEL`S CHURCH--COVENTRY.

St. Michael`s church was largely constructed between the late 14th century and early 15th century. It was one of the largest parish churches in England when in 1918, it was elevated to cathedral status on the creation of Coventry diocese. This St. Michael`s Cathedral now stands ruined, bombed almost to destruction during the Coventry blitz on 14th November 1940 by the German Luftwaffe. Only the tower, spire, the outer wall and the bronze effigy and tomb of it`s first bishop, Huyshe Wolcott Yeatman-Biggs, survived. The ruins of this older cathedral remain hallowed ground and are listed at grade 1. Following the bombing of the medieval cathedral in 1940, provost Howard had the words "Father Forgive" inscribed on the wall behind the alter of the ruined building. The spire rises to 90m (295 feet ) and is the tallest structure in the city. It is also the third tallest cathedral spire in England, with only Salisbury and Norwich cathedrals rising higher.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 90 metre high spire amazingly not hit by German bombs during the Coventry Blitz.

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Wooden Cross and Cross of Nails were created after the cathedral was bombed during the Coventry Blitz of World War II. The cathedral stonemason, Jock Forbes, saw two wooden beams lying in the shape of a cross and tied them together. A replica of the wooden cross built in 1964 has replaced the original in the ruins of the old cathedral on an alter of rubble. Notice in the background the words "FATHER FORGIVE".

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Effigy and tomb of Bishop Huyshe Wolcott Yeatman Biggs, first bishop of Coventry.

 

 

 

Close up of the Effigy`s head.

 

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Ecce Homo.

The statue was carved by Jacob Epstein during 1934-5 from a block of subicao marble. It was given to Coventry cathedral at the wish of Lady Epstein and dedicated on 22nd March 1969.

 

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The statue of Christ.

This is a second casting, in concrete, of a statue at Blundell`s School in Devon. It was created by an 18 year old pupil, Alain John. The headmaster, Neville Gorton, later became bishop of Coventry and on the death of Alain John, an RAF Navigator, in 1943 at the age of 23, the statue was recast for Coventry as a memorial to those who lost their lives in the war. The statue represents Christ blessing the multitude.

 

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Josefina De Vasconcellos statue Reconciliation in the old cathedral`s Nave.

 

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Choir of Survivors.

The statue, called Choir of Survivors, is the work of the German artist Helmut Heinze. It`s a symbol of hope, of new life rising out of destruction said the bishop of Coventry the Right Reverend Christopher Cocksworth. It`s a gift from the Frauenkirche in Dresden, a wonderful church that was destroyed by allied bombing. An amazing story of reconciliation has happened over the years between Coventry and Dresden, particularly between Coventry cathedral and the Frauenkirche.



 

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Memorial to the Home Front.

 

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To be continued. (more of Coventry).

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VINTAGE VEHICLES.

These photographs below and others I shall be posting now and again, where taken in Coventry in the Transport Museum which is located in the city centre, housing a fantastic collection of British made road transport. There address for any one interested in going ( and i would recommend going ) is Millennium Place, Hales street, Coventry CV1 1JD. The admission is free.

 

1947 DAIMLER DE36 state car of King George VI.

Where made:- Daimler, Coventry (chassis), Hooper's, London (coach built bodywork) Engine :- Daimler straight eight.

Two brand new state cars arrived at the royal mews on the 5th May 1947. Both were Daimler de36 chassis with coach built bodies by Hooper's the coach builders. The first of these, YXB 99, was, between 1947 and 1949, state car no 1, the car that would be first choice to carry King George VI. Built for royal use the vehicle contains all the modern features of the day, such as electric windows, a middle screen(separating passengers from driver) and electric glove warmers for the passengers. It is also equipped with a folding laudelette (a simple convertible section over the rear seats ) and a perspex roof so that the occupants could be easily viewed. The arrival of new vehicles to the royal houshold in 1949 relegated this vehicle to state car no 4. However it continued in royal service through Elizabeth II`s Coronation until 1958, well into the first ten years of her reign when it was sold into private hands. The vehicle was generously donated to the museum in 1981.

 

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1978 DAIMLER DS420.

 

Model:- DS420 Limousine, made in:- Coventry, Engine size:- 4235cc, no of cylinders:- six.

