City College Commereative Brochure

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Design and print: Watermark Design Ltd 01926 493666

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Tel: (024) 7679 1000

Email: info@covcollege.ac.uk

Our History

Website: www.covcollege.ac.uk

Swanswell Centre Swanswell Street Coventry CV1 5DG Butts Centre Butts Coventry CV1 3GD

Coventre

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Introduction My name is Carol Bloxham and I started attending IT courses for blind people at City College Coventry in February 2003. I enjoyed it so much that I have continued, it is now 2008.

The courses started in 1999/2000 with four students at the Resource Centre in Earlsdon and moved to the Butts in 2002 for technical reasons. Now there are four classes per week with approximately 30 students.

The courses are for blind and partially sighted people, from beginners who have never used a computer before to people wanting to gain a further IT qualification. The class is for all ages and we use various software packages such as Jaws which is a speech package and Supernova which is a magnification package. This software enables us to do things we never dreamed of doing before, such as sending Emails, internet browsing and word processing.

Everyone in these classes needs a support worker on a one to one basis to be their eyes when we or the computers go wrong, which can be quite often!

My support worker is Claire Hodge.

My thanks to Carol Bloxham, who with the help of Claire Hodge has compiled this brief history of Coventry with particular reference to City College Coventry.

Paul Taylor, Principal

It was suggested by a member of staff that I tried my hand at writing a history of this college, in its final year as it will be closing in December 2008 and will be

developed into a nine storey tower block with over 550 flats and a range of cafes, bars and restaurants. Part of the site is also going to become home to the Quality & Curriculum Agency, who are moving their headquarters from London.

The only thing to remain from the college is the theatre, which will have a complete revamp by the developers. The new City College will be situated in the Hillfields area of the city within the Swanswell Learning Quarter and is being built in two phases.

Phase one is already in use and Phase two is due for completion by the end of 2008.

Contents Ye Olde Cofantree 03 Coventry in the Middle Ages 04 Coventry’s Royal Connections 05 Coventry’s Coat of Arms 06

While I was researching the history of the college I came across some very interesting facts about Coventry and decided to include them as well, because this will then show how the early stages of education in Coventry came into being and resulted in the system we have today.

Early Education in Coventry 07

During my research I realised that the address of the new college building is 50 Swanswell Street, which is rather a strange coincidence as my mother grew up at this address after the First World War.

Recollections of my Time at the Junior Technical School 15

I would like to take this opportunity to say a very big thank you to all the staff at the City College Coventry for their help and support during this project.

The Origins of the College 08 A Study in Time 08 The Birth of the Butts College 11

Apprenticeship Courses 19 The College 2008 21 The Theatre 23 Last Year at the Butts 24 Acknowledgements 26

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Introduction My name is Carol Bloxham and I started attending IT courses for blind people at City College Coventry in February 2003. I enjoyed it so much that I have continued, it is now 2008.

The courses started in 1999/2000 with four students at the Resource Centre in Earlsdon and moved to the Butts in 2002 for technical reasons. Now there are four classes per week with approximately 30 students.

The courses are for blind and partially sighted people, from beginners who have never used a computer before to people wanting to gain a further IT qualification. The class is for all ages and we use various software packages such as Jaws which is a speech package and Supernova which is a magnification package. This software enables us to do things we never dreamed of doing before, such as sending Emails, internet browsing and word processing.

Everyone in these classes needs a support worker on a one to one basis to be their eyes when we or the computers go wrong, which can be quite often!

My support worker is Claire Hodge.

My thanks to Carol Bloxham, who with the help of Claire Hodge has compiled this brief history of Coventry with particular reference to City College Coventry.

Paul Taylor, Principal

It was suggested by a member of staff that I tried my hand at writing a history of this college, in its final year as it will be closing in December 2008 and will be

developed into a nine storey tower block with over 550 flats and a range of cafes, bars and restaurants. Part of the site is also going to become home to the Quality & Curriculum Agency, who are moving their headquarters from London.

The only thing to remain from the college is the theatre, which will have a complete revamp by the developers. The new City College will be situated in the Hillfields area of the city within the Swanswell Learning Quarter and is being built in two phases.

Phase one is already in use and Phase two is due for completion by the end of 2008.

Contents Ye Olde Cofantree 03 Coventry in the Middle Ages 04 Coventry’s Royal Connections 05 Coventry’s Coat of Arms 06

While I was researching the history of the college I came across some very interesting facts about Coventry and decided to include them as well, because this will then show how the early stages of education in Coventry came into being and resulted in the system we have today.

Early Education in Coventry 07

During my research I realised that the address of the new college building is 50 Swanswell Street, which is rather a strange coincidence as my mother grew up at this address after the First World War.

Recollections of my Time at the Junior Technical School 15

I would like to take this opportunity to say a very big thank you to all the staff at the City College Coventry for their help and support during this project.

The Origins of the College 08 A Study in Time 08 The Birth of the Butts College 11

Apprenticeship Courses 19 The College 2008 21 The Theatre 23 Last Year at the Butts 24 Acknowledgements 26

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Key to Map: 1. St Michael’s Church 2. Holy Trinity Church 3. St Mary’s Hall 5. Greyfriar’s Spire

Ye Olde Cofantree

It is widely thought that the name Coventry was derived from a great tree known as “Cofa’s tree” which was within the Anglo Saxon settlement of Barrs Hill.

Cofa was a Saxon magnate and trees were often used as meeting places. The name was spelt in many different ways during the first few centuries but the most common spelling used until 400 years ago was “Coventre” before evolving into what we know it as today.

In 1043 Coventry was a scattered settlement when Leofric, Earl of Mercia, and his wife, Godgifu, founded a Benedictine monastery for an abbot and 24 monks.

The early development of Coventry owed much to this famous couple. Godgifu (pronounced Godgivu) meaning ‘God’s gift’ was a popular name at that time.

Today she is remembered as Lady Godiva, although she never held the official title

of ‘Lady’ however she was referred to by many as ‘Countess’. Even before marrying Leofric, Godgifu was a woman of high status and owned much land.

Leofric was one of the three most powerful men in the country, reporting directly to King Cnut. King Cnut was one of the most famous of English kings although he was not English and was probably the most powerful king ever to rule over AngloSaxon England. His name has been incorrectly spelt for generations (Canute) and of course he is best known for sitting on his throne on the seashore and ordering the tide not to come in (but of course it did not obey him!).

Leofric died in 1057 and when Godgifu died ten years later, she was the most powerful lady landowner in England. Leofric was buried with great ceremony in one of the porches of the Abbey church and many believe that Godgifu was buried there too, although there is no evidence of this and it is actually recorded that her final resting place was Evesham Abbey.

Coventry in the Middle Ages Lady Godgifu of course is remembered these days for her naked ride through the town on horseback, which was allegedly in an attempt to persuade her husband to lower taxes. This story has spanned many centuries but it is unlikely that it ever happened at all. Coventry at that time was a small hamlet so it would have been a very short ride and it was not written about until over 100 years later by Roger of Wendover, a man not known for his accurate recording of historical events. And the story of Peeping Tom the boy who stole a peep at Lady Godgifu did not emerge until several years after her death.

However the stories remain part of the city’s legend and a Godiva procession is still held each year. Visitors to Coventry are directed to the statue of Lady Godiva on horseback and the Peeping Tom mechanical clock both situated in Broadgate.

At the time of the Domesday Book in 1086 Coventry had a population of about 350.

The Domesday Book was commissioned in December 1085 by William the Conqueror and the first draft was completed in August 1086.

At this time Coventry had a castle which was built in the 11th century by Ranulf Meschines, Earl of Chester.

It is believed that it stood where the Cathedral Lanes shopping centre is now situated.

The castle was razed to the ground in the 12th century and then rebuilt again, the castle then fell into disrepair.

It is rumoured that the crumbling hulk of the castle was used as a quarry for stone to build other town structures and the city wall.

Archaeologists have found the defensive ditch to the castle. This is referred to as the Red Ditch which probably gets its name from the red sandstone used to build the walls.

From the early 12th century Coventry was divided into two halves; the northern half was controlled by the Prior and the southern half was controlled by the Earl of Chester. From 1265 the Prior slowly lost his power and rented his half of the town to the Earl.

In the Middle Ages Coventry became famous for its weaving and dyeing industry (which is where we got the Coventry sky blue colour from). There were many workers in the cloth trade, drapers, fullers, dyers and weavers. There were also many other craftsmen such as millers, bakers, butchers, blacksmiths, carpenters, coopers, cutlers and goldsmiths. In 1340 the merchants of Coventry were formed into a guild, which looked after their interests.

