Merry Christmas 2015

St Bartholomew Church

Brinklow Road

It's Christmas Eve here in Coventry

and the photo shown here was taken in 2013

when we had a lot of snow.

Dedicated in 1773, on a site that dates back to

the middle ages, St. Bartholomew Church was built at the expense of

Earl of Craven who owned Coombe Abbey.

Have a super Christmas.

See you early 2016!!!!

Tree Series & Good News

Coombe Country Park

The Oak Tree I photograph throughout

the year in a Tree Series.

The good news is that the memorial picnic bench (damaged

by a BBQ fire) has been repaired.  A nice metal

surface has been added to protect it from heat damage.

Dare I mention that these photos were taken with my phone

on Sunday - a totally gloomy day.  Didn't stop us going for a walk :).

Participating in Our World Tuesday

Shopping Trip To Birmingham

Selfridges, Birmingham

Coffee pods for sale individually or in packs.

I liked the look of the colorful display.

These don's qualify as murals but I'm still contributing to

Monday Mural because of the overall display look.

Click the link to see some proper murals from around the world.

Tiles

Council House, Earl Street

Bird's-eye view of internal courtyard taken
from Coventry Cathedral Spire Tower.

I have visited the Council House many times but

 I have never seen those tiles until now.

Below is the front of the Council House.

You can see the tip of the Cathedral Spire beyond.

I wasn't up that high to take my shot :).

Participating in Our World Tuesday

European Robin

Coombe Country Park

What more can I say.  

My telephoto lens did not let me down.

Happy Monday to you all.

Participating in Through My Lens

City Daily Photo Theme Day - Shop Window

Holy Trinity Church

This one of the views you can see right outside the 'shop window' 

I am using for today's theme day post.

It is located in St Michael's Avenue right between

Coventry Cathedral ruins and the new Coventry Cathedral.
(see below)

The Cathedral Shop sells books, gifts and

you can purchase refreshments like coffee and tea too.

Step outside and you'll see Holy Trinity Church to your left, ...

...and look the other way, you'll see the entrance to the New Cathedral (below).

Participating in 

City Daily Photo Theme Day

and

Our World Tuesday

Ghost Sign Mural

Lower Holyhead Road

On a very dull day last week.

I realise that the eye might tend to home in on the

'Booze' sign but it is the Nestle's ghost sign that I'm hoping will

qualify as a mural :).

I took a similar photo of this sign in 2012 and there is no change.

Look close and you'll see there is another 

older Nestle's advertisement underneath.

Participating in Monday Mural

Topmost

Coombe Country Park

Great Spotted Woodpecker

I think this is a friend of another woodpecker

I photographed back in May, 2015.

This one has red on his head so I'm guessing it is a male.

Taken last Sunday.

Participating in ABC Wednesday

T is for Topmost

Calcott Brothers Manufacturers

Calcott Bros. Ltd., Far Gosford Street

Established in 1885. Made bicycles in 1886 and moved here in 1896.

Built motorcycles in 1905 and in

1913 they began manufacturing motorcars until 1924

when the company was taken over by Singer.

I am hoping that the window on the left will 

qualify for Monday Mural.  Here is a closer look below.

I do like these historical windows.

This Renaissance-style exterior has always caught my eye.

It is red brick with cream terracotta.

The company offices faced the road here.  The factory complex was

to the rear.  The building is now used for student accommodation.

Below is a clever sign in the shape of a

Calcott radiator which tells the whole story.  You will

need to click on image to enlarge.

So there you have it - 

1896

Calcott Bros. Ltd.

Participating in MONDAY MURAL

Under The Rainbow

Coombe Country Park

View from Brinklow Road on Tuesday

These photos were taken in the rain with my iPhone.

Happily, I got the big oak tree on right.  That is the tree

I photograph occasionally in the Tree Series.

(Below) Not quite straight - but you get the idea.

Full view towards Coombe from the road.

Do I see a double rainbow?

 Participating in Skywatch Friday

A Little Coventry History

Hay Lane

Window Displays showing Coventry from 1910 to 1937
by permission of the
Coventry History Centre, The Herbert Museum & Art Gallery

Since so many buildings were destroyed in WWII, it is
wonderful that the Museum has created these permanent window displays
showing a little of Coventry's history.

The photo above is of High Street c1910.

Below is Hay Lane.  When you walk

down this Lane the window displays are

in the building on the right.  

Below is another one of the big windows reminding us 

that there were trams in Broadgate in c1937.

It you want to see the window displays of
Coventry Cathedral, have a look at my blog post yesterday.

Participating in Monday Mural

75 Years On

Coventry Cathedral Ruins

Today is the 75th Anniversary of 

the bombing of Coventry Cathedral during a

devastating WWII eleven hour bombing raid on Coventry.

