Coventry Cathedral Gallery

Cathedral construction site JLP01_01_025_59

COVENTRY CATHEDRAL, PRIORY STREET, COVENTRY. A view looking south across the construction site of Coventry Cathedral, showing the ruined Cathedral Church of St Michael in the background.
The photograph shows the construction of the new Coventry Cathedral, designed by Basil Spence in 1951 and constructed between the mid-1950s and 1962. It replaced the ruined Cathedral Church of St Michael which had been badly damaged by bombing in 1941.
The caption below the photograph in the album reads "Looking south across the New Cathedral Site showing in the foreground the circular excavation for the pile cap to the Guild Chapel and the Boiler House Area Pile Cap under construction. In the middle ground can be seen the Piling Rigs in operation and the old Georgian House. The background shows the three Spires of Coventry these are namely, the Spire of the Cathedral Church of St Michael, with the Spire of Christ's Church just to the right, and the Spire of Trinity Church in the extreme right hand."

© Historic England Archive. John Laing Photographic Collection

Operation Rich Man JLP01_08_062429

COVENTRY CATHEDRAL, PRIORY STREET, COVENTRY. A view looking north from the roof of Coventry Cathedral, showing a RAF Belvedere helicopter attempting to hoist the 80ft bronze spire for the new cathedral from a scaffolding tower on site, with the city of Coventry in the background including the bus station and The Coventry Theatre
The photograph was taken during Operation Rich Man a joint project involving Royal Air Force staff and Laing staff. This involved a RAF Belvedere helicopter hoisting in to place the 80ft bronze spire on to the new cathedral. The part of the operation to lower the 1/2 ton cross that sits on top of the spire had to be postponed due to windy conditions

© Historic England Archive. John Laing Photographic Collection

Installing the spire JLP01_08_062418

COVENTRY CATHEDRAL, PRIORY STREET, COVENTRY. Laing workers on the roof of Coventry Cathedral bolting the 80ft bronze spire to a 1 yard square plate, with RAF officers standing in the background.
The people on the roof, including Royal Air Force staff and Laing staff were all part of Operation Rich Man'. This involved a RAF Belvedere helicopter hoisting in to place the 80ft bronze spire on to the new cathedral. The part of the operation to lower the 1/2 ton cross that sits on top of the spire had to be postponed due to windy conditions

© Historic England Archive. John Laing Photographic Collection