Thursday 28 January 2016

St Michael and the Devil

Coventry Cathedral
Priory Street

Bronze Statues Sculpted by Sir Jacob Epstein


Mounted in 1960 on the main wall near the New Cathedral entrance.
Coventry Cathedral was rebuilt next to the Old Cathedral Ruins 
after the devastation of the Blitz in 1940.



The sculpture depicts Archangel Michael standing over
the Devil in triumph 
from the story of the angel rebellion in the
Book of Revelations.


These photographs were taken today
using my iPhone.

Below is an old 2014 image which
shows the Old and New Cathedrals
so you can see the ruins (left) and new Cathedral (right).





Wednesday 27 January 2016

Coventry Pubs #7 - Litten Tree

1a Warwick Row
On a windy day in November, 2015.


Not every public house in Coventry is an architectural gem.
This is just a plain brick building located between the City Centre
and the Coventry Train Station.

When I was taking these photos it was the Zebra Crossing
I wanted to share.  I like them.  
Across the street in New Union Street
stands one of Coventry's 3 historic spires -


Sorry about all the text here.  
I just have to add something about the
yellow 'globe' atop the black and white pole.
It has a name, Belisha beacon, and a history too.
Always learning :). 


Hope your week is going well!!!

Monday 25 January 2016

Ceiling Mural

Touchwood Shopping Centre, Solihull
About 20 miles from Coventry.


Taken at Christmas, 2015.


Unfortunately, Coventry doesn't get a mention
on this map.  
So, I fixed that by adding it (below) so you can
see where I am :).


At last I have found a mural so I can 
participate in Monday Mural.
Hooray!


Friday 22 January 2016

Dusting Of Snow

Coombe Country Park
The Oak Tree I photograph
throughout the year in a Tree Series.


It was a bit of a dark day last
Sunday, but I was delighted to see some snow
on the ground at last.

Have a good weekend everyone.
Thanks for visiting me here in Coventry, England.

Participating in Skywatch Friday


Thursday 21 January 2016

Roses In December

Coombe Country Park
Photos taken on 16th December, 2015


In the photo above you can see a stone wall 
and memorial benches.  There are rose bushes against the wall also.



December was unseasonably warm.  To my delight
these pretty pink roses were still in bloom.
Made me smile when I saw the name:


How fun for me, an American,
to meet up with these lovely rambling roses
at Coombe Country Park. 




Wednesday 20 January 2016

The Glass Atrium

Cathedral Lanes Shopping Centre
Broadgate


I can scarcely believe that I only noticed
this view of two of Coventry's famous spires
through the roof of Cathedral Lanes, built in 1989.
You have to go upstairs and I hadn't until recently.

Holy Trinity Church Spire (left)
Coventry Cathedral Spire (right)



Coventry Cathedral Spire (below)


These photos were taken last Friday with my phone.
I loved what I saw and must have taken 30 shots.
Blue sky was a nice addition too :).


Tuesday 19 January 2016

Coventry Pubs #6 - The Flying Standard

2 - 10 Trinity Street
The Flying Standard (front on left)
3, 4 & 5 Priory Row
Lychgate Cottages (adjoining to rear on right)


This public house is named after a motor vehicle
 produced by the Standard Motor Company.
Standard Motor Company manufactured a range of cars
in Coventry between 1903 and 1960.



The Motor Victoria was Standard's first car built in 1903.
The Flying Standard motor car was produced in 1936.


This is a large steel framed building with applied
timber frame was built in 1938 and designed to fit
in neatly with the adjoining medieval Lychgate Cottages.
Before it became a public house in 1999 it was
occupied by Samuel's the jewelers and Timothy Whites, chemist.


This public house stands on a historic site that
dates back to the early 1400's.  Maybe I can
explore more of that in a future post.

Participating in Our World Tuesday

Monday 18 January 2016

Finally!

Coombe Country Park
Snow At Last
Taken from the Bird Hide yesterday.



(Below) Meet 'Nellie' and 'Norman'.
Created by our granddaughters in their garden.


Well done!




Friday 15 January 2016

Pity About The Fence

Coventry Cathedral Ruins


I took this photograph last month in the late afternoon.
I am working on a article about the restoration of parts of the
Old Cathedral Ruins.  So I can't show you the floor beyond
this statute and tomb of the First Bishop of Coventry just yet.

I do hope to get the same shot again when the fences are removed.

In the meantime, here is a link -
Huyshe Yeatman-Biggs. He was the First Bishop of Coventry.
I believe that this bronze tomb
was the only thing inside the cathedral to survive
 The Blitz during WWII.



Participating in 

Have a good weekend!

Thursday 14 January 2016

Postcard from California

Kelso, California
Holiday Photographs


Kelso Depot is located in the Mojave Desert.  We like
visiting old restored railway stations and this one fits the bill.
Amazingly, it is located in the middle of the desert.
We stopped by here on a drive between Las Vegas and Palm Springs.


The trains pass by frequently.  The only downfall
is getting there...the roads are a bit rough 
so allow plenty of time :).

Back to Coventry photos tomorrow!



Wednesday 13 January 2016

ABC Wednesday - A Is For Across

St Mary Street and Bayley Lane
St Mary's Guildhall (to right - where I used to work), Drapers Hall (left)
and Cathedral Ruins straight ahead.


There aren't many T-Junctions in Coventry
where you have 3 historic buildings
'across' the street from each other.

The white canopy covers the entrance to
Coventry New Cathedral that adjoins the Old Cathedral Ruins.

Why did I takes these photographs?
It was the notice board below that caught my attention :).


It reads - 'Pray for Ourselves'.

Participating in ABC Wednesday

Tuesday 12 January 2016

Around Coventry Cathedral Ruins


Bayley Lane, Coventry


I thought it might be fun to identify some of the historic buildings
located in the City Centre from this vantage point up the
Old Cathedral Tower.  See the 'key' below.
The truck is turning into St Mary Street.  More on that tomorrow.


In the Cathedral Quarter there are some
wonderful buildings that survived World War II.
The area where the museum stands was destroyed in the war.

Note from Lauren:
I took this photo in 2013.  It pretty much looks like this today.
If you are interested in seeing more of
any of these places, click on the 'labels' below.


Monday 11 January 2016

Close Up


Coombe Country Park
Blue Tit



Taken yesterday from the Park's Bird Hide.

Note from Lauren:
I have been experimenting a little with my
telephoto lens and whilst I know little about birds,
I did like the challenge of holding the camera still
to get a photograph like this :).

Linking with Mersad's Through My Lens


Friday 8 January 2016

No Rain

Walsgrave Hill, Coombe Fields


These photographs were taken last week with my phone 
on a walk at Coombe Country Park.
I have photographed this view many times before.

Below is a similar shot.  You can see (on the left)
a corner of Walsgrave Hospital, now know as University Hospital Coventry.


Have a super weekend and take care!

Participating in Skywatch Friday





Thursday 7 January 2016

January Daffodils

Brinklow Road, Easenhall


Seeing these daffodils today gave me a nudge
to get back to blogging for 2016.
Normally, I would be looking out
 for snow about now, not daffodils.


 These photos were taken on a nice country road not far from Coventry
between the villages of Brinklow and Easenhall.


So there you have it -
daffodils, country road, nice house and a big red tracker too :).

Happy 2016.  Hope you are well!!!!