Coventry Blitz the 1950s, designed by the architect Basil Spence. Spence (later knighted for this work) insisted that instead of re-building the old cathedral it should be kept in ruins as a garden of remembrance and that the new cathedral should be built alongside, the two buildings together effectively forming one church. The use of Hollington sandstone for the new Coventry Cathedral provides an element of unity between the buildings. The foundation stone of the new cathedral was laid by the Queen on 23 March 1956. It was consecrated on 25 May 1962, and Benjamin Britten's "War Requiem", composed for the occasion,
Drapers' Hall, Coventry building would be converted into a music centre. The building is built in Greek Revival style and was designed by Thomas Rickman and H. Hutchinson. The building has been opened to the public under the auspices of the Heritage Open Days scheme. Drapers' Hall, Coventry Drapers' Hall is a historic building (Grade II* listed) in the Cathedral Quarter of Coventry built in 1832 by the Drapers' Company, a large trading guild in Coventry. The present building is believed to the third guildhall on the site. Drapers' Hall was constructed 1831-32 to be the headquarters of the Coventry Drapers' Guild, and