A meeting hall, St Mary’s Hall, was built for the guild.

This beautiful building survived the blitz and is still used today for special functions.

Coventry was granted a Royal “Charter of Incorporation” in 1345 by King Edward III. This meant that Coventry could now have its own council and elect its own mayor.

Coventry was now officially

04

a city and in 1348 John Ward was duly elected as the city’s first Mayor.

The Charter effectively excluded the Prior from any involvement with the more powerful Earl’s half of the city and in 1355 the Prior gave up all his claims on it.

Coventry’s central location favoured its growth and the River Sherbourne provided water supplies and power for the mills. In 1329 Coventry became so rich that it was felt it was worth protecting with a wall and money to pay for it was raised by “murage” which was a tax on goods coming into the city. The building of the wall began in 1355 and was finally completed in 1534. At this time it was 2 miles long, 8 feet thick, over 12 feet high and had 20 towers and 12 gates. It was the most substantial town defence outside London.

It took 179 years to build and it only stood for 128 years before King Charles II in 1662 ordered it to be demolished leaving only the gates and part of the wall intact. Some of the wall can still be seen today.

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Key to Map: 1. St Michael’s Church 2. Holy Trinity Church 3. St Mary’s Hall 5. Greyfriar’s Spire

Ye Olde Cofantree

It is widely thought that the name Coventry was derived from a great tree known as “Cofa’s tree” which was within the Anglo Saxon settlement of Barrs Hill.

Cofa was a Saxon magnate and trees were often used as meeting places. The name was spelt in many different ways during the first few centuries but the most common spelling used until 400 years ago was “Coventre” before evolving into what we know it as today.

In 1043 Coventry was a scattered settlement when Leofric, Earl of Mercia, and his wife, Godgifu, founded a Benedictine monastery for an abbot and 24 monks.

The early development of Coventry owed much to this famous couple. Godgifu (pronounced Godgivu) meaning ‘God’s gift’ was a popular name at that time.

Today she is remembered as Lady Godiva, although she never held the official title

of ‘Lady’ however she was referred to by many as ‘Countess’. Even before marrying Leofric, Godgifu was a woman of high status and owned much land.

Leofric was one of the three most powerful men in the country, reporting directly to King Cnut. King Cnut was one of the most famous of English kings although he was not English and was probably the most powerful king ever to rule over AngloSaxon England. His name has been incorrectly spelt for generations (Canute) and of course he is best known for sitting on his throne on the seashore and ordering the tide not to come in (but of course it did not obey him!).

Leofric died in 1057 and when Godgifu died ten years later, she was the most powerful lady landowner in England. Leofric was buried with great ceremony in one of the porches of the Abbey church and many believe that Godgifu was buried there too, although there is no evidence of this and it is actually recorded that her final resting place was Evesham Abbey.

Coventry in the Middle Ages Lady Godgifu of course is remembered these days for her naked ride through the town on horseback, which was allegedly in an attempt to persuade her husband to lower taxes. This story has spanned many centuries but it is unlikely that it ever happened at all. Coventry at that time was a small hamlet so it would have been a very short ride and it was not written about until over 100 years later by Roger of Wendover, a man not known for his accurate recording of historical events. And the story of Peeping Tom the boy who stole a peep at Lady Godgifu did not emerge until several years after her death.

However the stories remain part of the city’s legend and a Godiva procession is still held each year. Visitors to Coventry are directed to the statue of Lady Godiva on horseback and the Peeping Tom mechanical clock both situated in Broadgate.

At the time of the Domesday Book in 1086 Coventry had a population of about 350.

The Domesday Book was commissioned in December 1085 by William the Conqueror and the first draft was completed in August 1086.

At this time Coventry had a castle which was built in the 11th century by Ranulf Meschines, Earl of Chester.

It is believed that it stood where the Cathedral Lanes shopping centre is now situated.

The castle was razed to the ground in the 12th century and then rebuilt again, the castle then fell into disrepair.

It is rumoured that the crumbling hulk of the castle was used as a quarry for stone to build other town structures and the city wall.

Archaeologists have found the defensive ditch to the castle. This is referred to as the Red Ditch which probably gets its name from the red sandstone used to build the walls.

From the early 12th century Coventry was divided into two halves; the northern half was controlled by the Prior and the southern half was controlled by the Earl of Chester. From 1265 the Prior slowly lost his power and rented his half of the town to the Earl.

In the Middle Ages Coventry became famous for its weaving and dyeing industry (which is where we got the Coventry sky blue colour from). There were many workers in the cloth trade, drapers, fullers, dyers and weavers. There were also many other craftsmen such as millers, bakers, butchers, blacksmiths, carpenters, coopers, cutlers and goldsmiths. In 1340 the merchants of Coventry were formed into a guild, which looked after their interests.

A meeting hall, St Mary’s Hall, was built for the guild.

This beautiful building survived the blitz and is still used today for special functions.

Coventry was granted a Royal “Charter of Incorporation” in 1345 by King Edward III. This meant that Coventry could now have its own council and elect its own mayor.

Coventry was now officially

04

a city and in 1348 John Ward was duly elected as the city’s first Mayor.

The Charter effectively excluded the Prior from any involvement with the more powerful Earl’s half of the city and in 1355 the Prior gave up all his claims on it.

Coventry’s central location favoured its growth and the River Sherbourne provided water supplies and power for the mills. In 1329 Coventry became so rich that it was felt it was worth protecting with a wall and money to pay for it was raised by “murage” which was a tax on goods coming into the city. The building of the wall began in 1355 and was finally completed in 1534. At this time it was 2 miles long, 8 feet thick, over 12 feet high and had 20 towers and 12 gates. It was the most substantial town defence outside London.

It took 179 years to build and it only stood for 128 years before King Charles II in 1662 ordered it to be demolished leaving only the gates and part of the wall intact. Some of the wall can still be seen today.

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Coventry’s Royal Connections

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Original route of wall Final route of wall City wall remains

This map shows the route of the City wall

Broadgate is named after the gate at the entrance of the castle. The only part of the old castle which remains today is called Caesar’s Tower and it is part of St Mary’s Guildhall.

There were 12 gates dotted around the walls of the town namely New Gate, Hill Gate, Little Park Gate, Cheylesmore Gate, Well Street Gate, Gosford Gate, Bishop Street Gate, Spon Gate, Swanswell Gate, Cook Street Gate, Greyfriars Gate and Bastille Gate (later known as Mill Lane Gate).

This gate stood in what is now Cox Street and is positioned under the sports centre. The wall adjacent to this gate suffered from water penetration problems in the 16th century resulting from the proximity of the nearby pool in what is now Pool Meadow. Today there are only two surviving gates: Swanswell Gate and Cook Street Gate.

The two surviving gates Swanswell Gate and Cook Street Gate

Part of the city wall as seen from Lady Herbert’s Gardens

St Mary’s Caesar’s Tower

Queen Isabella was considered by many as a champion for Coventry. She suffered greatly at the hands of her husband, Edward II, who showered his attention and her jewellery on his homosexual lover, Piers Galveston, while totally neglecting Isabella. She fled to France where her brother, Charles, was King and it was there that she met her lover Roger Mortimer. With his help they invaded England and forced her husband to abdicate in favour of his eldest son, Edward III. As Edward III was only 14 at the time, Isabella and Mortimer ruled as regents until 1330 when she had her husband, Edward II, murdered. Edward III also turned 18 in this year and was able to rule in his own right. He staged a coup and took Isabella and Mortimer prisoner. Mortimer was executed for treason and Isabella was banished by her son to her estate at Castle Rising in Norfolk. At this time she also inherited the manor and manor house of Cheylesmore from Robert and Emma Montalt, and she took up residence there. She remained powerful and was responsible for The Royal Charter of 1345 mentioned previously, which was the first of its kind in England.

A plaque located on the outside of the manor states: ‘A manor house at Cheylesmore was first mentioned in the year 1250.

In 1320 it passed to Queen Isabella. In 1385 the Royal Manor was enclosed within the city walls. In the 16th Century John Leland, the King’s Antiquarian, wrote “the King has a Palace at Coventry now somewhat in ruin”.

In 1661 its other buildings were repaired by Sir Robert Townsend. In 1738 a weaver asked permission to make a tenement of one of them.

In 1955 most of the south wing which had become a range of industrial top-shops was demolished. In 1965 Coventry Corporation undertook restoration of the gatehouse and the surviving bays of the north and south wings.

