It is common knowledge that German bombs during the Blitz of 1940 caused untold damage to Coventry, U.K., killing hundreds and destroying thousands of buildings in the process. But there is one building still standing that we only know about because those same bombs uncovered it.
Known as the Medieval Stone Building, the ruin is thought to date back to the 13th or 14th century. Tucked away among Coventry University buildings, it is easy to miss, but the building is open and accessible to visitors.
Some 13th & 14th century pottery was found when the site was excavated in 1971, but archaeologists have not been able to discover its origins or purpose.
Much Park Street was once a busy part of Coventry – pre-war it would have been lined with businesses and other buildings. It is likely one of these had been built around the ruin, possibly multiple times across hundreds of years. When bombs dropped they destroyed the outer layers but left this original structure.
Though its use remains a mystery, it is a wonderful reminder of Coventry’s rich history and a nice alternative to the more celebrated ruins.
You can read the original article at www.coventrytelegraph.net