A beautiful medieval stone ceiling at the listed St Mary’s Guildhall is set to be painted over by Coventry council chiefs – despite objections from the nation’s heritage watchdogs. The intricately carved ceiling is to be painted white. It is the ceiling of the vaulted undercroft at the Grade 1 listing Guildhall in Bayley Lane next to the cathedral ruins.
The Guildhall has been described by the high-profile medieval historian Dr Jonathan Foyle as one the finest surviving medieval buildings in the country. Officials at Historic England formally registered its concern with council officials before an unelected planning officer granted Listed Building Consent for the plan behind closed doors on December 22.
This petition is to demand this does not happen and for it to be left exactly how it is, or to follow The Historic England report, which stated it would be better if a more sophisticated lighting system with the latest technology was installed.
Keep our heritage, don't destroy it with a lick of paint.