[17
JUL 00] COVENTRY WATCH MUSEUM PROJECT NEWS
Watch Appeal Gathers Pace With Plaques
Plaques
marking key points in Coventry’s watch-making history are to be
unveiled at significant buildings in the part of the city where the
craftsmen worked.
 The
trade, which was a key industry in the city in the 19th century, was
largely based in the Chapelfields area in “top-shops”.
These
were houses with large windows on the top storey to allow
Ten
plaques have been made to remind people of the rich history of the
area. They will be unveiled in streets around Craven Street and
Allesley Old Road.
Members
of the Coventry Watch Museum Project, who work to keep the history of
the area alive, are hoping to secure funding to make another ten
plaques to make a heritage trail in Chapelfields.
They
are also making good progress in their quest to raise £35,000 to open
a museum.
A
temporary exhibition in the Lower Precinct proved a big hit, with
visitors able to learn about the way watches were made and the
characters that sealed Coventry’s reputation.
Members
of the project decided that the exhibition, which currently only
appears at fetes and festival, needed a permanent home.
Since
launching their appeal last month, they have raised £10,000 to buy
and convert a building in the watch-making quarter.
Secretary
Peter Naul, pictured above at the appeal's launch at last month's
Godiva Festival, said a local charity, which wishes to remain
anonymous, had donated £5,000.
And
members of the public were also coming forward with contributions.
Mr
Naul said:
“We
had someone come to us at the Chapelfields Festival at the weekend
and give us a cheque for £60. We only need another 500 of those and
we’ll reach our target!
“The
HSBC bank have agreed that people can pay donations in at any branch
and we are very grateful for that for that.”
Mr
Naul said the aim was to raise the money as quickly as possible in
case the building that the project members were interested no longer
became available.
The main fund-raising effort is being
made by selling a video of the history of the watch-making industry.
The video is available in formats that
will work in both Britain and America. Details are available from Mr
Naul by writing to:
The
Secretary, Coventry Watch Museum Project Limited
PO Box 1714, Coventry CV3 6ZS
or
by emailing 100624.1127@compuserve.com |