The work completed in 1968 revealed important historical features for example the south wing probably belongs to the original manor house of the 13th Century.

The manor is now a grade II listed building and home to the Registry Office for births, deaths and marriages

The ogee-headed doorway (still in place today) is an original entrance into the Manor House from the Greyfriars monastery of which only the church steeple still stands. The open timber roofs had scarcely been altered since they were built and enough of the original framework had survived to assure authentic restoration.’

Some have said that the castle relates to the wall that surrounded the city but early seals with both elephant and castle predate the wall. The coat of arms also contains the crest known as ‘Cat-amountain’ which was the emblem carried by the Black Prince on his helmet. The motto beneath the arms ‘Camera Pricipis’ means “The Prince’s Chamber”.

Queen Isabella’s grandson, Edward, was known during his lifetime as Edward of Woodstock. In 1337 he became the first Duke of Cornwall then in 1343 he became the Prince of Wales.

He never became King, as he died a year before his father, Edward III. It was only after his death that he was known as the Black Prince, which probably referred to the black armour he wore. Edward used Cheylesmore Manor as his hunting lodge and reputedly visited the area frequently.

In 1959 the coat of arms was enhanced by two supporters: the Black Eagle of Leofric on the left and the Phoenix on the right representing the ancient town and Coventry’s rise from the ashes after the blitz.

Coventry’s Coat of Arms It is believed that the elephant on the coat of arms stood for strength, redemption and protection and the ability to slay dragons.

Coventry’s other claim to fame arising from royal connections is encapsulated in the expression “sent to Coventry” which means to be completely ignored by everyone. The most popular believed reason of how this saying came about is that during the Civil War Oliver Cromwell sent many Royalist prisoners to the city and whilst they were exercising in the streets, it was said that they were completely ostracised by the strong parliamentarian folk of Coventry. Therefore legend has it that people shunned in that way were said to have been “sent to Coventry” where nobody talks to you.

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Coventry’s Royal Connections

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Original route of wall Final route of wall City wall remains

This map shows the route of the City wall

Broadgate is named after the gate at the entrance of the castle. The only part of the old castle which remains today is called Caesar’s Tower and it is part of St Mary’s Guildhall.

There were 12 gates dotted around the walls of the town namely New Gate, Hill Gate, Little Park Gate, Cheylesmore Gate, Well Street Gate, Gosford Gate, Bishop Street Gate, Spon Gate, Swanswell Gate, Cook Street Gate, Greyfriars Gate and Bastille Gate (later known as Mill Lane Gate).

This gate stood in what is now Cox Street and is positioned under the sports centre. The wall adjacent to this gate suffered from water penetration problems in the 16th century resulting from the proximity of the nearby pool in what is now Pool Meadow. Today there are only two surviving gates: Swanswell Gate and Cook Street Gate.

The two surviving gates Swanswell Gate and Cook Street Gate

Part of the city wall as seen from Lady Herbert’s Gardens

St Mary’s Caesar’s Tower

Queen Isabella was considered by many as a champion for Coventry. She suffered greatly at the hands of her husband, Edward II, who showered his attention and her jewellery on his homosexual lover, Piers Galveston, while totally neglecting Isabella. She fled to France where her brother, Charles, was King and it was there that she met her lover Roger Mortimer. With his help they invaded England and forced her husband to abdicate in favour of his eldest son, Edward III. As Edward III was only 14 at the time, Isabella and Mortimer ruled as regents until 1330 when she had her husband, Edward II, murdered. Edward III also turned 18 in this year and was able to rule in his own right. He staged a coup and took Isabella and Mortimer prisoner. Mortimer was executed for treason and Isabella was banished by her son to her estate at Castle Rising in Norfolk. At this time she also inherited the manor and manor house of Cheylesmore from Robert and Emma Montalt, and she took up residence there. She remained powerful and was responsible for The Royal Charter of 1345 mentioned previously, which was the first of its kind in England.

A plaque located on the outside of the manor states: ‘A manor house at Cheylesmore was first mentioned in the year 1250.

In 1320 it passed to Queen Isabella. In 1385 the Royal Manor was enclosed within the city walls. In the 16th Century John Leland, the King’s Antiquarian, wrote “the King has a Palace at Coventry now somewhat in ruin”.

In 1661 its other buildings were repaired by Sir Robert Townsend. In 1738 a weaver asked permission to make a tenement of one of them.

In 1955 most of the south wing which had become a range of industrial top-shops was demolished. In 1965 Coventry Corporation undertook restoration of the gatehouse and the surviving bays of the north and south wings.

The work completed in 1968 revealed important historical features for example the south wing probably belongs to the original manor house of the 13th Century.

The manor is now a grade II listed building and home to the Registry Office for births, deaths and marriages

The ogee-headed doorway (still in place today) is an original entrance into the Manor House from the Greyfriars monastery of which only the church steeple still stands. The open timber roofs had scarcely been altered since they were built and enough of the original framework had survived to assure authentic restoration.’

Some have said that the castle relates to the wall that surrounded the city but early seals with both elephant and castle predate the wall. The coat of arms also contains the crest known as ‘Cat-amountain’ which was the emblem carried by the Black Prince on his helmet. The motto beneath the arms ‘Camera Pricipis’ means “The Prince’s Chamber”.

Queen Isabella’s grandson, Edward, was known during his lifetime as Edward of Woodstock. In 1337 he became the first Duke of Cornwall then in 1343 he became the Prince of Wales.

He never became King, as he died a year before his father, Edward III. It was only after his death that he was known as the Black Prince, which probably referred to the black armour he wore. Edward used Cheylesmore Manor as his hunting lodge and reputedly visited the area frequently.

In 1959 the coat of arms was enhanced by two supporters: the Black Eagle of Leofric on the left and the Phoenix on the right representing the ancient town and Coventry’s rise from the ashes after the blitz.

Coventry’s Coat of Arms It is believed that the elephant on the coat of arms stood for strength, redemption and protection and the ability to slay dragons.

Coventry’s other claim to fame arising from royal connections is encapsulated in the expression “sent to Coventry” which means to be completely ignored by everyone. The most popular believed reason of how this saying came about is that during the Civil War Oliver Cromwell sent many Royalist prisoners to the city and whilst they were exercising in the streets, it was said that they were completely ostracised by the strong parliamentarian folk of Coventry. Therefore legend has it that people shunned in that way were said to have been “sent to Coventry” where nobody talks to you.

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Early Education in Coventry Until the 19th century education was not compulsory and only the wealthy could afford to pay the fees where educational facilities existed. In 1303 the monks at the priory started a school for poor children and they also maintained a public grammar school.

A typical school day ran from 6am to 5pm with brief holidays. The main subjects were music and the classics.

The old Bablake School in Hill Street was founded in 1560, but the educational institution possibly originates from 1344 when the Bablake lands were granted by Queen Isabella for the building of the original St John’s (or Bablake) Church.

It is thought that the school was suppressed under the Chantries Act in 1548 and it was reopened by the city in 1560 with 41 boys in attendance. The school was mostly dependent on charitable gifts until 1563 when Thomas Wheatley endowed it with much of his estate. It is rumoured that Thomas Wheatley had ordered some steel wedges from Spain but he received by mistake in their place a chest of silver ingots. Being an honourable man and unable to discover to whom this cargo rightly belonged, he decided not to profit from

the mistake himself but to give to the needy. At this time the school committed itself to giving free board, clothing and education to poor boys who were to become apprentices.

Bablake moved to its present location in Coundon Road in 1890.

Free Grammar School

King Henry VIII School was founded on 23rd July 1545

by John Hales as the Free Grammar School. For over 300 years it was situated in the former Hospital of St John the Baptist, which was founded in 1155 by Laurence, Prior of Coventry, for the poor and infirm people of the city. At the dissolution of the monasteries the crown granted the property to John Hales. This building still stands on the corner of Bishop Street and Hale Street. It is such a shame that Coventry people have let this beautiful old building fall into a derelict state.

The Origins of the College In 1885 the school moved to its present site at Warwick Road.

The earliest elementary schools in Coventry were charitable foundations, founded from the end of the 17th century onwards. For girls these were the Blue Coat School, Southern & Craner’s and the Freemen’s Orphan School. Baker, Billing & Crow’s, Katherine Bayley’s and Fairfax School were for boys. A growing interest in education in the late 18th century gave rise to the movement to provide Sunday schools for poor children. In 1785 several schools were opened in rented rooms. After some years the various congregations undertook the provision of the schools and new buildings, the first of which was the Hill Street School built in 1799 by West Orchard Congregational Chapel. In 1838 there were 15 Sunday schools in Coventry with a total attendance of more than 3,500. By 1900 Bablake had absorbed Fairfax, Bayley’s, Baker, and Billing and Crow’s schools.

