Day 61 June 11 2018 Coventry to Darley Dale
While we had not expected to visit Coventry the A-Z Road Map showed a route north via Coventry and Chris had a friend there he was eager to visit. After returning to Oxford in a frazzled detour to pick up a left-behind-phone we headed for our meeting place.
It was one of those days when things just don’t quite go right. The designated meeting place was a HUGE bingo hall – we arrived early after being late for everything else that morning. Standing in the sun we started to wonder about being in the right place. A phone call surprised all of us – there were two HUGE Bingo halls in Coventry. And adding to the woes the carpark we were supposed to be at was now a large building site.
Still we managed to find ourselves a spot, meet up with Mike and take a wonder through Coventry with our well informed ‘alternative view’ guide – fun, history, good company and lunch. What more could one wish for!
Some Highlights of Our Visit:
Lady Godiva – the woman and the legend that has grown up around her began in Coventry. Now acknowledged with a statue. Curious words from Tennyson’s poem on the base “”Then she rode back, clothed on with chastity. She took the tax away and built herself an everlasting name”
Elephants everywhere – cutely perched on the top of bollards with no clear reason why. This humourous explanation from UnCovered – a Coventry University blog provides a range of options HERE
The bombing of Coventry in addition to massive traumatic human impact – a staggering 41,500 homes were damaged, 2306 destroyed!
Coventry Cathedral was almost entirely destroyed and became the centre of reconstruction and reconciliation. Two buildings with a large new cathedral has been built alongside the bombed remains of the old cathedral. Centre for Reconciliation developed after the bombing during WW2 through Coventry Cathedral promoting reconciliation rather than revenge.
On the end wall of the new cathedral is a striking statue of St Michael and the Devil sculpture .There was controversy over the choice of sculptor – Jacob Epstein
Next to the Coventry Cathedral the Holy Trinity Church was a treasure with beautiful interior, A passionate volunteer explained the key points of the interior to us including the Doom Painting. A medieval painting – the Doom Painting or the Last Judgement Day has recently been carefully restored after an earlier attempt had left the painting with a darkening layer over the entire surface.
Within the Coventry Cathedral complex we stopped for lunch in the Rising Cafe a busy cafe with a quirky but comfortable interior filled with early memorabilia and friendly staff. The menu of home baked goodies was irresistable – we opted for a ‘high tea’ which allowed a sample of sandwiches and cakes. The cafe is run by Betel Charity supporting people recovering from addictions including employment at the café and community living and support.
The real treat was spending time with Mike and our wide ranging conversation that included the history of Coventry, music, family, politics and more. As we drove off a voice called out “I have just realised I didn’t pay for the tea”. Chuckling we continued on our way.
And finally on to a randomly chosen spot on the map Darley Dale where we made a last minute booking at Barringtons – we were so pleased we did. As we arrived in Darley Dale – without a map – with Chris asking how I planned to find it – there it was right on the corner we had stopped at!
An imposing yet beautiful old stone building with rooms decorated to fit with the era. Our room was large with a lovely window seat. Very comfortable bed. Sparkling clean bathroom and good shower. After our late lunch ‘high tea’ we were not hugely hungry and a shared platter of seafood as a starter was delicious – perfectly cooked with prawns in garlic that felt like heaven had arrived.
Behind the hotel was a well kept well used park where we got chatting to a volunteer who explained the park was almost entirely maintained by volunteers. Whitworth Park was originally a donation to the people of Darley Dale by Joseph Whitworth an inventor and business man. A lovely walk with green lawn, garden beds planted with colourful displays and a small lake beyond which was the tourist railway.
