Coventry Castle

July 1934

Where did the Castle stand, in which the Earls of Coventry lived? Some think it stood in the Cheylesmore district, and not far from the Manor House, which was built in 1234 by Roger de Mantault, Broadgate being the site of the gate leading to the Castle; others think it stood near the site of St. Mary's Hall, and that Bayley Lane was the bailey protecting it.

The population of Coventry at the end of Godiva's life (1085-6) is said by Whitley to have been as follows: -

There were also houses belonging to the Coventry Abbey situated in Leicester (30), and in Warwick (36)

After the death of Countess Godiva, King Rufus gave no charter to the Abbey. It is said his policy was retrograde rather than progressive, and the southern part, or Earl's "vill," (now Cheylesmore) was held by him in "fee farm," as the Conqueror had held it before him. After three Abbots being appointed (the last being Leofwin), Robert de Lymesy (a Norman) suppressed this office in 1095, and appointed one of the monks, named Burwyng, as a Prior. This Robert was Bishop of Chester, in which diocese was Coventry.

About 1100, Lymesy, attracted by the wealth of the Monastery, brought about the removal of the See, and thus became the first Bishop of Coventry. At this time the title of Abbey or Minster was superseded by Cathedral, and the town changed into City, while Norman Priors took their place in the council of the nations, as the Saxon Abbots before them.

Next month my article will describe the excavations new being made on the site of the Priory, which dates back to the time of Lady Godiva.

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