The photo above shows life in the Cathedral ruins today.

People visit, children play and many take hundreds of photographs are taken.

If you would like to read more about the Coventry Blitz,

 see paragraph headed '14th November 1940' in the link HERE.

Around the corner from the Cathedral Ruins (in Hay Lane) 

are some photographs of the Cathedral in 1930.

They are on display by permission of the Coventry History Centre,
The Herbert Museum & Art Gallery.

Have a look:

What a grand place it must have been.

I love to tell people that my husband's parents 

walked down that aisle when they were married in 1936.

Now it is quite different but still a very special place.

Coventry Cathedral is open to the public.

You can even climb the Cathedral Spire.  

It survived the war.

+ + + + + +

How sad to wake up to the tragic news of  a
horrific terror attack in Paris last night.

Station Tower Demolition

Station Tower, Coventry Railway Station

Demolition in Process

Possibly one of my most favorite buildings

is being dismantled floor by floor.  

The photo above was taken today and the one

below was taken in May, 2015.

Below is another shot taken today.

There is another change too.  In the shot above there is 

another building missing.  It had a green banner on it in May (below).

Big changes are happening here in Coventry.

I'll hope to be back with an update in the future :).

I'm taking a day off tomorrow to work on a post for

for Saturday, 

the 75th Anniversary of the bombing of Coventry Cathedral.

Remembrance Day

Grounds of Old Cathedral Ruins

Photo taken today just before 11 am.

November 14th will be the

75th Anniversary of the bombing of Coventry Cathedral.

This memorial stone commemorates the

unknown civilians killed in war. 

The original version of this stone

was carried on a 'Stonewalk' in 

America during July and August, 1999.

You can read more HERE.

Participating in ABC Wednesday

R is for Remembrance

Change Of Use

Old Post Office, Hertford Street

Correction: Oriental Food Specialist

It was a sad day in 2008 for many when the Post Office moved 

from this building to a bookstore. I'm not joking. Built in early 20th Century,

this building remained empty until 2013 when it became a

pawnbroker shop.

As of last September, this prominent stonework facade

is the entrance to (what they say is) the biggest oriental 

supermarket in Coventry.

Fancy a chow mein tonight?

Participating in Our World Tuesday

Study Inn

Trinity Street, Coventry

Wall of Maps

Coventry has two top universities -

Coventry University and University of Warwick.  

It is not surprising that student accommodation has become

big business.  I'm not partial to the color scheme of the 

building but I do like the mural of flags.

The way things are going, Coventry

will soon be a university campus city.

This building (one of 3 located right in middle of City),
is formerly an office and is now full of VIP studio flats.
There are various weekly fees which cover utilities,
internet, appliances, housekeeping and security, etc.

Participating in Monday Mural

PS Photos were taken on 26th Oct back in the sunshine days :).

Cedar Of Lebanon

Coombe Country Park

Here is an unusual sight.  Autumn leaves and what I thought

was a Monterey Pine (tree on the right).  I have since learned

that it is actually a Cedar of Lebanon tree. 

There is a story. 

First off, I think this tree might be over 200 years old.

The grounds of Coombe Country Park were designed by 

Lancelot 'Capability' Brown.  Although Brown liked native English trees

he also liked exotic trees and Cedar of Lebanon is

one of his most famous.  You can see cedars planted in 

many of his gardens across England.

Please note it isn't raining.  These photos were taken

over a week ago.  I am thinking that is the last time I saw blue sky :).

Have a super weekend.  See you next week

in Coventry City Centre for a change!

Participating in Skywatch Friday

Guy Fawkes Night

Coventry

Outside our window

It is Guy Fawkes Night here in England.

That means lots of fireworks, bonfires and celebration 

even though it is raining out.

Not more than 30 minutes ago a neighbour started letting off

fireworks.  I can tell it is going to be a noisy night.

Breakfast

Coombe Country Park

I am determined to post at least 5 photographs this week.

So here is one of a Blue Tit bird.

Take from the bird hide at Coombe.

Now to look at your photos :)

Open To The Public

Coombe Country Park

Three-mile circular walk designed

by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown.

Over the last two weekends

the public have been allowed on

this path for the first time in 40 years.

These photos were taken last Sunday.

It was foggy.

We are expecting some high winds in the next few days.

I expect these golden leaves will soon be on the ground.

I'll be posting more about this walk in due course.

Participating in Our World Tuesday

Postcards from California - Wall Mosaic

Santa Monica, California

On a recent trip to California I saw this house

and thought of 'Monday Mural'.  Made me smile.

Someone spent a lot of time

covering the entire exterior with mosaic tiles.

...and it was lovely and warm outside too.

Participating in Monday Mural