The College can trace its origins back to 1828 when the Mechanics Institution was founded in the city. This was initially located in a house, at 69 Hertford Street, (which now houses the Yorkshire Building Society) with a library, reading room, lectures and classes.

In 1855 the Mechanics Institution was reformed as the Coventry Institute.

Its programme included courses in inorganic chemistry, electricity, French, German, agriculture, geometry, animal physiology, building construction, hygiene, botany, advanced arithmetic and shorthand. Much of the Institute’s other work was to give an elementary education to adults who had missed out on schooling.

A Study in Time The Technical Institute ran classes in science, textiles, shorthand, typewriting, modern languages and horology.

Horology was an important subject because of Coventry’s history of watch making which started in the city in 1720. By the 1840’s it was one of the main watch making centres in England and for a short time it was Coventry’s principle source of employment. Most watch makers worked from home with their workshops at the back or on the top floor of the house. These were known as “top shops” and can still be seen to this day in and around the streets of Coventry.

Watchmakers’ houses Holyhead Road

Courses in horology were offered at the Technical Institute under local watchmakers such as Player, Rotherham, Bonniksen and Fridlander.

These courses included history, theory, geometry and technical drawing in addition to the usual practical work.

This was an attempt to broaden the knowledge of students who wished to study the subject.

Watch making Rotherham’s 1910

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Early Education in Coventry Until the 19th century education was not compulsory and only the wealthy could afford to pay the fees where educational facilities existed. In 1303 the monks at the priory started a school for poor children and they also maintained a public grammar school.

A typical school day ran from 6am to 5pm with brief holidays. The main subjects were music and the classics.

The old Bablake School in Hill Street was founded in 1560, but the educational institution possibly originates from 1344 when the Bablake lands were granted by Queen Isabella for the building of the original St John’s (or Bablake) Church.

It is thought that the school was suppressed under the Chantries Act in 1548 and it was reopened by the city in 1560 with 41 boys in attendance. The school was mostly dependent on charitable gifts until 1563 when Thomas Wheatley endowed it with much of his estate. It is rumoured that Thomas Wheatley had ordered some steel wedges from Spain but he received by mistake in their place a chest of silver ingots. Being an honourable man and unable to discover to whom this cargo rightly belonged, he decided not to profit from

the mistake himself but to give to the needy. At this time the school committed itself to giving free board, clothing and education to poor boys who were to become apprentices.

Bablake moved to its present location in Coundon Road in 1890.

Free Grammar School

King Henry VIII School was founded on 23rd July 1545

by John Hales as the Free Grammar School. For over 300 years it was situated in the former Hospital of St John the Baptist, which was founded in 1155 by Laurence, Prior of Coventry, for the poor and infirm people of the city. At the dissolution of the monasteries the crown granted the property to John Hales. This building still stands on the corner of Bishop Street and Hale Street. It is such a shame that Coventry people have let this beautiful old building fall into a derelict state.

The Origins of the College In 1885 the school moved to its present site at Warwick Road.

The earliest elementary schools in Coventry were charitable foundations, founded from the end of the 17th century onwards. For girls these were the Blue Coat School, Southern & Craner’s and the Freemen’s Orphan School. Baker, Billing & Crow’s, Katherine Bayley’s and Fairfax School were for boys. A growing interest in education in the late 18th century gave rise to the movement to provide Sunday schools for poor children. In 1785 several schools were opened in rented rooms. After some years the various congregations undertook the provision of the schools and new buildings, the first of which was the Hill Street School built in 1799 by West Orchard Congregational Chapel. In 1838 there were 15 Sunday schools in Coventry with a total attendance of more than 3,500. By 1900 Bablake had absorbed Fairfax, Bayley’s, Baker, and Billing and Crow’s schools.

The College can trace its origins back to 1828 when the Mechanics Institution was founded in the city. This was initially located in a house, at 69 Hertford Street, (which now houses the Yorkshire Building Society) with a library, reading room, lectures and classes.

In 1855 the Mechanics Institution was reformed as the Coventry Institute.

Its programme included courses in inorganic chemistry, electricity, French, German, agriculture, geometry, animal physiology, building construction, hygiene, botany, advanced arithmetic and shorthand. Much of the Institute’s other work was to give an elementary education to adults who had missed out on schooling.

A Study in Time The Technical Institute ran classes in science, textiles, shorthand, typewriting, modern languages and horology.

Horology was an important subject because of Coventry’s history of watch making which started in the city in 1720. By the 1840’s it was one of the main watch making centres in England and for a short time it was Coventry’s principle source of employment. Most watch makers worked from home with their workshops at the back or on the top floor of the house. These were known as “top shops” and can still be seen to this day in and around the streets of Coventry.

Watchmakers’ houses Holyhead Road

Courses in horology were offered at the Technical Institute under local watchmakers such as Player, Rotherham, Bonniksen and Fridlander.

These courses included history, theory, geometry and technical drawing in addition to the usual practical work.

This was an attempt to broaden the knowledge of students who wished to study the subject.

Watch making Rotherham’s 1910

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Silk weaving was another of the main industries in Coventry at the beginning of the 19th century. It was the Huguenot refugees, fleeing from persecution in France, who brought the art of Jacquard weaving to the city. At this time weaving, like watch making was carried out in top shops and they were paid a fixed price for the finished article. They were known as outworkers.

In the early 1840’s John and Joseph Cash, sons of a Quaker merchant set up a silk ribbon business which operated on the outworker system. By 1846, J&J Cash had become so successful that the brothers built their first factory, supplied largely with Jacquard looms powered by steam and by 1856, 200 weavers were employed in this factory.

J&J Cash became some of the first pioneers of a more enlightened approach to employment, encouraging employees out of their homes and into a central place of work.

10

In the 1880’s Coventry experienced enormous industrial changes with new engineering products of cycles, motor vehicles and machine tools.

James Starley produced the first ‘bone-shaker’ in 1868 and built an electric car in 1890. In 1896 the first motorcar was produced in the city, manufactured by Daimler Motor Syndicate which eventually developed into Jaguar. Triumph motorcycles started manufacturing in 1902 and Courtaulds textiles were formed in Foleshill in 1904.

As the engineering technology became more complex the construction of machine tools became more specialised and a trained workforce was needed.

In response a new Technical Institute was opened in 1888 in an old textile warehouse in Earl Street, which David Spencer had dedicated to the City Council on the condition that it should be used for technical schools and a school of science.

Courses at this time included textiles, horology, modern languages, shorthand, typewriting and science.

Local industry was responsible for supplying the major equipment needed for these courses, often free of charge, and The American Writing Machine Company loaned typewriters to the commercial department until 1893.

At this time the institute had proved so successful that an additional block of buildings, including a large lecture theatre, was built at a cost of £5,000. In 1896 Mr J Hope Belcher was appointed as Principal and he continued until 1918. He was paid £250 per year. One of the first things he had to do was make cuts because of the shortage of money and space. He did this by combining and closing classes.

Leavin g Depar certificate w tment Circa oven in silk 1900 in the Textile s

Textile Workshop

t earlies s – the ession u t c e p s s 91 pro ollege’s pos the 18 C e m h o t fr in e issue A pag

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Silk weaving was another of the main industries in Coventry at the beginning of the 19th century. It was the Huguenot refugees, fleeing from persecution in France, who brought the art of Jacquard weaving to the city. At this time weaving, like watch making was carried out in top shops and they were paid a fixed price for the finished article. They were known as outworkers.

In the early 1840’s John and Joseph Cash, sons of a Quaker merchant set up a silk ribbon business which operated on the outworker system. By 1846, J&J Cash had become so successful that the brothers built their first factory, supplied largely with Jacquard looms powered by steam and by 1856, 200 weavers were employed in this factory.

J&J Cash became some of the first pioneers of a more enlightened approach to employment, encouraging employees out of their homes and into a central place of work.

10

In the 1880’s Coventry experienced enormous industrial changes with new engineering products of cycles, motor vehicles and machine tools.

James Starley produced the first ‘bone-shaker’ in 1868 and built an electric car in 1890. In 1896 the first motorcar was produced in the city, manufactured by Daimler Motor Syndicate which eventually developed into Jaguar. Triumph motorcycles started manufacturing in 1902 and Courtaulds textiles were formed in Foleshill in 1904.

