David McGrory – författare

A Century of Coventry offers an insight into the daily lives and living conditions of local people and gives the reader glimpses and details of familiar places during a century of unprecedented change. Many aspects of Coventry's recent history are covered, famous occasions and individuals are remembered and the impact of national and international events is witnessed. A Century of Coventry provides a striking account of the changes that have so altered the city's appearance and records the process of transformation. Drawing on detailed local knowledge of the community, and illustrated with a wealth of black-and-white photographs, this book recalls what Coventry has lost in terms of buildings, traditions and ways of life. It also acknowledges the regeneration that has taken place and celebrates the character and energy of local people as they move through the first years of this new century.

The author, well known as the writer of more books on the city than anyone, explores Coventry's history from Roman times through Earl Leofric, Godiva and the Norman castle, to monastic houses, including St Mary's priory. Coventry has a rich medieval heritage, and rose to power in the Wars of the Roses, when the royal court moved there. Major themes in the city's history are discussed, through previously unknown source material, covering the Siege and Civil War, education, health, the church, crime and punishment, and industries from medieval weaving to modern car-building.

The decapitated Lord: Medieval slaughter at the castle! Yellows vs Blues: Coventry's most violent elections revealed! Kings, rebellions and rioters! Civil war comes to the city! Boiled in beer! Baked in his oven! The most dreadful Christmas calamities in Coventry’s history are inside! Coventry has one of the darkest histories on record. With sieges, battles, crimes, riots, disasters, all-out attempts at demolition and some truly dreadful punishments to boot, you’ll never see the city in the same way again.

Coventry has been one of the most important cities in England since the Middle Ages. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries Coventry became an industrial centre, renowned for clock and watch manufacturing and later for building cars, bicycles and aircraft. Its significance drew massive air attacks during the Second World War and the historic centre of Coventry was destroyed. The city was rebuilt in the post-war era, including a new cathedral, and the city boomed, then was hard hit by industrial decline in the late twentieth century, but recent decades have seen a gradual recovery, recognised with Coventry becoming the 2021 UK City of Culture.Lost Coventry presents a portrait of this corner of the East Midlands over the last century, showing not only industries and buildings that have gone but also people and street scenes, many popular places of entertainment and much more. This fascinating photographic history of lost Coventry will appeal to all those who live in the area or know it well, as well as those who remember it from previous decades.

Coventry has been a major centre of trade and industry since the Middle Ages. Medieval Coventry was known for making tiles, cloth, buckles, statues and stained glass. Other textile industries followed, the dyeing of cloth with the famous Coventry true blue and silk-weaving. Much later, in the twentieth century, Coventry became a pioneer of synthetic fibre manufacturing. Clock-making grew from the sixteenth century, and later watch-making – Dickens carried his Coventry watch until he died – and in the nineteenth century Coventry also became known for bike manufacture. This also led to Coventry becoming the hub of car manufacturing in the twentieth century. It was Coventry’s expertise in this area, as well as aircraft, military vehicles and armaments, that led to it being targeted by enemy bombing in the Second World War.Coventry at Work explores the working life of this city in the East Midlands and its people and the industries that have characterised it through the ages. This book will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of Coventry.

Coventry has been a major city in England since the Middle Ages. As the city grew, deprivation, crime and its punishment were ever present alongside prosperity. The increasing population attracted by Coventry’s successful industries such as ribbon weaving and clock-making, later bicycle and motor manufacturing was also prey to gangs, violence, robbery and murder. Punishment was severe, whether through imprisonment in the city dungeons and later Bridewell and gaol or execution. Deprivation for many continued through the Industrial Revolution and beyond and during the Blitz in the Second World War Coventry suffered unparalleled destruction.In A Dark History of Coventry author David McGrory delves into the often lesser known but darker stories from Coventry’s past. This fascinating insight into Coventry will be of interest to all those who want to know more about the city’s remarkable history.

Coventry has been an important settlement in the middle of England since the Middle Ages. To protest against the Saxon Earl Leofric’s taxation the legend arose of Lady Godiva’s naked ride through Coventry. Coventry grew in wealth through the mediaeval cloth trade, had its city walls destroyed during the Civil War because of its support for the Parliamentarians, then became the centre of new industries of ribbon weaving and clock-making and later, bicycle-making and motor manufacturing. Massive destruction of the historical city took place during the Blitz in the Second World War and a modernised, rebuilt city emerged in the later twentieth century.In Quirky Coventry author David McGrory delves into the fascinating tales from Coventry’s past. In this book, readers will find stories of the original Peeping Tom, the origins of the saying ‘sent to Coventry’, the clerk who attempted to kill Edward III by witchcraft, an eighteenth century female soldier, curious buildings to be found in the city, the city’s mediaeval Mystery Plays, the development of Coventry’s unique dialect through time, a prehistoric elephant found on the site of a car factory and much, much more. Quirky Coventry celebrates the unusual and often strange history of Coventry and its characters over the years. This fascinating insight into Coventry will be of interest to all those who want to know more about the city’s quirky history.

