Coventry's name is believed to derive from "Cofa's Tree". This tree grew at a crossroads which later became the site of Coventry Castle and is now Broadgate.

 

Coventry was the first in the world to twin with another city from another country, during WWII it formed a relationship with Russia by twinning with the Russian city of Stalingrad, the good people of Coventry wanted to show their support for the Russian people during their struggle at the battle of Stalingrad.

 

During WWII the Allies bombed the German city of Dresden and raised the city to ruins in retaliation for the Blitz on Coventry by the German Luftwaffe on 14th November 1940, after WWII Coventry twinned with the German city of Dresden as a gesture of peace.

 

Coventry has one of the newest Cathedrals in the world; Coventry Cathedral was built after WWII to replace the old cathedral that was demolished during the Blitz. Ruins of the old cathedral are still visible today and are visited by thousands of people every year.

 

Coventry was the only British City to lose a cathedral during the WWII bombing.

 

The first ever English Bicycle was made in Coventry. Built in 1870 it was called the 'Ariel'

 

Coventry has two universities, Coventry University and the University of Warwick.

 

Coventry City FC were founded in 1883 and were originally known as the Singers as they were founded by by employees of the Singers cycle factory. CCFC still have a big following, the new Ricoh Arena on the A444 is their home Ground.

 

Serial Killer Fred West's body was cremated in Coventry in 1995 following his suicide in Winson Green Prison, Coventry agreed to the cremation after many other cities refused to allow the funeral to take place in their city, there were only 3 people present at the cremation.

 

The Black Taxi cab, a global symbol of Britain, has always been made in Coventry.

 

Coventry is located further inland from the coast than any other British City.

 

The english saying " To be sent to Coventry" meaning to be ostracised, supposedly originates from the hostile attitudes against the royalist prisoners held in Coventry during the English Civil War. The saying is still used across Britain today.

The 1970's TV drama about nurses the Angles was filmed at the Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry.

In 1772 a house in Gosford Street, Coventry was the scene of a horrific fire, its Occupant a Mrs Mary Clues was found to be consumed by the fire. Investigation into to the cause of the fire were put down to spontaneous human combustion.

In 1968 John Lennon and Yoko Ono visited Coventry Cathedral as part of their Acorns for Peace tour, the acorns they planted there were sadly all stolen.