C O N T E X T 7 6 : S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 2 19 Chapter House were found undercrofts, or more strictly speaking a series of vaulted rooms, still standing up to 4m high. Exploiting the break of slope they were lit by windows in their north elevations. Some of the rooms had been converted into living accommodation in the early 15th century, helped by the addition of a fireplace. Coventry’s ‘little Pompeii’ was too spectacular to be preserved in situ and covered over. We decided that these remains had to be on permanent display. The new Cathedral office rising above them has been redesigned at considerable expense. It now sits on a massive steelwork frame bridging over the ruins. A great window will allow 24-hour viewing, with guided tours of the interior planned for a closer look. With our aim of increasing the profile of the project, and of the cathedral and priory in particular, we invited Meet the Ancestors (BBC2) and Time Team (Channel 4) to Coventry. It is unusual for these rivals to make television programmes about the same site. Fortunately the results were to be very different. In 2000 Meet the Ancestors filmed the removal of the Conroy family vault in the 18th and 19th century graveyard within the nave of the cathedral, while Time Team focused excavations on the Chapter House and on the central crossing of the church, fixing the latter’s position for the very first time. TimeTeamwas filmed over four days – and, unusually, they returned in January 2001 to make a ‘special’, helping us show off our discoveries, especially the undercroft excavations and the Apocalypse stone. There is now no excuse for not knowing at least something about St Mary’s cathedral and priory in Coventry. George Demidowicz is team leader (conservation and landscape) at Coventry City Council. IHBC Annual School 2002 IHBC Annual School 2002 IHBC Annual School 2002 The Coventry archaeological team also conducted all the excavations in the cloister and around the ribbonweaving factory. Though extensive, these excavations were able to be planned in small sections over a period of more than two years. Last summer the deep remains of Priory Mill were excavated and major timbers supporting the edges of a water wheel pit uncovered.Waterlogging allowed dendro-samples to be taken: we await the results. The foundation design of the building and open space (Priory Place), intended to be built over the mill, was altered to avoid the wheel pit. The position of the water mill will be marked by falling water and a distinctive paving design. The Phoenix Initiative will cost over £40 million, with the largest grant of nearly £11 million given by the Millennium Commission. The project is due to be finished towards the end of 2003. This has been achieved by a small team of council officers, only three of whom were devoted full time to the project, including Chris Beck, the project director. Another small handful of officers (myself included) was assigned to the project, but only part-time. We have been very dependent on our partners in the private sector to provide architectural, landscape and engineering services. Although the project has caused a strain for the rest of the conservation service during the last few years, this was an opportunity not to be missed. In the process, among other things, two listed buildings have been removed from the buildings at risk register. A pride in Coventry’s heritage has been instilled locally and its significance is now appreciated much further afield. We invite you to come and visit. A fragment of a medieval wallpainting depicting a scene from the Apocalypse now on display in the Priory visitor centre
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