Coventry and the Great War is a detailed account of life in Coventry during the First World War. It covers many aspects of life including the city’s growth into one of England’s main munition centres. It looks at the factories and the lives of the thousands of women who kept them going and sometimes died doing so. It also looks at the personal memories sent home by Coventry men at the Front, their struggles, their bloody deaths and even links up to the 1914 Christmas truce in which Coventry men actually took part. Refugees are covered as are enemy aliens who were rounded up in the city and of course it looks at the true story of the German-born mayor who was in office at the outbreak of war. Coventry’s connection to the first tanks is looked at as are the many aircraft built and flown around the city, and the deaths of young airmen as they fought above the city. Having a centuries-old ancestry in the city, the author tells of his own family connections: his grandfather fighting in Galipolli and the Somme; his great-uncle in Gustrow, prisoner of war camp; and the death of his grandmother’s brother in France. The First World War isn’t just history ... it’s personal.

Secret Coventry goes behind the façades of the familiar to discover the lesser-known aspects of the city’s fascinating past.Join author David McGrory as he reveals the city’s forgotten and untold tales, and its heroes and villains. Find out about Coventry’s status as a centre for culture in the Elizabethan period, explore the hidden tunnels beneath the city streets, and learn about the Roman mosaics discovered in the heart of the city. You may think that you know Coventry, but take another look around and you will find more than you could possibly imagine.

'I was happy that Coventry was selected as a target, as it was an important military objective... The night was clear and flying was easy. Missing the target was practically impossible.' Field-Marshal Kesselring, describing the air raid of 14 November 1940.Between 1940 and 1942 the people of Coventry were subjected to continued and devastating attacks by the Luftwaffe, leaving 1,252 dead, 1,859 injured and a city in ruins. Written by local historian David McGrory, Coventry’s Blitz is the first full account of the blitz that blighted Coventry during the Second World War, commemorating its seventy-fifth anniversary. The book tells the story of the city and its residents throughout the war, starting with the digging of the shelters in 1938 to the last bombs in 1942 and Goering and Kesselring’s comments on the November raid at the Nuremberg Trials.Coventry’s Blitz uses new sources, material and memories from people all over the world to bring the events between 1938 and 1945 to life, events that changed the face of the city and made it what it is today. Richly illustrated with previously unseen archive photography, the book is a must-read for the people of Coventry and its visitors, offering a unique insight into the defining moments of the city’s past.

Despite the attention of bombs and planners, Coventry still contains many fascinating buildings whose history in stone, brick and concrete has shaped the last thousand years. It is home to one of the world’s best-loved cathedrals and possibly the country’s best Guildhall. It changed the modern world with Europe’s first pedestrian precinct and has the country’s first post-war theatre. Coventry’s medieval Spon Street contains many timbered houses, including more Wealden Houses than any other street in England.Coventry in 50 Buildings examines the proud and distinctive history of the city through a selection of its greatest architectural treasures. From the city’s modern cathedral, built after the destruction by the Luftwaffe of the original fourteenth-century building, to the impressive new extension to the Herbert Gallery, this unique study celebrates the town’s architectural heritage in a new and accessible way. Local author and historian David McGrory guides the reader on a tour of the city’s remaining historic buildings and modern architectural marvels.

This illustrated history portrays one of England’s finest cities. It provides a nostalgic look at Coventry’s past and highlights the special character of some of its most important historic sites.The photographs are taken from the Historic England Archive, a unique collection of over 12 million photographs, drawings, plans and documents covering England’s archaeology, architecture, social and local history. Pictures date from the earliest days of photography to the present and cover subjects from Bronze Age burials and medieval churches to cinemas and seaside resorts.Historic England: Coventry shows the city as it once was, from its streets and alleys to its parks and squares. Despite the attention of bombs and planners, Coventry still contains many fascinating buildings and its medieval Spon Street contains many timbered houses, including more Wealden houses than any other street in England. It is also home to one of the world’s best-loved cathedrals and possibly the country’s best guildhall. It changed the modern world with Europe’s first pedestrian precinct and has the country’s first post-war theatre. Coventry has survived the devastation of the twentieth century and this book will help you discover its remarkable history.

Coventry’s military heritage goes back to the Middle Ages. Coventry Castle was built by the Earl of Chester in the early twelfth century, fought over during the civil war in King Stephen’s reign, and demolished afterwards, although one tower remains as part of the Guildhall. In the later medieval period Coventry grew into one of the leading cities of England and continued to thrive in the Industrial Revolution as a centre of industry. Coventry was held by the Parliamentarians in the Civil War and during the Napoleonic Wars a barracks was built in the city, remaining in use until the early twentieth century.A major munitions producer during the First World War, the city sent many young soldiers to fight abroad in the conflict while thousands of women worked in the factories. During the Second World War it was a leading centre of motor vehicles, aviation and armaments manufacturing and became the target for German aerial bombing campaigns. The Blitz destroyed a large part of the historic city, including the cathedral, but the city was reborn after the war and is a thriving major city in the West Midlands today. This book will be of interest to all those wishing to know more about the military heritage of Coventry.