IN THIS new history column, author Aaron Ashmore takes a look back at some key people and events in Coventry’s past.
Is there an individual more closely tied to a city than Lady Godiva is to Coventry?
Perhaps you could argue William Shakespeare and Stratford-upon-Avon or Robin Hood and Nottingham, however Lady Godiva and Coventry go hand-in-hand.
We all know about the statue in Broadgate in Coventry City Centre but how many could say they know the story behind it?
The legend of Lady Godiva stems back to the 13th century and tells the story of her naked horse ride through the city in protest of her husband Leofric, Earl of Mercia’s high taxes.
The exact details of the ride differ depending on which historian you listen to or textbook you read. Nonetheless, what is consistent is that Lady Godiva is known worldwide as a symbol of bravery, equality and kindness.
Although popular culture accounts Lady Godiva rode the streets of Coventry naked, covering her modesty with her long hair, some argue she was wearing a ‘shift’ – a type of women’s undergarment.
During the ride, as a mark of respect for the noblewoman, citizens closed their window shutters and averted their eyes, all apart from one city tailor – ‘Peeping Tom’, who spied from his window.
Some stories of Peeping Tom say he was turned blind upon gazing at Lady Godiva, others he was blinded by city residents punishing him.
In these modern times, a voyeuristic opportunist sneaking a look at an unknowing naked lady may feel uncomfortable, yet it is still hard to separate the Lady Godiva story from that of Peeping Tom.
Lady Godiva continues to be a symbol for the city and can be seen featured on the Coventry flag, the Godiva clock found in Broadgate, the John Collier painting in the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum and on logos including Coventry City Council and Coventry Building Society.
Lady Godiva is not only popular in Coventry, she is known across the world – from Belgium’s Godiva chocolate, the famous line ‘I’m a racing car passing by, like Lady Godiva’ in Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ and the 1951 film ‘Lady Godiva Rides Again’.
I have written a range of books about Coventry – the first was ‘Lady Godiva’s Birthday Suit’ which looks to tell the Lady Godiva story to a young audience.
In the number of talks I have given across primary schools in the city, the one thing that always comes across is our city’s young people’s admiration for what Godiva stood for.
I was recently invited to Howes Primary School where, taking inspiration from my book, the pupils of the school wrote personal letters to Lord Leofric,.
This is one of my favourite lines which makes me smile every time I read it:
“I am writing to you because people need money to live, so please give the taxes back! They can’t buy food and drink to live and people can’t do nice stuff like go to the waterpark.”
It’s a humorous line but a reminder that even with the cost-of-living being higher than in recent memory, people should still be allowed to do things they enjoy without shame, such as visit the waterpark!
Even after 1,000 years, the legend of Lady Godiva lives on and her commitment to being kind, compassionate and brave are traits I continue to see in the people and communities of Coventry to this day.