As the engineering technology became more complex the construction of machine tools became more specialised and a trained workforce was needed.

In response a new Technical Institute was opened in 1888 in an old textile warehouse in Earl Street, which David Spencer had dedicated to the City Council on the condition that it should be used for technical schools and a school of science.

Courses at this time included textiles, horology, modern languages, shorthand, typewriting and science.

Local industry was responsible for supplying the major equipment needed for these courses, often free of charge, and The American Writing Machine Company loaned typewriters to the commercial department until 1893.

At this time the institute had proved so successful that an additional block of buildings, including a large lecture theatre, was built at a cost of £5,000. In 1896 Mr J Hope Belcher was appointed as Principal and he continued until 1918. He was paid £250 per year. One of the first things he had to do was make cuts because of the shortage of money and space. He did this by combining and closing classes.

Leavin g Depar certificate w tment Circa oven in silk 1900 in the Textile s

Textile Workshop

t earlies s – the ession u t c e p s s 91 pro ollege’s pos the 18 C e m h o t fr in e issue A pag

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The Birth of the Butts College

The Institute’s Earl Street buildings had been unsuitable for many years so in the early 1900’s, plans were drawn up for flattening the building and replacing it on the same site, but this was too expensive. Various other city centre sites were considered and Pool Meadow was decided upon because of its central location.

The design of the new building was decided by competition in 1913 and this design above by Mr A.W. Hoare (LRIBA) was selected.

The outbreak of the First World War the next year prevented any further progress. When the War ended in 1918 there were 937 students enrolled at the college and it was decided that the site was now too small. In 1919 a Junior Technical School was also founded and moved into rooms in the Institute and there were 80 apprentices taking part time day courses.

The apprenticeship scheme could be undertaken by boys who were not academic enough for a National Diploma. In this year the city council acquired three acres of land at the corner of Albany Road and the Butts, as a site for the new building. The name ‘butts’ comes from when the land was used by archers for practice and

In 1926 the Institute qualified as a Technical College and changed its name accordingly, free from fees for children aged 5-11 and a senior school for over 11 year olds. At this time people wanted to take up more training to get better jobs and Coventry led the country in day release apprenticeships with 500 registered in 1931. At this time the Institute was providing courses for every level up to final honours degree.

involved using mounds of earth known as butts. The butts comprised a level flat area of land, up to 200 metres long, forming a range along which the archers could shoot. Originally they would contain a number of circular flat-topped, turfcovered target mounds, often arranged in pairs.

The mounds provided a level platform for the targets and were usually positioned at one or either end of the range. Edward IV passed a law in 1477 making it compulsory for all males to own a longbow and to practice on Sunday after church.

There was a delay of 14 years before work began on the building of the new college in August 1933, when the City Council agreed to build the new college with a loan of £142,228.

During the construction the workmen decided to include a time capsule in the form of a message in a bottle, which they buried underneath the front steps. This message included their names and

trades: bricklayers George Monday and Walter Sproon, apprentice bricklayer Harry Roberts and labourer Harry.

This time capsule was discovered when work was carried out to renew the steps in 1995.

On the 10th of July 1934, HRH the Prince of Wales, made a tour of inspection of the building while it was under construction and a bronze tablet commemorating this visit and another commemorating the opening by the Duke of York the following year are situated in the main entrance.

The new building was opened on 10th December 1935 by the then Duke of York who later became George VI. Thousands of people turned out to greet the Duke and Duchess as they arrived at Coventry Station and then made their way via the Council House to the Technical College.

During his opening speech the Duke said “After visiting some of the less fortunate towns, it is very cheering to be here in the midst of manufacturing activity and development”.

Aerial view of the college under construction The photo shows men constructing the archery butts

Engineering workshops (now demolished)

Gymnasium under construction

The photo shows the Duke arriving at the Butts Stadium

Here we can see men working on the inside of the building

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The Birth of the Butts College

The Institute’s Earl Street buildings had been unsuitable for many years so in the early 1900’s, plans were drawn up for flattening the building and replacing it on the same site, but this was too expensive. Various other city centre sites were considered and Pool Meadow was decided upon because of its central location.

The design of the new building was decided by competition in 1913 and this design above by Mr A.W. Hoare (LRIBA) was selected.

The outbreak of the First World War the next year prevented any further progress. When the War ended in 1918 there were 937 students enrolled at the college and it was decided that the site was now too small. In 1919 a Junior Technical School was also founded and moved into rooms in the Institute and there were 80 apprentices taking part time day courses.

The apprenticeship scheme could be undertaken by boys who were not academic enough for a National Diploma. In this year the city council acquired three acres of land at the corner of Albany Road and the Butts, as a site for the new building. The name ‘butts’ comes from when the land was used by archers for practice and

In 1926 the Institute qualified as a Technical College and changed its name accordingly, free from fees for children aged 5-11 and a senior school for over 11 year olds. At this time people wanted to take up more training to get better jobs and Coventry led the country in day release apprenticeships with 500 registered in 1931. At this time the Institute was providing courses for every level up to final honours degree.

involved using mounds of earth known as butts. The butts comprised a level flat area of land, up to 200 metres long, forming a range along which the archers could shoot. Originally they would contain a number of circular flat-topped, turfcovered target mounds, often arranged in pairs.

The mounds provided a level platform for the targets and were usually positioned at one or either end of the range. Edward IV passed a law in 1477 making it compulsory for all males to own a longbow and to practice on Sunday after church.

There was a delay of 14 years before work began on the building of the new college in August 1933, when the City Council agreed to build the new college with a loan of £142,228.

During the construction the workmen decided to include a time capsule in the form of a message in a bottle, which they buried underneath the front steps. This message included their names and

trades: bricklayers George Monday and Walter Sproon, apprentice bricklayer Harry Roberts and labourer Harry.

This time capsule was discovered when work was carried out to renew the steps in 1995.

On the 10th of July 1934, HRH the Prince of Wales, made a tour of inspection of the building while it was under construction and a bronze tablet commemorating this visit and another commemorating the opening by the Duke of York the following year are situated in the main entrance.

The new building was opened on 10th December 1935 by the then Duke of York who later became George VI. Thousands of people turned out to greet the Duke and Duchess as they arrived at Coventry Station and then made their way via the Council House to the Technical College.

During his opening speech the Duke said “After visiting some of the less fortunate towns, it is very cheering to be here in the midst of manufacturing activity and development”.

Aerial view of the college under construction The photo shows men constructing the archery butts

Engineering workshops (now demolished)

Gymnasium under construction

The photo shows the Duke arriving at the Butts Stadium

Here we can see men working on the inside of the building

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When classes began at the new college in September 1935 Mr. D R MacLachlan was principal and there were 3,332 students enrolled as well as 1,400 students under 16 years of age in attendance at the Junior Evening Schools taking preparatory courses leading to the Technical College courses. In 1936 Mr J Wilson became principal and he continued until 1947.

The Second World War soon intervened and in 1939 trenches were dug on the Butts sports ground and staff began fitting blackouts to windows. Some staff were lost to the War effort but the college began to run special classes for the armed forces on radar and vehicle electrical equipment and gave instruction to copper smiths and other tradesmen.

Courses were also run in such subjects as fuel efficiency, economical bread production and the making of war-time gym shoes.

Another thing the college lost to the War effort was its £600 iron railings which were sacrificed to the nation’s need for scrap iron for just £30. Staff and students made gauges for Bofor guns and welded parts for electrical equipment for the General Electric Company Limited. During the War years and through all the bombing, the college never closed. At first, staff and students went to the shelters when they heard air raid warnings but this was time wasting so it was made optional and most people worked through the alerts.

Army field kitchens were placed on the roof of the building for emergency feeding and some of the staff became temporary cooks serving more than 1,000 lunches a day.

Adverts from the Souvenir Programme December 1935

Two of the carved plaques over the main entrance of the Butts building, symbolising (left) Precision in the machine-tool and chain industries and (right) speed in the air and on land

The opening ceremony took place at the Butts Stadium

The Duke was presented with this key, which was decorated with the City’s coat of arms

Lord Mayor, Charles Payne, greeting the Duke of York on the steps at the front of the College

How the entrance to the college looked in 1935

After the heavy bombing of Coventry in November 1940 hundreds of homeless citizens were housed in the

college, which for a while became the largest dormitory in the city.

A number of bombs were dropped on the building but it escaped with remarkably little damage. Also during the war the college was presented with an observatory by Captain Smith-Clarke, which is still in situ on the roof of the building. It is accepted that astronomy classes were held at the college but unfortunately there are no records of these.

