King Leofric’s wife is better known than her husband; legend has it that Lady Godiva begged Leofric to lower the taxes he imposed upon his people and he told her that she could ride naked through the streets before he would do such a thing. Lady Godiva decided to do exactly that and told all the local folk to stay indoors and keep their shutters closed to preserve her modesty, most people did but a man named Tom was the first to peep, which is where we get the phrase peeping Tom. This fable is commemorated around the town.
Throughout the Middle Ages Coventry prospered through its wool and dyeing trades, specialising in a particular blue cloth that was manufactured in such a way that prevented the dye from running and so the phrase true blue passed into the English language. By 1400 Coventry was one of the most important and influential provincial centres in the country.
By the late 19th century the local industries of cloth manufacture and clock making had declined so much that a wave of immigration to the States took place and then in 1896 Daimler established the first ever British car factory in a disused mill and the city acquired a new industry.
Coventry’s dominance of the car industry was to have a downside, the factories were a critical strategic target for the Germans and on the night of November 14th, 1940 the city suffered the most damaging air raid on any British city during the Second World War. Forty acres were reduced to rubble and of the 1,000 buildings in the city centre, only 30 survived. In one stroke what had been one of the best-preserved medieval cities was decimated.
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Liverpool was awarded the European Capital of Culture 2008. The vibrant city is renowned for its arts & culture and is home to numerous museums & galleries including a branch of the Tate Gallery. Read more ...
