2006-09-10 22:04:42 · 18 answers · asked by Andrew G 1 in Family & Relationships ➔ Singles & Dating
: : What was special about this city, and what is its association with one's being ignored?
: : The link below will take you to a rather lengthy explanation of the whole Coventry phrase.
: : In a nutshell, Charles I in 1642 was suspected of being a Catholic in secret. As a result he and parliament often had run-ins and eventually the king left London and built an army as did parliament, thus were sown the seeds of the English Civil War. See link for more info.
: Sent to Coventry; if someone is "sent to Coventry" then they are shunned by their fellow citizens and friends. There are three possible explanations for this phrase. The first comes from the English Civil War. Birmingham was strongly Parliamentarian; the citizens were aware of a small group of Royalists in their midst. Some of these they killed and others they "exiled" to nearby Royalist Coventry. I don't like this explanation since, by being sent to Coventry, these people were rescued. In truth they had good fortune - their colleagues were killed.
: The second possibility rings a little truer. In this case the citizens of Coventry were in a phase of hating the military, possibly also as a result of the Civil War. Such was this hate that the young women of the town were forbidden to speak to the soldiers garrisoned there. Naturally no soldier welcomed such a posting.
: The third possibility is the one that I like best. It is suggested that the name Coventry is derived from Covin-tree, an oak which is supposed to have stood in front of the castle in feudal times. The tree was used as the gallows and those to be executed were sent to the covin-tree.
We ought to add that the phrase has been perpetuated into this century by British labo(u)r unions, which uses shunning as a punishment for strikebreakers and "scabs." No one speaks to or interacts with the person sent to Coventry, until they (eventually) resign. It's a powerful tool for social pressure.
2006-09-10 22:52:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This sounds like a messed up question. I am sure there are nasty people in every city on this planet as well as clean folks. Even in Coventry. LOL
2006-09-11 05:11:33 · answer #2 · answered by davester1970 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry dont know anyone from Coventry..
But
There has been some bad press about Coventry 'moss side'
Never been there so im not sure if the press is true or not
2006-09-11 05:08:34 · answer #3 · answered by confused 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no i don't think coventry people are nasty at all maybe some are just like anywhere else in the world
2006-09-11 05:07:15 · answer #4 · answered by ♥fluffykins_69♥ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I haven't met anyone from Coventry, but never heard they were nasty.
2006-09-11 05:07:12 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In union speak - 'People sent to Coventry' means - no one is allowed to speak to them! Why Coventry? I'm afraid, I haven't a clue!
2006-09-11 05:12:12 · answer #6 · answered by dot&carryone. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my house mates boyfriend is from coventry and i dont like him very much, he's very jealous and is rude whenever me or my other housemate try to talk to her, for example we went to a house party where she got very drunk so being good friends we tried to look after her be he came over and was all like get away from her i'll look after her and was really mean to us. Other than that i dont know anyone else from coventry so i dont know if its fair to say they are all nasty
2006-09-11 05:10:22 · answer #7 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One of my Best Mates is from Cov.
He is the best friend one could ask for,,as for Coventry i feel its been abused for years,and i think its not as bad as people say
ps and im a YANK!from hawaii now in London....
Go Sky Blue...
2006-09-11 05:30:18 · answer #8 · answered by vik_ings1fan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
inbred the lot of them, it a nasty town,very repressed and voilent,you never met anyone from coventry outside of coventry all inbred you could flim a version of deliverance there
2006-09-11 05:11:44 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
im from wolverhampton i think coventry folk are pretty decent as a whole just same as any other town or city everyone has there bad apples
2006-09-11 05:22:46 · answer #10 · answered by ward1703 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