The 1944 Education Act meant a lot of reorganisation for the College. Its function of educating children was gradually separated from its work with adults. At the same time a College of Art Technology and General Education, later to become Lanchester College (which is now Coventry University) was started in the same building. There was very little space with children’s education, adult courses and the council’s Head Horse Keeper all in the same building until 1956 (because the Lord Mayor’s horse was stabled here). The children’s education courses moved from the college to Woodlands School.

This led to some apprentices doing evening classes.

On completion of their courses some apprentices went to work at Humber and Standard Triumph car factories.

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When classes began at the new college in September 1935 Mr. D R MacLachlan was principal and there were 3,332 students enrolled as well as 1,400 students under 16 years of age in attendance at the Junior Evening Schools taking preparatory courses leading to the Technical College courses. In 1936 Mr J Wilson became principal and he continued until 1947.

The Second World War soon intervened and in 1939 trenches were dug on the Butts sports ground and staff began fitting blackouts to windows. Some staff were lost to the War effort but the college began to run special classes for the armed forces on radar and vehicle electrical equipment and gave instruction to copper smiths and other tradesmen.

Courses were also run in such subjects as fuel efficiency, economical bread production and the making of war-time gym shoes.

Another thing the college lost to the War effort was its £600 iron railings which were sacrificed to the nation’s need for scrap iron for just £30. Staff and students made gauges for Bofor guns and welded parts for electrical equipment for the General Electric Company Limited. During the War years and through all the bombing, the college never closed. At first, staff and students went to the shelters when they heard air raid warnings but this was time wasting so it was made optional and most people worked through the alerts.

Army field kitchens were placed on the roof of the building for emergency feeding and some of the staff became temporary cooks serving more than 1,000 lunches a day.

Adverts from the Souvenir Programme December 1935

Two of the carved plaques over the main entrance of the Butts building, symbolising (left) Precision in the machine-tool and chain industries and (right) speed in the air and on land

The opening ceremony took place at the Butts Stadium

The Duke was presented with this key, which was decorated with the City’s coat of arms

Lord Mayor, Charles Payne, greeting the Duke of York on the steps at the front of the College

How the entrance to the college looked in 1935

After the heavy bombing of Coventry in November 1940 hundreds of homeless citizens were housed in the

college, which for a while became the largest dormitory in the city.

A number of bombs were dropped on the building but it escaped with remarkably little damage. Also during the war the college was presented with an observatory by Captain Smith-Clarke, which is still in situ on the roof of the building. It is accepted that astronomy classes were held at the college but unfortunately there are no records of these.

The 1944 Education Act meant a lot of reorganisation for the College. Its function of educating children was gradually separated from its work with adults. At the same time a College of Art Technology and General Education, later to become Lanchester College (which is now Coventry University) was started in the same building. There was very little space with children’s education, adult courses and the council’s Head Horse Keeper all in the same building until 1956 (because the Lord Mayor’s horse was stabled here). The children’s education courses moved from the college to Woodlands School.

This led to some apprentices doing evening classes.

On completion of their courses some apprentices went to work at Humber and Standard Triumph car factories.

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Recollections of my Time at the Junior Technical School

Getting into trouble

The following information was given by Norman Rose

R N Rose January 1940 – December 1941 Getting in I sat the entrance examination for Junior Technical School (JTS) whilst evacuated from Folly Lane School to Binley. Folly Lane School was considered too close both to the Humber Hillman factory and the local trainline – both perceived as bombing targets.

Once I had passed the entrance examination, my father had to sign a declaration undertaking to ensure my regular attendance for two years, followed by entrance into the engineering trade.

Getting there Up until September 1940 (the period known as the Phoney War), the only interruptions to study were the occasional ‘hit and run’ daylight bombings. These sent us off to spend time in the air raid shelters – time mainly spent playing ‘battleships’! But once night raids started in September 1940, the main problem was actually getting to the Tech.

Bomb damage and unexploded bombs meant we never knew when we left

home on our bicycles which roads would be passable.

Our form started in January 1940 with 26 pupils and finished with 18 pupils – mainly due to boys being evacuated to safer locations.

Getting on My recollections are of concentrated study of English, History and Geography taught by Mr Nason. Maths, Metalwork and Woodwork taught by Mr Gough. Engineering drawing, Mechanics, Physics, Chemistry and German taught by Mr Dean. During our practical metal work periods we undertook ‘war work’. Before we could get started we sometimes had to hammer down the wood block flooring in the workshop. The blast from nearby bombs travelled through the service channels and lifted up whole sections of the blocks. We weren’t told what the parts we were turning were going to be used for, but felt a great pride in contributing to the war effort.

Some of us joined 91 Squadron of the Air Training Corps based at King Henry VIII Grammar School.

From this I achieved a six month, pre-RAF entry, short course at Oxford University, having been accepted for aircrew training. A major problem for me was adjusting to metric units from imperial!

My final recollection of JTS is not so pleasant. Around the back of the college by the workshop block was a blind corner which often contained a large puddle.

A practical joke was often played here, by lobbing a stone over the wall into the puddle as someone was passing by. On virtually our last day at JTS, someone was hit by a stone. Our form was held to blame as we passed that way between lessons. ‘Knocker’ West, the head, said we would all be caned unless the culprit owed up. No-one did, so we all had to parade outside his office on the first floor to receive one stroke on each hand! Mostly, we were much more concerned about what future employers would make of the record of corporal punishment on our final term report.

The basic grounding in technical studies given to me at JTS, coupled with my five year apprenticeship set me up for a career in the car body design industry which culminated with the position of Chief Engineer, Body Exterior Trim and Hardware at the Rover Company.

Getting out I was accepted as an indentured apprentice at Humber Hillman as a coachwork draughtsman.

I subsequently achieved my Ordinary National Certificate (ONC) and Higher National Certificate (HNC) through part time release, and much later various endorsements.

I was staggered 20 years after leaving JTS to receive a letter from Mr West congratulating me on these achievements and saying he was adding the information to my record.

Recollec tion of m y

time at J TS

by R N Rose

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Recollections of my Time at the Junior Technical School

Getting into trouble

The following information was given by Norman Rose

R N Rose January 1940 – December 1941 Getting in I sat the entrance examination for Junior Technical School (JTS) whilst evacuated from Folly Lane School to Binley. Folly Lane School was considered too close both to the Humber Hillman factory and the local trainline – both perceived as bombing targets.

Once I had passed the entrance examination, my father had to sign a declaration undertaking to ensure my regular attendance for two years, followed by entrance into the engineering trade.

Getting there Up until September 1940 (the period known as the Phoney War), the only interruptions to study were the occasional ‘hit and run’ daylight bombings. These sent us off to spend time in the air raid shelters – time mainly spent playing ‘battleships’! But once night raids started in September 1940, the main problem was actually getting to the Tech.

Bomb damage and unexploded bombs meant we never knew when we left

home on our bicycles which roads would be passable.

Our form started in January 1940 with 26 pupils and finished with 18 pupils – mainly due to boys being evacuated to safer locations.

Getting on My recollections are of concentrated study of English, History and Geography taught by Mr Nason. Maths, Metalwork and Woodwork taught by Mr Gough. Engineering drawing, Mechanics, Physics, Chemistry and German taught by Mr Dean. During our practical metal work periods we undertook ‘war work’. Before we could get started we sometimes had to hammer down the wood block flooring in the workshop. The blast from nearby bombs travelled through the service channels and lifted up whole sections of the blocks. We weren’t told what the parts we were turning were going to be used for, but felt a great pride in contributing to the war effort.

Some of us joined 91 Squadron of the Air Training Corps based at King Henry VIII Grammar School.

From this I achieved a six month, pre-RAF entry, short course at Oxford University, having been accepted for aircrew training. A major problem for me was adjusting to metric units from imperial!

My final recollection of JTS is not so pleasant. Around the back of the college by the workshop block was a blind corner which often contained a large puddle.

A practical joke was often played here, by lobbing a stone over the wall into the puddle as someone was passing by. On virtually our last day at JTS, someone was hit by a stone. Our form was held to blame as we passed that way between lessons. ‘Knocker’ West, the head, said we would all be caned unless the culprit owed up. No-one did, so we all had to parade outside his office on the first floor to receive one stroke on each hand! Mostly, we were much more concerned about what future employers would make of the record of corporal punishment on our final term report.

