TV historian criticises Coventry for 'underselling itself'

[dutchman]

A television historian has criticised Coventry for “underselling itself” and its historic buildings.



Dr Jonathan Foyle, an art and architect historian, said Coventry could do much more to promote its medieval heritage both nationally and internationally when he addressed a meeting of the Coventry Society this week.

The author and TV expert for the BBC’s The One Show and Channel 4’s Time Team told a packed audience at Coventry University’s Sir John Laing building that Coventry boasts some of the finest medieval art and architecture in the UK – examples which many residents are oblivious to.

Foyle, who is chief executive of the World Monuments Fund Britain, also reckoned the city should move away from focussing on buildings that had been lost and instead promote the best it has to offer to capitalise on its draw as a destination for tourists.

He said: “What strikes me about Coventry the most is its heritage in the 15th century is absolutely incredible.

“There are things in Coventry that you won’t see anywhere else in Britain.

“There is a city of national significance in Coventry.”

Before his lecture, Foyle told the Telegraph how he first fell in love with the city on a school visit to the Cathedral ruins, aged 12.

He said: “To me, Coventry undersells itself. It needs to promote itself.

“What surprises me is how much survives in Coventry.

“I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Foyle scaled Coventry Cathedral two years ago as part of the Climbing Great Buildings series on BBC 4.

The Cathedral has been included on the World Monuments Fund’s watch list of monuments deemed at risk to support its conservation and its collection of medieval glass dating from the 15th century.

During his talk, Foyle urged everyone to support the project to restore Britain’s largest collection of loose medieval stained glass.

The glass reveals the faces of Coventry’s medieval forebears and is thought to be the work of the city’s renowned medieval glass artist John Thornton.

The first phase of painstaking cleaning work started in August.

The free talk was held during the monthly meeting of the Coventry Society heritage group.

Keith Draper, chair of the Coventry Society, said: “We’re pleased to have Jonathan Foyle here.

“His name has attracted a large crowd.”

* To find out more about the Coventry Society and its latest campaigns visit http://www.coventrysociety.org.uk