The DS420 limousines were introduced in April 1968 and in the years that followed have won a special niche for themselves particularly in royal, diplomatic and civic circles. Top speed of around 100mph.

 





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1953 DAIMLER CONQUEST.

 

The car is called Conquest because the basic price was £1066. This relates to the Norman Conquest of 1066, hence the name. The car is powered by a 2.5 litre engine which develops 75 bhp. It drives through a fluid flywheel and pre-selector box and is an extremely quiet car, capable of good road holding and has excellent brakes. The interior is fitted with leather seats and a good quality veneer to the woodwork.

 

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1935 QUEEN MARY`S DAIMLER.

 

This magnificent vehicle was the personal property of HM Queen Mary, the Queen`s Grandmother, from 1935 until her death in 1953.

 

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1943 HUMBER.

 

Model:- Staff car, Engine size:- 4.5 litre, no of cylinders:- six. Made in:- Coventry.

This car was used by Field Marshall Lord Montgomery as his staff car from the d-day landings until the end of the war. Known as the Victory car it covered over 60,000 miles in under twelve months. It was returned by the war office from Germany on 26th July 1947 in order that it should take it`s place with the Field Marshall`s other staff car, Old Faithful, no: M2394559, as a tribute to the service given by Humber cars on all war fronts.

The brass plate on the car`s door reads:- The Victory Car. The Humber staff car no. M239485 was used by Field Marshall the RT. HON. THE VISCOUNT MONTGOMERY of ALAMEIN   K.G  G.C.B  D.S.O. from Normandy to Berlin June 6th 1944-August 25th 1945.



 

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1980 AUSTIN METRO.

 

Engine:- 998cc, Top speed :- 84mph, Price new :- £3,095.

This car was once owned by Lady Diana Spencer.

In November 1980, Prince Charles attended a royal launch to BL`s new Metro, taking it on a twenty minute test drive from their factory at Longbridge. He must have liked the car, for soon afterwards Lady Diana was to be seen driving this red Metro in London, which was said to have been a present from the Prince. Before long, this car was probably the best-known Metro in the country, as it was watched night and day by the media. As a car, the Metro was first launched in 1980 and was made until 1997, although by then was known as the Rover 100.

 



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FLAMBOROUGH LIGHTHOUSE.

Flamborough headland has always been a dangerous place for shipping, with chalk reefs and outcrops obscured by the crashing waves. The area is also notorious for the strong tidal currents that funnel past the headland. In 1806 Trinity House made the decision to build the current lighthouse at Flamborough. It was designed by Samuel Wyatt and built by John Matson of Bridlington, at a cost of £8,000. A clockwork motor revolved an oil lamp which warned shipping of the dangerous cliffs, and was reportedly visible for twenty miles. In 1925 the tower was raised to it`s present height of 85 feet, standing 250 feet above the waves.

SHIPWRECKS.
175 ships were wrecked off the headland between 1770 and 1806 (one every three months ) prompting Trinity House to build this lighthouse, to help safeguard mariners.

 

 

 



 

THE CHALK TOWER.

There was a lighthouse at Flamborough Head long before the present one was built. The octagonal chalk tower (see my photo below ) is one of the oldest surviving lighthouses in England. It was built in 1669 by Sir John Clayton, who was given permission to build a number of lighthouses around the country by King Charles II. The 24 metre tower was designed to have a brushwood or coal fire burning on the top, although it is thought the fire was never lit. In 1996, mainly due to the persistence of councillor Norman Hall MBE, the chalk tower was restored at a cost of £100.000. Twenty tons of chalk replaced the badly corroded north face and all the floors and the roof were also replaced. Although now empty, the tower was used as a marine telegraph station during the 19th century with regular shipping reports subsequently published in the Burlington Reporter.

 

 

 

 



 

OLD ST. STEPHENS CHURCH-----FYLINGDALES.

Old St. Stephen`s Church is a redundant Anglican Church standing on a hillside in Fylingdales, overlooking Robin Hood`s Bay, North Yorkshire, England. It is a grade I listed building and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. The church was built in 1822 replacing an older church, there has been a church on this site since medieval times. This church closed in 1870 when it was superseded by a new church on another site. The church is constructed of sandstone with a purple slate roof. It is a very simple building. The architectural style of the church is Gothic Revival.

 

 

 

 

A couple of headstones in the churches graveyard.