The basic grounding in technical studies given to me at JTS, coupled with my five year apprenticeship set me up for a career in the car body design industry which culminated with the position of Chief Engineer, Body Exterior Trim and Hardware at the Rover Company.

Getting out I was accepted as an indentured apprentice at Humber Hillman as a coachwork draughtsman.

I subsequently achieved my Ordinary National Certificate (ONC) and Higher National Certificate (HNC) through part time release, and much later various endorsements.

I was staggered 20 years after leaving JTS to receive a letter from Mr West congratulating me on these achievements and saying he was adding the information to my record.

Recollec tion of m y

time at J TS

by R N Rose

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18

Form Report

Letter from Woodlands School

icate Leaving Certif

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Form Report

Letter from Woodlands School

icate Leaving Certif

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Apprenticeship Courses I have also been given the following information by members of The City of Coventry Male Voice Choir, who served their apprenticeships at the Butts during the 1940’s ‘50’s and ‘60’s.

Peter Corne 1944-1946 Junior Technical course from the age of 13 to 16 years then he was an apprentice in Metallurgy.

John Frizzwell 1946-1948 General Education Brian Stamper 1951-1955 Pattern shop and Foundry Richard Barnet 1955-1961 Ordinance Surveyor Brian Todd 1956-1962 Electrician Nigel Ward 1959-1968 Engineer Apprenticeship courses are still being run at the college today and there are over 600 apprentices at the college studying in construction, hairdressing, plumbing, engineering and accounting. The Pattern shop course, mentioned above, was the only one of its kind in the country which was run up until July 2007 and so students came from all over the UK.

In 1961 as a result of a white paper the College of Technology opened and moved to new premises as the Lanchester College of Technology, named after the engineer and car manufacturer Frederick W Lanchester. The Technology College stayed at the Butts with 12,000 students under its new Principal, Mr R A Arculus.

The 1960’s brought a new diversification of subjects to the Technical College, as new industries and technologies were appearing almost overnight and the college had to move with the times. New courses were devised and a lot of money was spent on equipment for mechanical engineering courses and the college established a reputation as a centre for technician education. It became clear that there was too much work for the college and that with the expansion of the city’s population it was not convenient for those living on the edges of the city.

There were now more than 14,000 students, of whom 6,000 were attending day release courses supported by about 600 firms. Plans were made to build other colleges and in 1964 Henley College in Bell Green, which specialised in catering opened and Tile Hill College, which specialised in motor vehicle engineering opened in 1969.

In 1970 the Coventry School of Music became part of the Technical College.

Uncertainties in the engineering industry meant that there were fewer students in the technical subjects and this allowed more development of home economics, craft and art classes. In 1985 the Maxwell Centre was custom built in Upper York Street to house the Technical College’s construction courses and was named after the former Lord Mayor, the late Charles Maxwell. The three colleges remained part of the Local Education Authority until incorporation in 1993.

During the 1990’s the colleges faced financial pressures and these were most acute at the Technical College. In 1991 it came to light that the college had lost somewhere in the region of £3 million in its accounts.

This was probably due to the huge task of adapting to new funding arrangements when the colleges were taken out of local authority control. As a result of this, the Principal, Mr John Temple, who had been in office since 1984, resigned along with a number of the senior management team. In 1991 Janey Rees was appointed Principal and she remained in office until 1996. From 1996 to 2000 Roger Deats was Principal and Tony Holyhead took over for one year until 2001 when Paul Taylor, who was Principal at Tile Hill College, replaced him.

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Apprenticeship Courses I have also been given the following information by members of The City of Coventry Male Voice Choir, who served their apprenticeships at the Butts during the 1940’s ‘50’s and ‘60’s.

Peter Corne 1944-1946 Junior Technical course from the age of 13 to 16 years then he was an apprentice in Metallurgy.

John Frizzwell 1946-1948 General Education Brian Stamper 1951-1955 Pattern shop and Foundry Richard Barnet 1955-1961 Ordinance Surveyor Brian Todd 1956-1962 Electrician Nigel Ward 1959-1968 Engineer Apprenticeship courses are still being run at the college today and there are over 600 apprentices at the college studying in construction, hairdressing, plumbing, engineering and accounting. The Pattern shop course, mentioned above, was the only one of its kind in the country which was run up until July 2007 and so students came from all over the UK.

In 1961 as a result of a white paper the College of Technology opened and moved to new premises as the Lanchester College of Technology, named after the engineer and car manufacturer Frederick W Lanchester. The Technology College stayed at the Butts with 12,000 students under its new Principal, Mr R A Arculus.

The 1960’s brought a new diversification of subjects to the Technical College, as new industries and technologies were appearing almost overnight and the college had to move with the times. New courses were devised and a lot of money was spent on equipment for mechanical engineering courses and the college established a reputation as a centre for technician education. It became clear that there was too much work for the college and that with the expansion of the city’s population it was not convenient for those living on the edges of the city.

There were now more than 14,000 students, of whom 6,000 were attending day release courses supported by about 600 firms. Plans were made to build other colleges and in 1964 Henley College in Bell Green, which specialised in catering opened and Tile Hill College, which specialised in motor vehicle engineering opened in 1969.

In 1970 the Coventry School of Music became part of the Technical College.

Uncertainties in the engineering industry meant that there were fewer students in the technical subjects and this allowed more development of home economics, craft and art classes. In 1985 the Maxwell Centre was custom built in Upper York Street to house the Technical College’s construction courses and was named after the former Lord Mayor, the late Charles Maxwell. The three colleges remained part of the Local Education Authority until incorporation in 1993.

During the 1990’s the colleges faced financial pressures and these were most acute at the Technical College. In 1991 it came to light that the college had lost somewhere in the region of £3 million in its accounts.

This was probably due to the huge task of adapting to new funding arrangements when the colleges were taken out of local authority control. As a result of this, the Principal, Mr John Temple, who had been in office since 1984, resigned along with a number of the senior management team. In 1991 Janey Rees was appointed Principal and she remained in office until 1996. From 1996 to 2000 Roger Deats was Principal and Tony Holyhead took over for one year until 2001 when Paul Taylor, who was Principal at Tile Hill College, replaced him.

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The College 2008 By 2000/01 it became clear that the most productive and efficient route for the Technical College to take would be to merge with Tile Hill College. This merger took place in February 2002 and City College Coventry was born.

Paul Taylor remained as Principal and is still in office today.

22

As part of the planning for the merger it was realised that retaining three separate sites with approximately 35% over capacity would lead to City College going bankrupt within 10 years. So it was decided that a single site and a smaller college was essential. After five years of planning and 18 months of construction phase one of the new college at the Swanswell Learning Quarter opened in September 2007, housing the courses previously run at Tile Hill and the Maxwell Centre.

The remainder of the courses will continue at the Butts centre until phase two is ready in December 2008 when the move to Swanswell will be completed.

During the construction of phase one 300,000 concrete blocks and 112,500 bricks were used and 155km of data cabling was installed which if laid end to end would stretch from Coventry to London. The cost of the new building at £50M, will make it one of the largest ever capital projects in the further education sector and it is at the leading edge of the biggest urban regeneration in Coventry since the end of the war.

Today the college caters for a wide range of students and offers a huge variety of courses from tailor-made management and professional development to horticulture and lifestyle courses, through to art, drama and English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) courses. The ESOL courses cater for Coventry’s large and eclectic community of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers who help shape the community and bring many skills to industries lacking in a skilled and willing workforce. These courses teach them the essential language and social skills needed to integrate within the community.

Immigrants and refugees have always played a large part in shaping Coventry’s history, culture and industry, from the Huguenots fleeing from persecution in France in the 17th century to the Polish prisoners of war who settled here after the Second World War.

Skills for Life qualifications in the workplace are provided for a number of city based employers including Walkers Snack Foods, Remploy, Palmer and Harvey and Travel Coventry.

The college continues to have very strong links with employers across the various courses. In Vehicle and General Engineering there are the likes of Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin, BMW and Arriva. It also has strong employer links with companies in the Business and Management, Health Care and Early Years, Music and Media and Hair and Beauty fields.

Today there are over 13,000 students attending City College, following a total of 26,748 qualifications. 55% of these students are male and 45% female. Their ages range from 11 to 93! The college employs 932 staff with an equal split between full and part-time members. 349 of these are support staff and 583 are employed in teaching roles.

As well as the three main sites the college also runs courses at outreach centres in Balsall Common, Kenilworth, Station Tower, Canley Education Centre and the BBC Open Learning Centre.

