CONSERVATION FRAMEWORK
5.3.4 RUINED CATHEDRAL See also: 5.3.5
New cathedral
5.3.6
Repair, maintenance and conservation
5.3.12
Landscape and setting
HERITAGE CONSIDERATIONS
VULNERABILITIES AND CONFLICTS
The ruins of St Michael’s Cathedral are an important reminder of the pre-1940s architecture of Coventry. In the 1950s the Restoration Committee and the architect Spence made a conscious decision to retain St Michael’s as a ruin open to the elements, as a memorial landscape and place for reflection.
The ruined cathedral (including the ruined nave, the complete tower and several intact crypt spaces) is physically vulnerable. As this building is a largely a ruin, the issue of constant and accelerated weathering and erosion of fabric is unavoidable but still ultimately harmful. Fine structural elements and monuments that were intended to be internal are now subject to greater weathering.The appropriate level of intervention will slow the rate of decay without appearing to `restore’ the building.
The building should continue to be managed in line with conservation best practice for ancient ruins, and as an archaeological structure of national heritage value commensurate with that of a scheduled monument. A strategy for the managed decline of the ruin will be necessary to ensure that conservation and repairs are carried out, whilst acknowledging that renewal or restoration may not be suitable, or necessary and that there will inevitably by some loss of fabric as the place continues to weather and erode over time. Whilst it is acknowledged that the ruin should remain as such, this does not preclude its use as an important part of religious activity or secular events. A wide variety of uses are possible but consideration should be given to potential damage such use might incur - the loading from heavy vehicles for example.
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High-quality spaces such as Bishop Haigh Chapel and the Cappers Room are used for ad hoc storage which is highly detrimental to their significance. Tours of the tower are only available during limited opening hours and accessibility is an issue.There is a small shop in the tower which conflicts with the tower’s significance. Other spaces such as the Blitz experience offer a good visitor experience but are only open to school groups.
