Inside Cov’s hidden Blitz museum

HAVE you ever wondered what Coventry looked and felt like during wartime?

Hidden in the depths of an iconic city landmark, the Coventry Blitz museum is a treasure trove of history that brings the 1940s in Coventry to life.

You can immerse yourself in the reconstructed 1940s school room, kitchen and bomb shelters that have all been positioned in such a way as to allow visitors to get interactive and educated.

The museum was opened in 2002 and is filled with real life artefacts that Coventry residents have donated from their lives during the war.

“The story of the Blitz resonates with people from around the world” The museum is certainly tucked away, and is situated behind the altar in the ruins of Coventry Cathedral.

A symbol of our resilience as a city, the Cathedral is often the first stop for tourists and locals alike - but how many people actually know this is here?

The Blitz came to define the war-time experience of many people in Coventry, as huge parts of the city were destroyed or damaged.

We were given an exclusive after hours tour of the museum by volunteer Gill Shorthose and Cathedral Tourism Manager Carla Crawley, who told us of the importance of this historic spot.

“The cathedral is all about peace and reconciliation, that’s the core of our story here.

“But I think in order to understand why that’s so important to us you do need to understand what happened in 1940.

“So it’s really a collection of life during the Blitz and what happened before and after.

“I think it really sets the scene to help you really understand the impact of the Blitz during that time.”

As we meandered our way through the museum, it is clear that this is a bit of a Tardis and a family could easily spend an afternoon here.

Local schools often visit here and volunteers tell us it gets really busy in November.

From the visitors book it is clear that this is a world class spot that has impressed many. Tourists from China to Canada, Mexico to Poland have all experienced what the museum has to offer.

From the old 1940s style classroom, to the immersive walk through the Blitz experience, the museum is a powerful reminder of our city’s heritage.

Volunteer Gill Shorthose talks us through the reconstructed warden’s post, filled with clothing, posters and household items from that time.

She tells us everyone has a story and some have even kept a physical remnant of that time: “We could rebuild the cathedral with all the bits of stone people have kept from that era.”

As we walk through the exhibitions and posters of that time, it is hard not to be struck by the depth and detail of things that are on display.

Tourism manager Cara seems to agree, adding: “People aren’t expecting this when they walk down. Every time I come down here I’m surprised.”

Volunteers that run the museum have a wealth of knowledge about the period, from what life was like to the quirky facts that only people from that era would know.

Here’s the top 5 things we learned:

If you ever discover a gas mask - do not put it on. There may be residual toxins and the filters may contain asbesto.

Children at the time couldn’t have Meccano sets because the metal was needed for the war effort.

People who owned chickens couldn’t keep the eggs that were produced, they had to give them to the Ministry of Food to redistribute in the war effort.

If you look outside the windows of the museum, you’ll spot tree boxes. Where those boxes are was where an old motorcycle factory once stood.

The glass that has been donated to the museum was all from that period, and you can see how it has been melted in the Blitz.

The museum is run seamlessly by volunteers, who invest a lot of their time behind the scenes to ensure that this vital resource stays open for the public.

With Coventry gearing up for its year as the City of Culture , this is just another valuable reminder of what we have to offer.

If you feel like you have something you could donate to the museum, or if you would like to volunteer, contact Carla directly at: Carla.Crawley@coventrycathedral. org.uk

The museum is open from 1pm to 3pm on weekdays. You can pop straight over or call in at the welcome desk at the cathedral.

Heritage Open Days have begun, which is the perfect opportunity to visit the museum and an array of other hidden gems across the city.