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The College 2008 By 2000/01 it became clear that the most productive and efficient route for the Technical College to take would be to merge with Tile Hill College. This merger took place in February 2002 and City College Coventry was born.

Paul Taylor remained as Principal and is still in office today.

22

As part of the planning for the merger it was realised that retaining three separate sites with approximately 35% over capacity would lead to City College going bankrupt within 10 years. So it was decided that a single site and a smaller college was essential. After five years of planning and 18 months of construction phase one of the new college at the Swanswell Learning Quarter opened in September 2007, housing the courses previously run at Tile Hill and the Maxwell Centre.

The remainder of the courses will continue at the Butts centre until phase two is ready in December 2008 when the move to Swanswell will be completed.

During the construction of phase one 300,000 concrete blocks and 112,500 bricks were used and 155km of data cabling was installed which if laid end to end would stretch from Coventry to London. The cost of the new building at £50M, will make it one of the largest ever capital projects in the further education sector and it is at the leading edge of the biggest urban regeneration in Coventry since the end of the war.

Today the college caters for a wide range of students and offers a huge variety of courses from tailor-made management and professional development to horticulture and lifestyle courses, through to art, drama and English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) courses. The ESOL courses cater for Coventry’s large and eclectic community of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers who help shape the community and bring many skills to industries lacking in a skilled and willing workforce. These courses teach them the essential language and social skills needed to integrate within the community.

Immigrants and refugees have always played a large part in shaping Coventry’s history, culture and industry, from the Huguenots fleeing from persecution in France in the 17th century to the Polish prisoners of war who settled here after the Second World War.

Skills for Life qualifications in the workplace are provided for a number of city based employers including Walkers Snack Foods, Remploy, Palmer and Harvey and Travel Coventry.

The college continues to have very strong links with employers across the various courses. In Vehicle and General Engineering there are the likes of Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin, BMW and Arriva. It also has strong employer links with companies in the Business and Management, Health Care and Early Years, Music and Media and Hair and Beauty fields.

Today there are over 13,000 students attending City College, following a total of 26,748 qualifications. 55% of these students are male and 45% female. Their ages range from 11 to 93! The college employs 932 staff with an equal split between full and part-time members. 349 of these are support staff and 583 are employed in teaching roles.

As well as the three main sites the college also runs courses at outreach centres in Balsall Common, Kenilworth, Station Tower, Canley Education Centre and the BBC Open Learning Centre.

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The Theatre Another contribution to the general wellbeing, never envisaged as part of the college’s educational function, has been the part played by its theatre. This was originally used as a lecture theatre, called the Great Hall when the college was first opened. Later the Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts used the theatre in the War years to entertain the public with concerts and other events.

Bottom right is a copy of an original programme from 1944.

After the War, the theatre was used by the Midland Theatre Company and became a well supported local “rep”. The college theatre is well used today by many local groups for shows and concerts and over 70,000 people each year visit the theatre, where some of the city’s biggest stars have begun their performing careers.

Alan Biddle, son of Jimmy Biddle mentioned in the programme opposite and chairman of the Coventry Musical Theatre Consortium, still carries on his father’s tradition of producing shows and concerts at the theatre to this day.

24

The Butts site is to be redeveloped by Midland & City Developments Ltd (MCD) but the theatre with its art deco interior will remain for theatregoers.

At a cost of approximately £110 Million a nine storey tower block is planned with over 550 flats built in small blocks arranged around a car-free central courtyard, with a range of cafes, bars and restaurants being developed in the old college building and an open air square. Planning permission was given in July 2007, subject to MCD agreeing to £950,000 of financial support to revamp the theatre’s facilities. Alan Biddle, said they were ecstatic with the new improvements which include better backstage facilities and improved disabled access.

Last Year at the Butts

The site will stretch from the railway line to the Butts and from Albany Road to Coventry Rugby Club’s new stadium. The façade of the building will remain and be enhanced and the theatre will be improved internally to allow for more flexible use of space. The developers and people of Coventry hope that it will continue to be a landmark building for many years to come.

Origina l Progra mme fr om

Coventry Technical College, Great Hall

MCD started work during October 2007 on demolishing W Block to make way for the construction a new 65,000 sq ft state of the art, highly sustainable building on the site which will be home to the Qualification and Curriculum Authority (QCA), which is moving from London and will employ more than 500 staff.

City College Coventry Swanswell

The QCA hope to be operating from the new headquarters during 2009.

1944

Meanwhile the students and staff who previously occupied W Block have moved to the Maxwell Centre and they will have to move yet again once phase 2 of the Swanswell building is completed in December 2008. Those of us whose courses are continuing in the main college building have had to adapt to studying to the sounds of demolition and construction and our guide dogs to negotiating new obstacles. However, it is a daily reminder that the old college familiar to thousands of students and apprentices, is ending and the new one is already developing on the Swanswell site.

Phase 1

Phase 2 – Artists Impression

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The Theatre Another contribution to the general wellbeing, never envisaged as part of the college’s educational function, has been the part played by its theatre. This was originally used as a lecture theatre, called the Great Hall when the college was first opened. Later the Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts used the theatre in the War years to entertain the public with concerts and other events.

Bottom right is a copy of an original programme from 1944.

After the War, the theatre was used by the Midland Theatre Company and became a well supported local “rep”. The college theatre is well used today by many local groups for shows and concerts and over 70,000 people each year visit the theatre, where some of the city’s biggest stars have begun their performing careers.

Alan Biddle, son of Jimmy Biddle mentioned in the programme opposite and chairman of the Coventry Musical Theatre Consortium, still carries on his father’s tradition of producing shows and concerts at the theatre to this day.

24

The Butts site is to be redeveloped by Midland & City Developments Ltd (MCD) but the theatre with its art deco interior will remain for theatregoers.

At a cost of approximately £110 Million a nine storey tower block is planned with over 550 flats built in small blocks arranged around a car-free central courtyard, with a range of cafes, bars and restaurants being developed in the old college building and an open air square. Planning permission was given in July 2007, subject to MCD agreeing to £950,000 of financial support to revamp the theatre’s facilities. Alan Biddle, said they were ecstatic with the new improvements which include better backstage facilities and improved disabled access.

Last Year at the Butts

The site will stretch from the railway line to the Butts and from Albany Road to Coventry Rugby Club’s new stadium. The façade of the building will remain and be enhanced and the theatre will be improved internally to allow for more flexible use of space. The developers and people of Coventry hope that it will continue to be a landmark building for many years to come.

Origina l Progra mme fr om

Coventry Technical College, Great Hall

MCD started work during October 2007 on demolishing W Block to make way for the construction a new 65,000 sq ft state of the art, highly sustainable building on the site which will be home to the Qualification and Curriculum Authority (QCA), which is moving from London and will employ more than 500 staff.

City College Coventry Swanswell

The QCA hope to be operating from the new headquarters during 2009.

1944

Meanwhile the students and staff who previously occupied W Block have moved to the Maxwell Centre and they will have to move yet again once phase 2 of the Swanswell building is completed in December 2008. Those of us whose courses are continuing in the main college building have had to adapt to studying to the sounds of demolition and construction and our guide dogs to negotiating new obstacles. However, it is a daily reminder that the old college familiar to thousands of students and apprentices, is ending and the new one is already developing on the Swanswell site.

Phase 1

Phase 2 – Artists Impression

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Acknowledgements City College Coventry Staff Paul Taylor – Principal Dave Beckett – Clerk to the Corporation Paul Chokran – Multimedia Developer Claire Hodge – Additional Support Worker Sally Pinfold – Marketing Manager John Wischhusen – Quality Systems Manager

Other Contributors Norman Rose – Past Student Rosemary Line Coventry Archives Coventry City Library The City of Coventry Male Voice Choir www.localhistories.org/coventry.html www.historiccoventry.co.uk www.thecoventrypages.net www.channel4.com/timeteam

© Copyright Carol Bloxham – Published 2008

This publication is also available on CD read by Rosemary Line

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Acknowledgements City College Coventry Staff Paul Taylor – Principal Dave Beckett – Clerk to the Corporation Paul Chokran – Multimedia Developer Claire Hodge – Additional Support Worker Sally Pinfold – Marketing Manager John Wischhusen – Quality Systems Manager

Other Contributors Norman Rose – Past Student Rosemary Line Coventry Archives Coventry City Library The City of Coventry Male Voice Choir www.localhistories.org/coventry.html www.historiccoventry.co.uk www.thecoventrypages.net www.channel4.com/timeteam

© Copyright Carol Bloxham – Published 2008

This publication is also available on CD read by Rosemary Line

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