COVENTRY, kfiv'en-tri (OE. Coventre, AS. cofatreo, cove-tree, from cafe, cove + trio, tree, or tree of Cofa; popularly etymologized as Con vent Town, from the convent established there by Leofrie). A manufacturing city, Parliamentary and municipal borough in Warwickshire, Eng land, on the Sherbourne, miles east-south east of Birmingham (Map: England, E 4). It stands on a gentle eminence in a valley, with a ridge of hills on the south, and contains many old houses with timbered fronts projecting into narrow streets, and belonging to the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The modern part of Coven try, however, is well, though not regularly, built. Its most interesting public buildings are the three churches composing the 'three tall spires' of Coventry; Saint Michael's, built of red sandstone in the Perpendicular style, about the fourteenth century. is said to be the largest parish church in England; Trinity Church, another Perpendicular structure. has a spire over 230 feet high; the third of the spires is that of the old Grey Friars' church. Saint Mary's Guildhall, built in 1450. for
the united guilds, is one of the finest examples of ornamental architecture in England. Its great hall has a finely carved oaken roof and stained glass window, and is hung with ancient tapes tries. The rapid industrial growth of Coventry is responsible for the recent extension of its boundaries and the widening of many of the old streets. The municipality owns its water-supply. on which it nets a substantial annual profit. It also supplies gas and electricity, and maintains public baths, libraries, a technical institute, markets, crematory. and cemeteries. The city has an excellent modern sewerage system, with which is connected a sewage farm. The chief manufactures are ribbons, watches, fringes, etc., and especially bicycles and tricycles, which are said to have been first made here. Coventry is in railway communication with all parts of Eng land. The town sends one member to Parliament. Population, in 1891. 58.500; in 1901. 69.900.