HERE are the first images of Where Light Falls, a light installation at Coventry Cathedral commemorating those who fought to save the medieval landmark during the Blitz.
Where Light Falls, which takes place over three nights ending on Saturday (November 16), will see the cathedral grounds illuminated by light projections and poetry between 5pm and 9pm.
It takes place on the 79th anniversary of the bombing, which devastated the city and killed 500 people.
Historic England has been working with the Poetry Society and Double Take Projections to create the project.
Louisa Moore, Historic England team leader for partnerships in the Midlands, said: “Where Light Falls gives us a sense of what Coventry lost in the Blitz of 1940. It’s a time that is now slipping from living memory, so events like this help people to understand where we have come from.
“There are images and lines of poetry projected onto five areas around and across the two cathedrals, and the images projected onto the spire of the ruins include patterns taken from the stained glass windows in the new cathedral, reflecting how this amazing city has taken tragedy and turned it into hope.
“Where Light Falls is a testament to those who lost their lives in the city, fought to save the places that mattered to them, and rebuilt Coventry in the aftermath of the war.
“We hope the combination of light, images and soundscapes, played out in such an important space for the city is a fitting tribute. We have already had a fantastic reaction from members of the public during a short test preview of the projections, and we hope that people who visit the full event from Thursday come away feeling proud of Coventry but also inspired for its future.”
Coventry-born poet Jane Commane will narrate New Light, written with nearly 50 city residents and schoolchildren, as words are projected onto the walls of the ruins and new cathedral, including lines from historic figures who played a part in the story of the cathedral’s loss and rebuilding, and voices from the archives.
Animations inspired by stained glass will illuminate the spire of the old cathedral to an original music score.
The event marks the anniversary of the catastrophic Luftwaffe bombing on 14 November 1940, but also the hope that came with the building of the new cathedral in the 1950s.
The installation follows a companion piece at St Paul’s Cathedral which drew thousands of people to the City of London to remember members of the St Paul’s Watch who risked their lives to protect the building during the Second World War.
Where Light Falls is open to members of the public until Saturday (November 16) at 5-9pm. Entry is free.
